Ultra lightweight hunting ?

carverk

carverk

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Haida Gwaii !
I've been looking at ultralight rifle and equipment
For rifles I'm leaning towards Kimber have it made up my mind on caliber leaning towards 308 ammo but realy like shooting 260
I have yet to try 300 wm but I keep thinking about it sounds like the recoil is similar to 450 Marlen and I like the the 450 so that's still an option

For tent and pack leaning towards seek outdoors I like ther small hot tent and stove .
For a really long hard Mountain hunts the seek Tarp poncho look interesting haven't slept under tarps for a while Haahaa
My goal is to be able to travel as light as possible in the mountains and for long elk hunts
 
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carverk said:
I've been looking at ultralight rifle and equipment
For rifles I'm leaning towards Kimber have it made up my mind on caliber leaning towards 308 ammo but realy like shooting 260
I have yet to try 300 wm but I keep thinking about it sounds like the recoil is similar to 450 Marlen and I like the the 450 so that's still an option

For tent and pack leaning towards seek outdoors I like ther small hot tent and stove .
For a really long hard Mountain hunts the seek Tarp poncho look interesting haven't slept under tarps for a while Haahaa
My goal is to be able to travel as light as possible in the mountains and for long elk hunts
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I think the OR 'Alpine Bivy' is about as light as you would want to go and still be assured of tough 4 seasons protection and bug protection.

Often 308 rifles are just a small bit lighter than a 260 due to the bigger hole... of course ammo is a little heavier .. But a Model 7 in 308 is pretty nice. I would get one with iron sights and use aluminum weavers for a detachable Leupold that could also go in your pack when in heavy stuff on the way up.
 
AP said:
I think the OR 'Alpine Bivy' is about as light as you would want to go and still be assured of tough 4 seasons protection and bug protection.

Often 308 rifles are just a small bit lighter than a 260 due to the bigger hole... of course ammo is a little heavier .. But a Model 7 in 308 is pretty nice. I would get one with iron sights and use aluminum weavers for a detachable Leupold that could also go in your pack when in heavy stuff on the way up.
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I was just thinking about a bivy but can't get gear out of the rain and snow
When I was younger all I used to pack Is my trapper Nelson , set of Healy Hanson rain gear that would also be used as my tent and sleeping bag but, I'm getting older and don't like sleeping under tree stumps and rock piles still do it once in a while but it doesn't mean I have to like it Haahaa

Rifle I'm really undecided a peep sight might be a good compromise between iron sites and a scope
 
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carverk said:
I was just thinking about a bivy but can't get gear out of the rain and snow
When I was younger all I used to pack Is my trapper Nelson , set of Healy Hanson rain gear that would also be used as my tent and sleeping bag but, I'm getting older and don't like sleeping under tree stumps and rock piles still do it once in a while but it doesn't mean I have to like it Haahaa

Rifle I'm really undecided a peep sight might be a good compromise between iron sites and a scope
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Well I have used a heavy duty plastic garbage bag to store my pack in when it rained heavily...also kept one in the valise for the sleeping bag just in case. I think good peep sights are great! Durable and effective and light!
 
AP said:
Well I have used a heavy duty plastic garbage bag to store my pack in when it rained heavily...also kept one in the valise for the sleeping bag just in case. I think good peep sights are great! Durable and effective and light!
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Garbage bags is a great idea don't know I never thought of it before
 
langbanger said:
Have you had any luck on your elk hunt by GP yet?
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Haven't even made it out hunting yet Haahaa
Just taken some stupid safety courses befor I can go to work Probably won't get out for another two or three weeks it's probably a good thing let the local guys have for crack at them
By the time I get out ther will be Snow probably wind up hunting with snowshoes and a sled this year
 
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burnt_servo said:
I can't remember where I saw them , one of the dealers here where carrying Melvin Forbes's rifles , I also do recall seeing a couple on the ee here too .
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Just checking out Forbes's rifles first time hearing about them very interested now
Still not sure if I'm going with a ultralight rifle if my Basic kit is ultralight pack,tent, sleeping bag and stove I will be able to go with a slightly heavier rifle if I hook the sling onto the corner of the pack board

https://ca.video.search.yahoo.com/v...=1444847487&fr2=p:s,v:v&fr=yfp-hrtab-715&tt=b
 
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Big fan of my KM 84M , Minimalist Ultra Light hunting...... I opted for a 2 Person Tent to give me a bit more room, 1 person for the minimalist but down under we will use Fly sheets, sleeping bag an Bivvy bag.. those 3 items don't take up much room, or weight.


I use a 85 Litre Black Wolf pack, it doesn't really weigh too much? not big metal frame though, good for storing your gear in. You may have access to more well priced specific made for the hunter Hiking packs however... I didn't justify the expense here.

Forget the name of the Stove, but Jetboil seems to be common down here for boiling the water and A lot of dudes spend a few Extra Dollars on "Back country cuisine" meals, here around $22 per packet.


It seems between me an my mates that 21-22kg is the norm for a few days packing...

