Hardcast you got to stop shooting game at the bottom of those mtns. Shoot them at the top. It make it easier to pack out! Joking of course. That is some gorgeous country.

yeah! thought of that decades ago...
but if you've hunted extensively you'll know all too well...
the damn F#$%^& elk have other priorities
and making my trip back to the truck lugging boned out meat ,
EASY....is very VERY low on their priority list

like the old joke

new hunter to old guide ?
Wheres the best place to shoot an elk?"

old guide to new hunter
looking him over slowly..

well my favorite place is within 20 feet of the truck we have here, parked on the road side!

^^^ That's a classic about where to shoot an elk. :D

It's good to see other peoples' lists as it makes you think about something you maybe forgot on your own list. Basically, a list should include everything you need to both hunt the animal and then clean and retrieve it if you're successful. Your list may change over time depending on how you're hunting, how you're feeling and sometimes just because you learned something new. When I look back over my old lists, I can see a lot of knowledge gained through experience.

Did anybody mention toilet paper an hadi wipes. Don't leave home without it unless you want to cut off your T-shirt or the top of your socks.

Sounds like the voice of experience speaking. :)

Yes, sir. First hand experience for sure and more than once.

depend on where you will perform the hunting!!!

Boots and layers. If you're freezing or you're feet are all gnarled up you're going to have problems.

My favorite boots: Zamberlan Lynx boots.
Some of my favorite layers: Sitka Core Lightweight base layer for warm days and the Sitka Jetstream Jacket for a good windstopper/jacket combo.

I think it's comfortable clothes

May have been mentioned, but an XXL waterproof poncho can be a life saver. Many uses but the big one is to avoid going into shock if you get hurt and/or hypothermic. Many uses for a good waterproof poncho, they are often inexpensive, light and easy to pack. Think of them as a small one man tent, preserves body heat. breaks the heat stealing wind, can easily be made into a litter etc.

A single stick as a tent post, any handy overhead cover (Pine Tree) and a single candle will keep you warm for hours.

I'm a cold-weather person, I've spent weeks outdoors in the snow. It only takes once to make you a believer about hypothermia. Under the right circumstances, anybody is vulnerable. I learned that lesson the hard way, almost died.