Essentials for back country archery elk hunt?
 

Well my rifle hunt decided to turn into and archery hunt once we figured out the unit had OTC tags. The hunt now we will leave August 29th and be ready by the 1st. We will hunt from September 3rd- 12th and come back home on the 13th. This is my first archery elk hunt but not my first time going to elk camp so I know what to expect with altitude, etc. But since this is my first elk hunt where I could actually hunt and stay some time out in the woods I want to hear from the experienced elk hunter. I have read article after article and some stuff it seems like you really don’t need it. I am trying to keep it as budget friendly as possible but make sure I have the correct stuff. My budget for the trip I would like to keep it under $3,000 including gas, food, tags, etc. This post might sound kind of ignorant but I want to make sure I have the essentials first and in line with my budget before I buy anything else. So here is what I currently have:

• Archery equipment: Only thing I think I need is and extra release.
• Sleeping bags
• Boots: Danners and some waterproof Columbia mid boots.
• Clothes (including socks, underwear, etc) but I am thinking about buying some kind of polyester blend or all polyester
• Flashlights
• binos
• Rangefinder
• Rain gear
• Bivy sack to throw clothes in
• Knives

Stuff I know I need:

• Game bags
• Paracord
• Some type of water purification
• Calls
• First aid kit
• food
• I have a ruck sack but I know for a fact if (big if) I shoot an elk it will be a pain packing it out in that. So I will be getting a new pack.
• fire starter, space blanket, compass,
• Tent
• baby wipes
• TP

Now I would like to hear y'all chime in on what you think the essentials will be and what I should add or take away. I appreciate y'alls input.

The two that are going to cost you some money are a good tent or bivy and a backpack. Make sure you take plenty of time before you buy them to ensure they will get the job done, as life in the back country is miserable if the weather turns sour and you can't get out of it for a good nights sleep along with getting everything you'll need in and out again. Therefore, make extra sure that the pack you get will be able to safely carry a good load of meat. Elk take at least 4 trips to the trail head if you're by yourself and probably 3 if you have a buddy with you.

I have been thinking about getting one of these packs. It is $114 on Amazon made by alps but what tent would you suggest? I have the one my unit has issued me but it is barely big enough to fit one person inside let alone my gear.

http://outdoorz.alpsbrands.com/produ...ander-pack-bag

I have backpack hunted elk many times. I take a small backpack stove and fuel to keep from stinking up my area with a fire. A tarp, sleeping bag and pad, compass, map, pen and paper, extra socks and underwear, soap, water tablets, dehydrated food, tea bags, one gallon plastic bags (enough for the deboned meat and some extras to keep gear dry), weather radio, binoculars, camera, aspirin, very small sun screen & lip balm, electrical tape and a lightweight shelter are on my list. I haul it all in an external frame pack to camp and use a daypack for actual hunting. Most fellows seem to like the internal frame packs better but I like the option of stripping off the bag and just using the frame sometimes. I tend to sweat too much with an internal frame pack riding directly against my back.

If I do not have to pack in far I take a few luxuries like a paperback book and some comfortable camp clothes.

Thanks I sweat a lot too an think and external frame pack is something that to me seems like it is more versatile. I will also have a day pack. I'm glad I made this thread because some of these hunting list I was reading by places like Gander mountain was racking my budget up fast and I was thinking you shouldn't need everything on here.

The pack you linked looks good to me. It is very much like the pack that has served me well. I can haul about 100 pounds (maybe a little more) in my old pack before the pins and rigs start to have problems. That reminds me - take some extra pins and rings for your pack along.

You do not need to spend a fortune to be comfortable in the backcountry,

Some backpacking and rock climbing stores rent tents at very reasonable rates.

Alps makes good stuff and I just bought their Traverse backpack a couple days ago right through their company. It was $230 and I got it for $115 under an RMEF promo code and there were no taxes or shipping charges. You probably should order that one you posted ASAP while the price is right.

How do you like that pack for a day pack? Is this it?
Oh nevermind that is a big pack but a nice one!

This is the one I just bought and it's to be delivered sometime next week.

