- Location
- Brant County, Ontario
Hey guys, out of curiosity what is your typical day pack weight loaded with a normal days worth of gear for lets say a moose hunt?
What is your typical loaded day back weight?
- Thread starter freddyfour
- Start date
One of the first things you need to take into account is your personal strength/comfort limit.
Then, you have to take into account how far you're willing to pack a Moose out of the area you hunt.
I came across a fellow while hunting Moose on the North side of Williston Lake. He had paid a local boat operator to drop him off close the to Ospika River mouth.
For anyone who's hunted that area, it's quite flat, for most "walking" distances on both sides of the river.
He had a decent camp set up, just inside the tree line.
We had our own boat, and we set up a few hundred meters from his camp.
We hunted from our camp, making sure not to walk more than a few hours from the camp, on the multiple game trails.
We didn't see the fellow for a couple of days. He was coming back to his camp just before dark, and was back out hunting again around dawn the next morning
We didn't know until we met him on the third day that he was on his own.
He was experienced in the bush, which was obvious by his "day pack."
He had a small, down-filled sleeping bag, a one liter cooking pot, a bag of granola, and another of jerky, and a 12x12 plastic tarp with a roll of cord.
I believe he had a spare pair of socks as well.
Water wasn't a problem, as it was all over the place.
I don't think that pack weighed more than 5kg, but it contained everything he needed to survive most conditions for a couple of days, if needed.
My partner and I carried more weight, but only because we included a small axe in each of our kits.
We both had a shelter tarp, extra socks, food, a cooking pan, Poly rope, a surplus pancho, and knee pads.
If you're going to hunt an accessible area, you don't need that much stuff.
Enough food to keep up your energy needs for the day, and rain gear, are about all you really need in a day pack.
I see folks out there carrying huge day packs, weighing 15+kg. That's just making life way more difficult than it needs to be.
Then, you have to take into account how far you're willing to pack a Moose out of the area you hunt.
I came across a fellow while hunting Moose on the North side of Williston Lake. He had paid a local boat operator to drop him off close the to Ospika River mouth.
For anyone who's hunted that area, it's quite flat, for most "walking" distances on both sides of the river.
He had a decent camp set up, just inside the tree line.
We had our own boat, and we set up a few hundred meters from his camp.
We hunted from our camp, making sure not to walk more than a few hours from the camp, on the multiple game trails.
We didn't see the fellow for a couple of days. He was coming back to his camp just before dark, and was back out hunting again around dawn the next morning
We didn't know until we met him on the third day that he was on his own.
He was experienced in the bush, which was obvious by his "day pack."
He had a small, down-filled sleeping bag, a one liter cooking pot, a bag of granola, and another of jerky, and a 12x12 plastic tarp with a roll of cord.
I believe he had a spare pair of socks as well.
Water wasn't a problem, as it was all over the place.
I don't think that pack weighed more than 5kg, but it contained everything he needed to survive most conditions for a couple of days, if needed.
My partner and I carried more weight, but only because we included a small axe in each of our kits.
We both had a shelter tarp, extra socks, food, a cooking pan, Poly rope, a surplus pancho, and knee pads.
If you're going to hunt an accessible area, you don't need that much stuff.
Enough food to keep up your energy needs for the day, and rain gear, are about all you really need in a day pack.
I see folks out there carrying huge day packs, weighing 15+kg. That's just making life way more difficult than it needs to be.
If I'm carrying a bag its my big pack, that way I don't have to walk back to the truck to get it if i shoot something. I keep an emergency kit, a first aid kit, and a kill kit, as well as an emergency bivvy, extra gloves, and an extra Toque. Add light weight rain gear if I'm expecting the weather to change and it's too warm to be wearing it, or my heavy coat if I'm hiking into a glassing spot and will need to layer up once I get there.
Bag alone is like 6lb, with my stuff it's more like 15-20 depending on exactly what is in it. Typing that out makes me think I need to trim things down, but there really isn't a lot of stuff I can get rid of that I don't either regularly use or really don't want to ditch in case things go sideways a few km from the truck.
Bag alone is like 6lb, with my stuff it's more like 15-20 depending on exactly what is in it. Typing that out makes me think I need to trim things down, but there really isn't a lot of stuff I can get rid of that I don't either regularly use or really don't want to ditch in case things go sideways a few km from the truck.
Your style of hunting is going to require different gear and change pack weights quite a bit. My bag as it currently is for archery elk hunting is about 22 pounds. That is on a full framed pack that weighs about 7 pounds on its own.
Soft shell jacket
Water
Some candy bars/protein bars
Flashlight/headlamp
First aid kit
Gps
Small ultralight tarp
Paracord
Bone saw
Elk bugle tube
TP and small pack of wet wipes
Game bags and meat tarp for field breakdown of animal.
