You might be surprised! Had my hip replaced in 2020. Before i went in I could not walk 100 yards and basically needed a cane every day. Within 8 weeks of hip done I was back to hiking 3-4 km on flat ground. About a year later I was 100% back to my normal self. Now I have to remind myself to watch out if I am riding my ATV or motorcycle, because I forget I have an artificial hip.
How do you carry all of your gear!?
- Thread starter Canadiankeeper
- Start date
Let's see, on a day of upland hunting a waxed and if I do say it a beautifully stitched leather shell belt from the good old days of Eddie Bauer carries a full box of 12G shells and a hunting knife. Suunto compass goes in my L shirt pocket with the lanyard looped through the button hole in the flap. GPS unit usually in one very deep front pocket of my thornproofed nylon fronted wool trousers, bandana in one rear pocket, wallet in the other front pocket. Things like car keys, a really small flat FAK (aka a ziplock baggie) and usually my cell phone will travel in my outer coat. Barbour waxed cotton coats with big pockets and giant game pockets are excellent for transporting all kinds of stuff, when worn (unfortunately Barbour prices have gone the way of Rolex and Maserati, but I bought mine before that happened). For days that are too warm for Barbour, I have a Filson tin cloth cotton coat with a nice game pocket, even if the other pockets are a bit lacking. Some quick access loose shells will travel in the large R pocket of my outerwear, since the ammo belt can be hard to reach. Somewhere I will have a special game bird cleaning knife secured to my person with a removable lanyard, its tiny. It being fall and cool when I can legally hunt, I've never felt the need to carry drinking water. I guess I grew up in the days where you trained yourself to do without water for the whole day, but I don't necessarily claim that's the best way to operate. Anyway, if I had to, ie, if it became a matter of survival, you can always find water where I hunt. ALL of my outdoor clothing will have a BIC lighter and some food bars and other disaster items in the pockets. For carrying game, I always have something with a game pocket, if not a coat then the one on my required orange hunting vest, or I can organize something with the paracord I have tucked into various items. That's it, the word is 'pockets.' My clothing is weighty, I've had people pick up a coat and almost drop it in surprise, but I have no need for a backpack or fanny pack.
I love my barbour coat - I bought the removable fleece liner so that I could extend its season. I also made sure to order the hood, which I think should really be included, but oh well.
The prices in canada were insane, I found I could order it direct from england for much less. I ordered from cox the sadler, and the service was excellent.
The prices in canada were insane, I found I could order it direct from england for much less. I ordered from cox the sadler, and the service was excellent.
Yup, thornproof, waterproof, mudproof, grime proof, proof of pretty much everything. I remember one tale of a Barbour being dredged up from a harbour after several months to a year under salt water and still being completely wearable. I used to say that the Brits are masters of 19th century technology, but most people didn't get it, lol. The real beauty is that the stuff is breathable.
I too had a snap in liner, however it went missing during my last move, hopefully will still turn up but meantime I have vests and gilets, etc. Could never get the Barbour hood to stay attached (short of stitching it on) and didn't like it anyway, so I settled for the very crushable waxed cotton bucket hats they sell, stow in a pocket until needed. No point in having a rain parka if your head and neck are exposed and getting wet.
Or for the jaunty equestrian look, lol:
Checked out Cox The Saddler- those prices seem excellent all right, as long as Customs is kind about the duty etc.
Yup, thornproof, waterproof, mudproof, grime proof, proof of pretty much everything. I remember one tale of a Barbour being dredged up from a harbour after several months to a year under salt water and still being completely wearable. I used to say that the Brits are masters of 19th century technology, but most people didn't get it, lol. The real beauty is that the stuff is breathable.
I too had a snap in liner, however it went missing during my last move, hopefully will still turn up but meantime I have vests and gilets, etc. Could never get the Barbour hood to stay attached (short of stitching it on) and didn't like it anyway, so I settled for the very crushable waxed cotton bucket hats they sell, stow in a pocket until needed. No point in having a rain parka if your head and neck are exposed and getting wet.
Or for the jaunty equestrian look, lol:
Oh, you are right about the hood staying on! I ended up putting a dab of goop glue in each of the snaps. It's held up for the last 2 years now, so far so good.
I have a tilley outback hat that I use, and I will condition it with the barbour dressing.
Still, tilley seems to have taken a real quality dive lately. I'm on my third in 6 years - they keep fraying! Tilley has replaced them both times under warranty, but the process is a bit annoying - you have to cut your old hat up and right the date on the pieces, send them a picture of the carnage before they will ship out your replacement - as if they're convinced i'm trying to con them out of a hat!
I may have just had good luck, but mine was delivered by canada post without any customs fees at all.
I think that usually happens, certainly does with me.
I carry a Mystery Ranch Metcalf for anything from half day hunts to week long backpacking trips.
If a regular sized backpack isn't enough for one day's worth of gear, you need to prioritize what you carry in the field and might want to rethink your set up.