If you are packing camp in, and elk and camp out, on your back. Be realistic about how far in you are going. You can figure about 160 lbs of meat off a yearling cow, 200+ off an average cow or bull, and upwards of 260 lbs of meat from a larger bull. That is boned and trimmed. Add the antlers and a cape (if you are going to get it mounted) and it gets heavy fast. Add camp and gear and as stated above, it'll be at least 4 heavy trips by your self. Early season hunts tend to bring warmer weather, so time becomes a factor too. Even if one has the strength and stamina, if you are too many miles back, it is difficult to get the beast out before risk of spoilage.

Oh I understand that, the place where my family has elk hunted has been a place my grandfather has hunted over 20 years. I have been up there a few times hiking and when I was to young to actually be able to harvest an elk. It isn't a long trek maybe about a mile or maybe less but there is a significant amount of elevation change. And we have yet to see any people up there during season. (cross my fingers). We also have a creek that runs next to camp. Would it be smart, if I shoot one to, stick the meat in the creek while we back it out? Or would you hang it up?

One thing I just thought of that I just went to in the last several years is a good LED headlamp. I still have a tiny flashlight or two, but a good headlamp is invaluable to have your hands free while walking. It is also great if you have to process an animal at night so you have both hands free since skinning/gutting/deboning, etc. takes both hands.

A horse or two.

Hang it unless you have it cut up and sealed inside of watertight containers. We cut and trim enough in the field to put all of the meat into big Ziploc bags. Whatever you do get it cooled as fast as you can and keep it clean. Keep those darn insects off of the meat as much as possible.

A saw comes in handy to cut the skull to get the antlers off. A cheap hacksaw will do it. Antlers and a bit of skull weigh a whole lot less than an elk head.

"We also have a creek that runs next to camp. Would it be smart, if I shoot one to, stick the meat in the creek while we back it out? Or would you hang it up?"

Get the hide off ASAP and then hang the meat in breathable game bags in the shade near the creek where it should be cooler than other areas. We do that and then put the game bag in a garbage bag inside our packs just long enough to keep our packs clean on the way out to the truck. That way the meat is cooling the entire time in the shade and is left in the shade in the game bags at the truck. Generally the meat is fairly cool by the time we get back to camp and it's never put in a cooler until it has cooled off even if we have to cut it into smaller pieces to speed cooling. NEVER put warm meat right into plastic bags, as they hold the heat and it's an easy way to ruin it.

Just saw this unused Big Agnes tent on another website and it's the Platinum and weighs 1 pound 7 ounces. The price has been lowered from $300+ to $260 and he says he will go no lower. That would be a great tent for you at a very good price, especially since it has never been used! If you want it, send me a PM and I'll put you in touch with the guy. He's a regular on the other site I visit and I can vouch for him.

I will assume you are writing about large hunks of meat such as full quarters. However, if you are typing that putting meat into a gallon sized Ziploc bag then I will most certainly disagree with you. The bags are small enough to be separated from each other and the meat cools quite well. I know this as I have done this dozens of times, it is not just speculation.

Putting meat into most garbage bags is a bad idea. Most garbage bags are treated to reduce odor. There are some clear recycled bags that are not treated.

That assumption is correct in that I was talking about bone in quarters or whole boned out quarters that we take out in or on our backpacks, not small stuff like you break it down into. Doing what you do should allow the meat to let the heat out sufficiently such that it's no big deal. We don't break the meat down that small like you do at least until we get to camp and have coolers of ice for it. We also always make sure that the plastic bags we use, even though it's for a fairly short time during our trips to the truck, are not treated with anything that might be transferred to the meat.

You should also put on the list a handheld GPS, paper map, and compass.

A 44cal+ pistol and a large can of bear spray.

I would add that it would be beneficial to have some elk present on a back country elk hunt.

Preferably, dead at your feet.

This place I am hunting my grandfather scouts it during summer and September for his rifle hunts and and has said there are plenty of elk there. I know in this area he has shot 14 in the last 15 years out of there but after reading I see that they can change patterns and change mountains easily which is also another reason why I want to keep my back to the essentials and light as possible.



Guys I appreciate all the help. I'm taking all of y'alls post for count and adding the information to my notebook.