Backpack to heavy! What do you carry?

I'll second this that's close to what I carry. Except the gatorade I carry the powdered form. and I don't carry binos because I don't have any good ones yet.
One thing I'll add that I learned from Hockey. I take a bit of creatine with me or before going if it's a long day. Aids in muscle recovery, I find my stamina is way better with a bit of that and lots of water. I bring a small strop and stone and my Helle knife other than that same as DK said a few posts back.

I have a proper pack that puts weight to hips for the long stuff and a small pack that fits well for short trips ie scouting and upland bird or hunting where I'm going to be able to get a vehicle closer to. For that pack I take water, some food, first aid and either have an extra layer or room to stow my jacket or a layer in there. If it's for big game we bring the game bags sometimes just 1 per person to carry quarters. Or a haul line if its for deer. those work pretty decent.
 
My pack usually has

- first aid kit
- compass
- flashlight
- matches and a lighter
- emergency blankets
- TP
- tags
- game bags
- knives (havalon piranta, gerber bone saw, Outdoor edge swingblaze)
- rope
- calls
- camel back with water
- bottles of Gatorade
- food
- few extra rounds of ammo
- slingshot and SS ball bearings for grouse

And then I carry my binos and rifle on slings.

I usually don't hunt far in the backcountry so I don't bring a GPS, I'm usually close to cell service and half an hour from town.

I assume you are carrying the Gatorade for the electrolytes? You should consider a tube of Nuun tabs. https://www.mec.ca/en/product/5031-008/Electrolyte-Active-Drink-Tabs They are a far lighter alternative than carrying Gatorade. They taste good and the effervescence adds a nice touch.
 
Episode 83 of the Meaterter Podcasty with Steven Rinella discusses the gear list that Janis Putelis (producer on Meateater) is taking on a pack-in archery elk hunt for mid September in Montana. I think that loadout would be beneficial to anyone in BC or Alberta doing a backcountry hunt in that time of year. I imagine that they got worse weather in the mountains on this hunt than they expected given what my brother in Calgary has told me about the weather.

Either way, the podcast itself is a good listen (in general) and, if you follow the link, there is a list of what Janis was packing in. Fair disclosure, he was meeting up with Steve's brother Matt who uses pack llamas to move meat and camp out of the mountains. Janis was planning to pack in and meet Matt. Not sure if that's how it shook out or not.

http://www.themeateater.com/podcasts/ep-083-what-the-hells-in-your-backpack/
 
...i carry a fanny pack and an aluminum pack frame with a shelf for backcountry day hunts

...the fanny pack has a litre of water, a space blanket, a lighter, a mini flashlight with new batteries, a lightweight compass, an extra tee shirt, a hank of poly baling twine, a 20' length of cord, several plastic bags, and 2 ultra lightweight mountaineering pulleys...i keep a couple sandwiches and a stash of hard candy in my jacket pockets...you can go a long time without eating...i know

...the pack frame is empty and has a padded hip strap...its weight is virtually non-existent

...if i succeed then i hang the carcass using the pulleys and debone it all, leaving hide, bones, and offal for the varmints, and rig things up in the bags on the pack frame and out i go

...walked out may times late at night having gotten a deer or such at sundown

...or if i go farther then i use these guys and let them earn their keep...

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