Am I nuts?? (Hunting equipment)

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magz

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Hey,

I thought I'd ask your opinions, although the stuff is already on order so it's a little late.

I've decided to get a plate carrier (no plates inside) to use for the "chest" real estate for essential gear while hunting.

I do most of my hunting solo, spot and stalk and/or slow hunting. I can easily cover 10+ km in the foothills in a day on foot. The last deer I shot, was 5km from the car. Quartered it in the field and brought it back on my back.

Because of this, I carry very light weight gear for hanging and quartering an animal in the field ( I don't want to have to return to my car to get everything) As well as some munchies, water, small survival kit, first aid kit, and any needed clothing in my back pack.

Up till now, I've kept a "fanny pack" with the essentials, I might need on the spot - binoculars, range finder, ammo/mag, calls, scents, gps, cell phone, etc. It's too noisy to drop my pack and dig for these things if I spot an animal.
Also, I keep an DSLR camera slung around my neck at all times.

Last year I ran into a grizz and ran into a cougar as well - this made me purchase a ranch hand that is now in a waist holster in addition to the bear spray I already carried.

It sounds like a lot, but it's all things I need and use. My waist is getting uncomfortably full, between the backpack, the waist pack, and a heavy belt for the gun and bear spray.

My plan is to rig up the plate carrier, with a holster high on the chest for the DSLR camera and pouches for everything that used to be in the waist pack. Cell phone, binoculars, range finder, calls, scents, gps, bear spray, ammo/mag. This will free up my waist for a much more comfortable belt/backpack combination.

I thought about just a molle chest rig, but most of the light weight ones don't come very high on the chest and I wont be able to stash my DSLR there.

Anyway, I haven't been able to find many people who have done this with my google-fu. And I'm definatly not trying to be a mall ninja while hunting, I'm just trying to find a way to keep all my essentials in a way that works for me and is easy to access.



Has anyone done this? Any thoughts?
Sorry for the long Post.
 
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Just a suggestion..... But a turkey vest would be more suited to carrying gear, is very light with many compartments and will even come with an asspad for when you decide to have a sit....... Even has a great big pouch in the back capable of holding a 25 pound turkey......
 
Good suggestion, I had thought about it, and looked at a few at Bass Pro and Cabela's. Although, I'd prefer something that I could change configurations with as my needs change. IE not have a bunch of extra pockets or too few pockets etc. The asspad would be great though.
 
You carry a rifle, bear spray, and a rossi all on your person? To me that seems like a bit much, but then again if you end up needing it your ready I guess. I use a big mountain pack for myself, lots of pockets and you can bone out a deer and fit it in there no problem. I think the turkey vest is a great idea. I would be interested to see what works out for you.
 
156821 said:
You carry a rifle, bear spray, and a rossi all on your person? To me that seems like a bit much, but then again if you end up needing it your ready I guess.
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I just keep running into bears.. over and over and over.
Bear spray is always the first thing that comes out. The rossi and the rifle seem like alot I know, and I thought about it for a while, but I'd rather always have something on my hip, in case I set the rifle aside to take a leak, a picture, walk up a hillside for a quick look etc. If I could afford it, I'd rather have an antique revolver, as that's much more suited to the role of "not at all ideal for it's role, but it's what big brother allows me to carry". Maybe in the future, I'll find something more suitable that I can afford. I'd have a pistol if hunting in the US.
 
You sound like you have a good plan to me. I know you're not trying to look like a mall ninja, but if you do, so what? A deer won't judge your fashion. As long as it all works and you are in good enough shape to pack all the gear all day, go for it!
 
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I wear one of these after rocking a smaller fanny pack for years. Twbig pockets, two smaller on your waist, a spot for water and another mid size pocket. It hold everything you've listed and a bit more and is quite comfortable. it also has provisions for a chest mounted camera bag, turkey call bag or bino holder. I tried a chest rig but found stuff up front too cumbersome.
 
I use an Alps Pathfinder mostly for hunting however I know what you mean with numerous things needed to be carried.

When I metal detect remote 1700-1800 homesites I wear a chest rig with all the different items like maps, flashlight, IFAK, water bottles, lunch, handheld pinpointer, numerous digging hand tools. I use the other pouches for different types of findings(coins, old sewing needles, minie balls etc.)etc. Pretty handy actually and the ghosts don't seem to mind. lol

Mine has lots of MOLLE plus velcro.
 
I have carried a lightweight rifle (slung over shoulder), shorter/lighter 12 gauge (in hands) and a daypack together for 5-10KMs on a few solo hunts in areas with increased probability of "interesting" encounters.

That was more than I would ideally carry but if you are alone and in a shape that allows, sometimes some extra "backup" is preferable. If the distance or time carrying all that gear was extended further, one could pay a steep cost in energy/exertion, water/food consumption and focus on the primary objective(s).

I think you are on the right track in looking at how the load is distributed. It was the heft of the pack all on one place that gave me the most grief. Will be interested to see what you come up with.
 
Sir, you are my Idol ! lol i do alot of hunting alone aswell and it's hard to carry everything effectively i find until i can invest money into some better thinks, a recent gift of a turkey hunting belt is quite useful! lots of room to store things and it goes in the "Fanny Pack" section leaving your chest and back still free !
 
I agree with a previous poster in that you may find the chest pack gets in the road. Nothing wrong with being prepared, we never plan our screwups, it nice to have a backup plan.
 
I use a US mil surplus chest carrier, backpack and cargo pants. I also take a (depending on who you ask) ton of stuff out when im hunting on foot in the bush.
I also found the Slogan slings in place of a backpack allows me to carry my rifle in place of and still have free hands. Depending on what and how im hunting that day, my set up is pretty fluid. I have purchased a ton of Molle pouches to fit in with what im doing at the time.
 
There are man ways to get from A to B. We hunt for blacktails in thick and steep terrain, so the only recovery method option is to backpack it out.

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Different people have different mehods, but my favorite these days is a MR NICE frame with a meat hauler, hip belt with pouches and using the MR top pack on the bottom rear as a fanny pack thing, attached to the frame. Binos on a harness, stuff you need handy in the hip belt pouches, lunch, game bags etc in the top pack.

First thing I would ditch is the Ranch Hand, next the bear spray. My bear spray is delivered at about 3000 fps- but that is a personal choice and if it makes you feel good, then keep it.

I'll attach stuff to the shoulder straps of the pack, but doubt I woujld want to have stuff all over my chest, which is where my binos sit. BUt it may work for you, and that's all that matters. Lets see a selfie pic when you get it sorted.
 
I use a orange molle vest for big game hunting in Ont. They are made by onduty.ca

They are very versatile!

The pic is from their site.

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I think you have what you need already with good packboard a small bag for knifes and stuff.
Strap your ranch hand to your pack in a shot gun scabbard ,a carabiner to hold GPS to shoulders strap
Besides Your rifle a good packboard is your most important investments I like the external frame packboard for tying meat and stuff on the frame
Wen hunting on foot I don't pack much just one rifle small field dressing kit packboard para cord spare knife compass and bag lunch rolled into my rain gear the bigger the hike the less I carry
 
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You won't be sorry Chefhunter. I have been using mine for 4 years. Everyone who sees it in the field wants to know where to get one.
 
The blaze vest looks like an amazing solution! I now know what to buy before heading to a blaze province or state.
 
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