Originally Posted by
salukipv1
Does anyone out there go backpacking for elk or other game?
Mostly interested in hearing from people who just use backpacks, not pack mules/horses etc...
I like the idea of packing into the back country and getting away from the crowds, but seems pretty tough task. Simply carrying enough gear for a week or 10day hunt clothes and food alone I think would add so much weight. Not to mention bow/rifle plus meat once you get lucky, though I could happily deal with packing out horns/meat.
Just been looking at tents, packs, sleeping bags lately, kinda trying to come up with a reason to buy this gear. Just going on a backpacking trip sounds pretty fun though too.
In some areas too it almost seems tough to get away from access roads etc...I'm sure wilderness areas aren't too tough to get away, so maybe is this the only areas backpackers backpack to get away from it all. wilderness areas?
Also what's the typical pack load weight? how big of a pack do you use?
Last year was my first back pack hunt ever, and I loved it, no other way to go. I have been in outfitter camp as a guide, and this beats that hands down. It was a tough hike in but I was rewarded with calling in 4 different bulls in a 30 minute span from the same spot. I could never do that from a day hunt from the road. My pack came in at 60lbs, but I didn't use some of the crap I toted in. I use a jet-boil stove with Mountain House grub, only way to do it imo. I second the crystal light as it provided decent tasting drink and it is light weight. We forgot a water bladder last year and made repeated trips down to the stream, bad mistake. We drink straight from the streams. Also bring a shaker bottle so you can mix your drinks with minumal effort. My partner brought in a jet-boil coffee press so we had java each morning. About 10lbs for each day seems to be what we carried in gear. I used the Dwight Schuh pack which I thought was basically a piece of crap, the strap buckle broke as I was crossing a stream shifting my pack and dumping me off the log into the drink, I was peod, but my buddy found it ridiculously funny.
heres a close up of our wilderness kitchen, poles were strapped on with paracord. we brought in 2 tarps with our gear.