As we get into colder weather I will start wearing the soft shell full time and add my puffy jacket and pants into the bag. Also usually start carrying my jetboil as well for a warm drink or meal.
Soft shell jacket
Water
Some candy bars/protein bars
Flashlight/headlamp
First aid kit
Gps
Small ultralight tarp
Paracord
Bone saw
Elk bugle tube
TP and small pack of wet wipes
Game bags and meat tarp for field breakdown of animal.
As we get into colder weather I will start wearing the soft shell full time and add my puffy jacket and pants into the bag. Also usually start carrying my jetboil as well for a warm drink or meal.
shooter1911
Member
- Location
- Alaska / Yukon
Can't remember what my pack itself weighs but all in roughly 15lb .
About 25lbs. But I could survive for some time with its contents. I probably don't NEED a folding saw or a hatchet, a small folding stool, or a hiking stove & fuel bottle with me at all times. And I usually also have a nylon tarp, survival blanket and other odds n ends. But it's kinda nice to be able to set up a debris blind, and make a nice cuppa or a trail lunch and enjoy the scenery for a few hours.
Heck, I've had deer come out a good shootable distance away while I'm out playing and making a bunch of noise building a bush shelter and making coffee.
Heck, I've had deer come out a good shootable distance away while I'm out playing and making a bunch of noise building a bush shelter and making coffee.
Since your an Ont hunter like myself I can chime in to some degree.
Kuiu Frame w/a Kuiu Ultra 3000 Bag
- VIAM Outdoors Switchback Siltarp
- Marks Work Warehouse Insulated Puffy (if I’m not wearing it)
- Black Ovis Granite Peak Mid-Weight Pants or Kuiu Attack Pants (backup pr)
- Black Ovis Mid-Weight Merino Socks
- Kuiu 240 gram 1/4 Zip Merino Shirt
- Kuiu Load Panel
- MSR Pocket Rocket (cold weather version) and small fuel can
- Kill Kit in VIAM Outdoors Lightweight G3 Pouch (3 sizes of Kestrel Knives, Paracord etc)
- Hi Vis Paracord and MSR Mini Ground Hog Stakes (usually i tie off to trees instead)
- VIAM Outdoors G3 Pouch with waterproof matches both Bic and Zippo Lighters and and old prescription container full of cotton balls with vaseline on them as fire starter, Asprin, Ibuprofen, Gauze etc (which now reside in their own G3 as a Med Pouch.
- VIAM G3 XL Pouch w/few packets of Oatmeal, Tea Bags, snacks etc
- XLarge ziploc baggie I picked up from some delivery and this houses THE MOST important item…. 2 Rolls of fresh
tickets.- Kuiu Game Bags in Med-Lrg-XL
- Couple extra 500ml of water bottles
- Right Ext Bag Pocket sits a Nalgene Bottle
- Left Ext Bag Pocket Leki Carbon-Vario Trekking Poles (but not always)
I might be forgetting a few odds n sods but those are the mains. Only things I’d add to the list above would be dedicated Rain Pants by someone ie; Kuiu, SG etc. possibly the Kifaru Puffy as it has an insane warmth to weight ratio or maybe a Quilt by VIAM Outdoors in case I got caught in weather and/or overnight for some reason.
As you can see, I’m nowhere near capacity or the capabilities of that Bag/Frame combo. Especially with a lot of it in stow able Sil-Pouches. I could easily get away with say an 1800-2200Ci range Day Pack with no exterior frame. Everything listed above is in the setup in the picture below. I have been considering selling this setup off and going the SG Avail 2200 route tbh.
Overkill? probably
Well prepared and comfortable given any situation? absolutely
** Edited **
Between 13-18lbs incl Pack and Frame
- Location
- Brant County, Ontario
I down sized my pack this year to the Kuiu Divide 2200 so im also hoping to carry less. Im sitting at 14lbs with out snacks which I feel is a pretty light pack.
I don't carry a pack what-so-ever. I stuff my coat pocket's with a small bag of nuts and dry fruit, bottle of water, license, knife, binos and 6 extra cartridges. Prior to leaving the truck, I chug half a bottle of water. If there is snow on the ground, it's a substitute for a bottle of water.
My God, I'm in the wilderness to hunt, not a survival adventure.
My God, I'm in the wilderness to hunt, not a survival adventure.
- Location
- Brant County, Ontario
That's probably right on the money
this thread got me curious. Haven't weighed my day pack in years. I just stuff it like i always do and off i go.