If a regular sized backpack isn't enough for one day's worth of gear, you need to prioritize what you carry in the field and might want to rethink your set up.
Day packs are a way of life for me and 99% of my hunting needs up until the BANG. Then I find myself wishing for a frame 
A lightweight frame with a day pack strapped to it and some way to fasten my rifle would meet 100% of my hunting needs. I hunt pretty minimalist so don't need tons of space, I just hate fighting with a slung rifle, a backpack, and game bags swinging in both hands on my way back out.
I have taken the kids' two-person toboggan, cheap CT plastic thingy, and dragged it over the ground before many times. They wash up nice and are great with a bit of snow on the ground. But otherwise, especially for a "meat deer", I'd rather just strap the bags onto the frame and hike them out
A lightweight frame with a day pack strapped to it and some way to fasten my rifle would meet 100% of my hunting needs. I hunt pretty minimalist so don't need tons of space, I just hate fighting with a slung rifle, a backpack, and game bags swinging in both hands on my way back out.
I have taken the kids' two-person toboggan, cheap CT plastic thingy, and dragged it over the ground before many times. They wash up nice and are great with a bit of snow on the ground. But otherwise, especially for a "meat deer", I'd rather just strap the bags onto the frame and hike them out
I don't have a truck (yet) so that's part of why I have to carry stuff into the field. My wife doesn't like it when I steal her Explorer to bring it for a car wash, much less a day hunt
Eberlestock f1 mainframe, 2-batwings, I made the compression straps longer for throwing large stuff sack for week long sheep gear and pack outs although mostly live in day hunt mode, kifaru gun bearer, does all for me now from coyotes to big game. Got my furthest coyote at 620 with a 7 1/4 lb all up rifle (prone over pack). Drag rope from backpack frame for coyotes. My lone howler coyote decoy I put a rope handle on for one hand easy carry, have a belt type butt seat pad for coyote stuff also, and my fox pro cs-24 sits nice on f1 shelf for hike in, or can ride in hand opposite the coyote decoy hand. Keep a kids 2 person toboggan (modded with rope laces) in truck if snow on ground and can go back for the rest of meat on big game stuff. Keep variety of things at ready for loading pack for whatever mission, rain gear, down puffy, the usuals ride in it, water, snacks, survival/first aid, headlamp, butcher stuff/game bags/tags etc. Shooting sticks or sitting height bipod for the sit down work slide nicely down the frame behind the batwings (mostly for coyote work). Have the chest harness with geovids for optic/ranging solution.
Last edited:
forgot to mention the pool noodle lol
Mountain or overnight hunting is not my practice but I would just use the same sort mountaineering/backpacking gear I've had from former decades and still keep around for Get Out Of Dodge situations. An outdoor person with survival instincts should always have stuff like various size backpacks. suitable sleeping bags, a good tent, and related stuff around at all times.
I served 21 years in the army, mostly field and operations.
I still, and will always over pack lmfao! As to mitigate this I've put together a set of web gear. 24hrs or less Webb gear! 48 or less day bag.
Harvest always dictates! Or pack is required with or close by. So If I'm mobile, I stash my ruck. I mark a quick grid, make a vis reference and off I go!
As for you! Not really. You've chose stability for a shot as a priority, so go with it!!
Learn to sew! It's the best skill I picked up. I make my own range bags, shooting bags, chest rigs etc.
A bit of time with some needle and thread, I'm sure you could move or make a few straps. So you can toss the bag down at the bottom of the vintage point, un-clip the tri pod and you're gone!
Cheers
I still, and will always over pack lmfao! As to mitigate this I've put together a set of web gear. 24hrs or less Webb gear! 48 or less day bag.
Harvest always dictates! Or pack is required with or close by. So If I'm mobile, I stash my ruck. I mark a quick grid, make a vis reference and off I go!
As for you! Not really. You've chose stability for a shot as a priority, so go with it!!
Learn to sew! It's the best skill I picked up. I make my own range bags, shooting bags, chest rigs etc.
A bit of time with some needle and thread, I'm sure you could move or make a few straps. So you can toss the bag down at the bottom of the vintage point, un-clip the tri pod and you're gone!
Cheers
I carry a rifle, 3 or 4 cartridges, a granola bar, a compass and a knife ... maybe some water if I'm going to be in the bush for more than half a day. The rest of the stuff stays in a backpack lashed down to the ATV or in the truck. After the shot, I go back to the vehicle and get all the stuff together to dress and pack it out.
For me the less I have to drag around with me the better.
I hunt small sections of land, mostly quarter sections (160 acres). My sled and most of the gear stay in the car (yes, I use a hatchback car, have had a 250lb deer in there). I usually throw spare rounds, a knife, handwarmers and licence/tags in my jacket pocket. It is never too far back to the car. I usually use short range firearms or a bow (shotgun/muzzleloader) as there are roads and other land with farms within a km usually.
