Anyone hunt whitetails and elk with the same pack?

[Timber Dawg]

Happy New Year ladies and gents. After lower back surgery and several years off from chasing critters, I've picked up an old recurve and am getting back in the game. I'm at the point where I'm reassembling my hunting gear with purpose in mind, and I'm wondering if anyone on here uses the same pack for whitetail and elk hunting. I do some tree stand hunting for whitetails here in the pine thickets of the southeast, and need to be able to attach an ultralight tree stand and climbing sticks to the outside of the pack. Ive also got a backcountry DIY elk trip in the works where we will be camping several miles into the mountains, and would like to find a pack that would do reasonably well there also.

I'd like to keep it in the $200-400 range to begin with, which I know will limit my options. I realize full well that every pack has its limitations, and that a purpose built pack for each pursuit would be ideal, but that's where I am right now. One other limitation is that there aren't many (if any) shops nearby where I could go and put my hands on several different packs to try them out. Anyone out there found a lack to do reasonably well for both pursuits?

 

[Dos Perros]

Go with a system that has a detachable frame, then buy two purpose built bags. I know KUIU does this and I believe Exo does as well as some others.

 

[Bonecollector]

In that price range, Cableas has a nice pack frame that is detachable.

 

[wa-hunter]

i have and really like the Eberlestock Blue Widow Pack. it compresses down to a nice size day pack which you should be able to put a tree stand on and it also opens up enough to put a whole quartered deer in. then if you want it bigger you can get a spike dufel bag that zips onto it. about a week ago they were on camofire for $250

 

[go_deep]

I've also used the Eberlestock with good results

 

[FlyPatch]

Like Timber Dawt, I'm also in the market for a pack I can use for 3-5 day pack in trips. I'm more sensitive to weitght and multi-functional. I'm not young buck, so i need to count ounces going in and hopefully pounds coming out.
If I read the responses right, most folks like an external frame pack with a detachable pack. Is this so the frame can be used to pack out meat? I researched some and they offer meat bags and hydration packs. If this a nice to have or must have?

 

[Slugz]

FP, TD, and others.

Im also not a young buck anymore but still hike in and out daily from a trailhead on National land. Like u said something functional and detachable is probably the best. I mostly archery hunt here in Colorado. I personally don't like sneaking around with a frame on so I hunt with a fanny pack/rear hanging harness. Very small with minimal gear in it. (tags/ties/knife/meat bags x5/headlamp/gps/snack for the day/ small lightweight water bottle/water filter). If I'm by myself I stash my frame in the woods in a hopefully central location to retrieve and start humping the meat out. I'll hump out the backstraps and loins with my hunting day pack. Something else to consider is how your breaking down the animal also. Depending on the weather/temp/how many people in camp helping/ boned out. All goes into how many trips in and out you really want to make.

I don't like humping around water so I filter and drink as needed. If your looking for a 3-5 day trip and needing to be multi functional one of these new Kuiu is what I would lean towards or ones like em. That's what I want to get but just saving money at this point. Hope that helps, send any questions you have.

 

[tim]

where I live elk and whitetail share the same bedding areas and feeding areas. so yes, you would use the same pack as you are going to the same place.

 

[Timber Dawg]

where I live elk and whitetail share the same bedding areas and feeding areas. so yes, you would use the same pack as you are going to the same place.

Thanks for the input folks. Tim, in the southeast where I hunt whitetails, we don't even have elk. Lol.

I ran across the Eberlestock J34 the other evening, which offers additional bags that can be used in conjunction with the moderately sized frame and pack. I was thinking I could use the super spike duffel or something similar to pack in camp and then use the base for hunting. And the base is small enough to use around here hauling a treestand and whitetail gear. Anyone ever used this pack?

 

[6mm Remington]

I use a Blacks Creek Canadian for elk, deer, antelope, all my hunting. Really like the pack. Also have an Eberlestock Just One that I also like a lot.

 

[drygulch]

I would recommend the KUIU packs. I used one for the first time this past elk season.

 

[mgorm16640]

I have to jump on the Eberlestock blue widow wagon. I bought it for a backpack elk hunt and really fell in love with the system, it seems like I could live out of this pack for about 5 days. It was my first backpack style hunt and I definitely over packed, live and learn. I did upgrade it with the rifle carrier, not sure if it is really necessary, except for the first trip down mnt with a piece of an elk and camp on your back. Eberlestock assessor pouches are kind of pricy, I just hit up a local army navy store to add extra pouches to waist belt. Doesn't all match, but it was cheap.