Because of my disabilities, a heavy pack wears me down very fast. I've also found myself stray from my hide to put the stalk on a sighted animal and leave the pack behind. So I developed my system to encorporate a gear belt with suspenders so it kinda floats on my hips. Everything to perform the basic field dress is on the belt as well as a pouch of radio/gps batteries, camera, range finder and spare ammo holder.
My wallet tags and small first aid kit are always in my side pants pocket. So that leaves what's carried in the day pack and I choose that pack depending on what i'm hunting and where. For deer it's a Camelback Stryker ..... thing must be over 20 years old and still my go to day pack for deer hunting. I doubt it weighs 15lbs...... I'm gonna guess 10 or less but I'll weigh it with it's usual load out today and see. The other pack I use for moose and elk and has a totally different load out. Mainly items for processing like bone saw, game bags, tarp for keeping things clean and small lightweight hand winch, game call and a spotting scope. It's a full size pack with the ergo fit harness so if i need to load it up with game parts to pack out it functions well for that. That one probably meets or exceeds 10% of my body weight but i should weigh it and see.
Because of my disabilities, a heavy pack wears me down very fast. I've also found myself stray from my hide to put the stalk on a sighted animal and leave the pack behind. So I developed my system to encorporate a gear belt with suspenders so it kinda floats on my hips. Everything to perform the basic field dress is on the belt as well as a pouch of radio/gps batteries, camera, range finder and spare ammo holder.
My wallet tags and small first aid kit are always in my side pants pocket. So that leaves what's carried in the day pack and I choose that pack depending on what i'm hunting and where. For deer it's a Camelback Stryker ..... thing must be over 20 years old and still my go to day pack for deer hunting. I doubt it weighs 15lbs...... I'm gonna guess 10 or less but I'll weigh it with it's usual load out today and see. The other pack I use for moose and elk and has a totally different load out. Mainly items for processing like bone saw, game bags, tarp for keeping things clean and small lightweight hand winch, game call and a spotting scope. It's a full size pack with the ergo fit harness so if i need to load it up with game parts to pack out it functions well for that. That one probably meets or exceeds 10% of my body weight but i should weigh it and see.
But what if it turns into a survival adventure? Depends on where you hunt I guess, it may be highly unlikely but I'm of the better safe than sorry mind set.
Anyway my day pack has the usual stuff most guys here are also packing. I try to keep it light but have the essentials in case things go wrong. I'm often many miles from any road, alone and out of service. Fire making equipment, survival blanket, small backup knife, some packable clothing (Kuiu makes some very light and packable down clothing) etc. I have never weighed my packs but I don't even notice they are there most of the time.
- Location
- Brant County, Ontario
So far I really like it, bit I have only traveled and done a few hikes with it. Will see how this season goes with it
I'm old, I'm weak, my back is WORN OUT from years of factory work, falls, falls and more falls. Motorcycle, street and dirt falls. Skiing water and down hill falls, ice skating falls, bicycle falls. Tree stand falls and tree climbing falls.
My typical "day pack" is NOTHING 75% of the time any more. But I did put a back pack BELT SUPPORT for carrying my Summit Viper tree stand. I DO add things to use for a day in that stand, not all at once but depending on the plan and the weather, I'll carry my rifle in my hands, and on my pack I'd put all but the bare minima clothing so I don't get hot and sweaty walking in. A jacket or sweater, may be a rain coat or umbrella more likely.
A Full thermos of hot tea, one of those thermos type drinking cups. I buy all those I find under a dollar at yard sales. Pain it camo and cut out the bottom of any handle so it will hang over a tree limb. If I'm carrying it some where I've been before I might leave it up the tree or not need one because I've done that before.
I'll bring an apple a lot of time or a Little Debbi oatmeal creme pie.
Range finder maybe or a camera.
Tree stand and pick two more, that is about it or my back will hurt for a week.
My typical "day pack" is NOTHING 75% of the time any more. But I did put a back pack BELT SUPPORT for carrying my Summit Viper tree stand. I DO add things to use for a day in that stand, not all at once but depending on the plan and the weather, I'll carry my rifle in my hands, and on my pack I'd put all but the bare minima clothing so I don't get hot and sweaty walking in. A jacket or sweater, may be a rain coat or umbrella more likely.
A Full thermos of hot tea, one of those thermos type drinking cups. I buy all those I find under a dollar at yard sales. Pain it camo and cut out the bottom of any handle so it will hang over a tree limb. If I'm carrying it some where I've been before I might leave it up the tree or not need one because I've done that before.
I'll bring an apple a lot of time or a Little Debbi oatmeal creme pie.
Range finder maybe or a camera.
Tree stand and pick two more, that is about it or my back will hurt for a week.
- Location
- Saskatoon Saskatchewan
Same basically. I dont carry a bone saw but do pack a small leatherman with saw and scissors for cutting tags.