WL
 
norlandgeese said:
Will it be wooded where you go? If yes can a snugpak hammock substitute a tent?
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The ultralight set up will be for the mountains
I basically grew up either on the ocean or in the mountains Hell for a while I was a high angle rock scaler working off a rope putting in rock bolts or cutting trees on the cliffs for CN rail in BC
I can still rock scale but I'm a bit slower and working as a roughneck is easier and pays better but not as much fun.
I was never able to work a regular 9-to-5 job i've always needed some kind of Adventure .
I tried working at plants In northern Alberta and couldn't last five days had to be working in the bush haha
 
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norlandgeese said:
Will it be wooded where you go? If yes can a snugpak hammock substitute a tent?
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I bought one of those hammocks and one night in one in the mountains I said #%€£ that. Zero heat retention hanging in open air, massive risk with the Grizzlies hanging out there like a hot dog on a spit, and swings like crazy in a mountain wind. Utterly useless gear for BC mountain hunting in my estimation, which is unfortunate as they're so light and packable. In the Amazon they're likely great, I did some trips there and hammocks are popular, keeps you away from the ground dwelling bugs, warmer conditions, and way less wind.
 
Weight wise if you can't get your pack and gear to 40lbs something's wrong. We struggle with this a lot guiding, you need one outer layer and changeable under layers, three. You're not going to smell good when you come out.

Lots of OK freeze dried food on the market now, ration and eat less than normal. Bars are heavy and pick high sugar ones with fiber, I buy the fiber ones quick breakfast that warms you up with all that sugar. One plastic light large mug, one plastic spork, eat food out of the freeze dried pouches no bowl.

Plan to spend $600-1200 on your shelter, $600 on your bag and $800 on the sleeping bag, get an air cell 2/3rds mat, a small fly sheet for shelter, a Kimber to shave two or three useless rifle pounds, pack only five (expert) to ten (average) rounds ammunition. Get a plastic flexible water "bag bottle", they're way lighter than a nalgene, and a lifestraw to avoid carrying too much water.

Remember to pack like you're building an aircraft, EVERY ounce matters! As soon as the first "it's only half a pound heavier" happens they've lost the whole concept. I spent $1500 landed on my tripod for a carbon one and I'm still looking for lighter. It's not that you can't hunt heavier, but guiding I get all the client's inappropriate soggy gear and pig of a rifle to carry when they realise what we were talking about on the packing list. Every gram I can shave I do, and if I'm lucky and get a well packed mountain client, well the trip's a joy then and they get more opportunities. Your knees and back don't last forever but a Kimber even if you think there are better rifles, that's the single biggest weight savings for a hunter, gun and ammo. I like other rifles better but use Kimbers on account of weight. Go stainless as stuff to protect a gun is heavy.
 
My goal is to do a complete package as lightweight as possible on everything rifle ,scope ,tent, sleeping bag, Pack ,stove and boots
Clothing I still believe in wool it's not the lightest but it is the most effective and most durable might be just nostalgic from my old trapper nelson minimalist days haha
One pair of wool pant, shirt,and a hat wich I would be wearing and 2 sets of wool socks
The life straw I never thought it till you brought it up Ardent
 
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Ardent said:
I'd really argue polar fleece, harder to find now, but it's far superior to wool in wet conditions and much lighter.
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I will look into polar fleece this is my winter project
for regular hunting
I can't realy think of any thing that I realy need between the 30'live aboard,rokons,Unimog,outfitters tipi tent coots stoves if a good used skidoo come up this winter for the right price I mite get that but it's lower on the priority list I can still get by with snowshoes and a sled and the lightweight set up will be handy for that too
 
carverk said:
The ultralight set up will be for the mountains
I basically grew up either on the ocean or in the mountains Hell for a while I was a high angle rock scaler working off a rope putting in rock bolts or cutting trees on the cliffs for CN rail in BC
I can still rock scale but I'm a bit slower and working as a roughneck is easier and pays better but not as much fun.
I was never able to work a regular 9-to-5 job i've always needed some kind of Adventure .
I tried working at plants In northern Alberta and couldn't last five days had to be working in the bush haha
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Thats very interesting!!! :) I was a scaler as well on a dam project..did the stuff on the walls (high and low) and the stuff at the bottom of the pour as well...did the rock and the wood form work that had to come out after a poor... you can build up some biceps that would make 'Arnold' envious carrying a scaling bar around for a few months. One armed chinups were pretty easy then! My thought would be a Remington Model Seven synthetic. I guess they dont drill them for peep sights anymore but I see NECG has peeps that mount on a 'weaver' base and that would be a great investment as you could shift it around. I am sure there are lightweight detachable foresights you could find. I think the forbes ultralight may be pricey and despite all the recommendations for Kimber...they dont appeal to me at all. Kimber has made some pretty shoddy stuff and I recall when they won a US military contract for 22lr target rifles but couldnt deliver the contracted specs for accuracy. What do I know...but they are not for me...otoh I have been quite happy with Remington. As for calibre..either the 308 or the 7/08 seems to work well. The. 308 has always been well regarded and I have seen pretty big moose come down quick with it. And for years that's all the military has carried around the high arctic for big white bears and I dont know any soldier that got eaten by a bear...otoh we would have considered ourselves lucky to have even seen a bear. Not all the north has polar bear concentrations like Churchill! Light weight is always good advice and I have had to carry some nasty loads. But if you are going alone for up to a week....stick with a good goretex bivvy shelter. And a down bag. You might be able to get away without a pad depending on where you are. In some areas...you really have no choice if you want to sleep and will need a light weight pad. They are annoying though as they can unwieldy when packing it. I also dont like hammocks. Some freeze dried foods are fine but you need lots of water, protein, fibre and fat in your diet when you are working that hard. Pemmican had/has most of the constituent ingredients your body needs. So if you select freeze dried food read the ingredients carefully. Depending on how high you will be hunting...you may wish to save room for a small axe if you can. Btw youtube has some good footage on the Hoover Dam construction...and nice coverage of the scalers at work!
 
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