 

[Luke Downing]

Pack I'm looking at getting is the kifaru tahr and hunter frame 3400 ci and packs down small

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G890A using Tapatalk

 

[mcseal2]

Thanks for the input folks. Tim, in the southeast where I hunt whitetails, we don't even have elk. Lol.

I ran across the Eberlestock J34 the other evening, which offers additional bags that can be used in conjunction with the moderately sized frame and pack. I was thinking I could use the super spike duffel or something similar to pack in camp and then use the base for hunting. And the base is small enough to use around here hauling a treestand and whitetail gear. Anyone ever used this pack?

I have and really like the J34. I use it for most of my hunting including whitetail. I mostly use it as a daypack that can pack meat out the first trip if needed. I would much rather use my frame for the rest of the trips with meat, just more comfortable. With the scabbard next to your back (my favorite feature for daypack use) it puts the load further from your back than the packs the other guys are talking about. The load lifters also don't seem to work as well as those on some of the other higher end packs without a scabbard. As much as I like it, it wouldn't be my first choice when packing in for more than 3 days. I think you'd like it as a daypack that can carry an elk quarter out with you but maybe not taking a heavy camp in for a longer stay. As you add bulk and bags to the J34 it expands further from your back rather than vertically like some of the other packs. Hope this helps and makes sense. If you don't need it to pack a gun I'd probably look at a different model. I've packed lots of bulky loads like chairs and blinds with it into whitetail spots, it works well there for short trips in easier country.

 

[HiMtnHnter]

I have and really like the J34. I use it for most of my hunting including whitetail. I mostly use it as a daypack that can pack meat out the first trip if needed. I would much rather use my frame for the rest of the trips with meat, just more comfortable. With the scabbard next to your back (my favorite feature for daypack use) it puts the load further from your back than the packs the other guys are talking about. The load lifters also don't seem to work as well as those on some of the other higher end packs without a scabbard. As much as I like it, it wouldn't be my first choice when packing in for more than 3 days. I think you'd like it as a daypack that can carry an elk quarter out with you but maybe not taking a heavy camp in for a longer stay. As you add bulk and bags to the J34 it expands further from your back rather than vertically like some of the other packs. Hope this helps and makes sense. If you don't need it to pack a gun I'd probably look at a different model. I've packed lots of bulky loads like chairs and blinds with it into whitetail spots, it works well there for short trips in easier country.

I have used the same pack for deer and elk. A well-built pack in the 3,000 + ci (depending on configuration and support) will get the job done. I've used an old kelty (What, no new-fangled designer pack? "Gasp", No way . . .) for years and that pack as allowed me to (begrudgingly) carry out entire quartered deer on multiple occasions (one of them was, in fact, a whitetail!), and a quarter+ of elk meat. Keep a more stout pack frame in the truck/camp on the elk hunts.

In my experience, a if a pack can do the jobs you need most of the time without switching packs, you got yourself a good pack. But, also, there is no such thing as a "perfect" pack for the DIY western hunter.

 

[Winchester]

Last year I bought a Sitka Flash 32 backpack.
It works very well for me ... and it's in your price range.
You might want to check into one.

 

[jmwyoming]

I have the j34 as well. excellent pack. I have the super spike duffel as well, haven't had to use it yet. I have packed several elk and mulies out with it. the scabbard is an excellent hands free way of moving especially in rugged country.

 

[IDELKFVR]

I use my badlands day pack for every thing. I also have badlands pack frame that I use when the need arises to pack game. Put half an elk on that frame ( back half 147 lbs) last year and packed it out frame held up good me on the other hand about died good thing it was all down hill or that would have been a no go.

 

[Joseph]

Where I live and hunt I carry tags for whitetail, mule deer, black bear, elk, and moose. I may set out with say mule deer on my mind but I won't pass up a whitetail that I see or any of the animals I have a tag for. Yes I know all the experts say to pick your prey and stick to the plan, well I'm not an expert and I like meat in my freezer. My day pack is set up for hunting a little bit of everything.

 

[mcseal2]

I just bought one of the Eberlestock X1A2 packs for just plain daypack use. It took it on a couple 3 mile conditioning hikes and liked it real well so far. It's lighter and more compact than the J34 and rides really nice. It is a much smaller pack, not probably good for hauling camp or meat. The scabbard being centered instead of offset like the old X1A1 and the optics pockets are nice features. I can carry my Outdoorsmans compact medium tripod real easy in one, and a 65mm spotter fits nice in the other. The old ones those had to go in the main pocket. I think they got this one right from what little I played with it so far, real nice daypack when you don't need to haul a bunch of gear. I've tried lots of their packs, the X1A2 and J34 are my current favorites.