Ok, I drew an area 10 early deer tag this year (Nevada), the season runs Oct 2nd -22nd. It is any legal weapon, so my weapon will be my Savage 110 .30-06. I just got back from talking with the area biologist and he gave me an idea. I am wanting to get at least a 4 pointer this year, or depending on the deer, a GOOD three pointer might do. The area I drew holds most of the deer in wilderness, and they do not start moving down until November usually. I have no horses or any other form of packing stock. My only option to get a big buck is to hike way back (5 + miles) from the nearest road. I know the deer will be in the same general area from now until late October. So, my plan is this:

1) In July and August, do some scouting trips and locate bucks in some areas that the biologist has pointed me to.

2) In mid September take a folding shovel and a 4x4 piece of plywood to a central location, that would give me a good area to hunt any bucks that I find, by backpack. Dig a hole and place the plywood on top and cover with dirt and brush.

3) In late September, stock the location with canned and freezed dried foods, along with sealed jugs of water. As well as other items that can stand to be left up there (ie, propane bottles, a tarp or two, and maybe the tent, making sure it is sealed good).

4) Opening weekend go to the location, carrying on my back the remaining items needed to stay up there for a week or so, without having to make long trips from the nearest road every morning.

5) After I get a buck, or after the season is over, make some trips back to the location to remove any garbage that I was unable to remove before, as well as any left over items.

You are making life way too hard on yourself. A five-mile is hike is nothing, you can do it easily in 4-5 hours.

I would suggest scrapping the shovel idea and its NEVER a good idea to pack in a lot of canned goods - too heavy. You need a light stove and some dehydrated food. Its caloric and very light, and not too bad. Also, just flat forget hauling water. Get a purifier or use tablets. Hauling water is silly and will wear you out . You need to quit thinking like a deer hunter, and start thinking like a sheep hunter.

You need to change your gear and your attitude a little is all. You should be able to live reasonably well for a week with a 70 pound pack, people do it up here all of the time. I think I have a recommended sheep hunter's equipment list at work if you want to see what they recommend you carry.

AlaskaMagnum-Thank you for the reply. I know you have probably more experience hunting in steep and treacherous terrain than I. I also thought about the canned food issue. That would not be something that I would want to carry in and out also. The reason I thought about bringing extra stuff in before hunting season was that if I was going to be up there anyway, why not bring some stuff up to make the last trip lighter?

However, water could be an issuse, peticularly for me. I had a kidney transplant on April 1st, and I need to have about 2 gallons of water a day when I am not doing any strenuous activity. This presents me a problem, as the area that I will be hunting will likely have no (or very little) snowpack, and the water sources are usually springs that do not actually have a good flow coming out of them. Enough water for deer, sheep, and goats, but not quite what I would want to drink, even if purified. There are some high mountain lakes up there, but not sure of drinking out of lakes either. This is why the water bottle idea came to mind. I am sure I could purify some water, but would not want to have all of my drinking water come from a source like that.

I have a small coleman camp stove that works well for hiking up in the mountains (I have used it in the area before). I also have a good sleeping bag that has seen many trips to the mountains around here. The tent I have is a Wenzel that has seen a few wind storms and will be replaced this summer. Note sure on exactly what to get. I was thinking of a Coleman backpacking tent, but not sure yet. Any suggestions?

My current day pack weighs about 12 pounds, but is a survival kit also, and a lot of the items will easily double for use in a remote camp, allowing me to combine the weight. I could scrap the shovel idea with no problem. But I just need an idea of how I would have plenty of water for a week.

Again, thanks for the reply. I knew I would have people suggest better ways, but better to get more ideas early than to learn the hard way.

I agree with Alaska Magnum on everything but the water. I am unsure if he has been to Nevada recently, but I know I have and you guys are in just as much of a drought as we in Utah are. THERE IS NO WATER! I would haul up as much H20 as you can! If you were in an area near a river/dependable stream, I would say use a purifier.

Well,

I grew up in Colorado, but it was wetter back then. I guess I would recommend doing a hike beforehand and make sure you camp near a waterhole. Try the MSR miniworks, it is a purfiier, so the water is completely safe. You can get one from Campmor for about $110, which is not cheap, but won't break the bank. Remember if it does not say PURIFIER, it is just a filter. There IS a difference. You can also use it in combo with pills if purity is an issue because of your kidneys. Regardless, you are going to have to find a source somewhere because you are not going to be able to haul enough water for a week. Maybe use your topos to find a reliable source, then on your scouting trips locate them.


For a tent, I would not use the Wenzel. Too heavy and not needed. A one-man bivy sack tent at around 4 lbs is all you need. Remember, you are not here for comfort. Buy a foam sleeping pad, and cut it off about butt level, you don't need anymore. You don't need a top of the line bivy shelter. You can set these guys up under the trees where the wind won't be an issue.

You are going to need a frame pack. Camptrails are not all that expensive, the Cabelas are basically the same frame, just beefed up a little. There are others. General rule - more expensive = more comfortable. Get what you can afford.

Sleeping bag - go with the lightest bag you dare!!!

Food = if it does not have at least 100 calories per ounce, don't even bother.

Other than that, I notice a lot of guys bring too much clothing. One fresh shirt, one fresh pants, one sweater, one parka, and rain gear. Add a couple of pairs of longjohns and socks, and you are set.

Pack up everything, then weigh your pack, if its too heavy, try to figure out what you can cut out. Gotta keep it around 80lbs or so.

I will try to find that sheep list and post it here. It has more ideas than I do.

AlaskaMagnum-Again, thanks for the replies and the extra info. Finding a water source is not an issue peticularly. Like I said, there are many mountain lakes that hold water year round, but I get nervous drinking from standing water. By October the snow pack will be gone. I will look into that purifier you mentioned. About how much water can you get in a specified amount of time? I just went to Walmart actually to look and see if they had any of the compact backpack tents. They are in their alpine line or something like that. Umm... trees, may be very interesting. There are a few, but most are on rockslides! I was also looking at the Cabela's Alaskan I or II frame pack. I asked about them in the gear review forum, but did not recieve many replies. I will stick with the sleeping bag that I have. I don't recall how much it weighs, but it is not very much and is good for temps well below zero, and most of the time I sweat out of it even in cooler temps.

I would not hesitate to drink water from a lake that has been filtered by the MSR minifilter. I have done it before. That is definately the way to go. Check online, they should give you the different models and how much water you can pump per minute.

Charlie brown. Listen to what AlsakaMagnum said about the PURIFIER. Do not drink from a filtered water source. It does make a difference. Trust me.

I agree with what was said by AlaskaMagnum and the others. I've gone into the BWCA in northern MN with one pack and a canoes for a week and one thing I was surprised at is how good those freeze dried foods are!! There are a number of makers out there such as Mountain Home, etc. They are light and when I'm out there in the woods I'll eat just about anything. Good luck on your trip CB!!

I hunt the Ruby mountains as often as I get a tag. I was there last year and it was very hot. I do it with backpack so as to get away from the crowds. Of lately you'll see people everywhere. To locate a nice deer is hard. I mean in the 24" and up. Last year I glassed and spotted so many small deer it made me sick not to see that big one. I saw probally 150 different small bucks and probally walked 6-7 miles a day with pack in hand. I planned my hunt to always be near water and hunt towards it. As for food, no steaks, I ate allot of trailmix and fruit bars. I was able to find plenty of water and I used a pruifier to filter the water. Make sure to find more than one location to hunt in. You'll be surprised to find out that hunters will be all over you. Don't plan a hunt during the Full Moon. If so do allot of glassing during the mid day til about 2 in the afternoon. No big bucks will be out in the evenings. If you can hunt during the new moon, do it. Best time to hunt. Hope that the weather gets cold and some snow. Keeps those bucks out a little longer. Go as high up on the mountain and stay high. The big ones are either on private property or very very high on the mountain. Make sure you have good glass to use and tell someone where you'll be. If your hunting alone , be careful!!! The only way to hunt the Ruby's is by packpack, have a good and safe hunt. Hope fully you'll get the one I saw and didn't get.