What is the best lightweight day pack for spot and stalk western hunting where you're covering a good bit of ground every day, like an archery elk hunt? Assume the meat is coming out via horses.
Good point. I'm asking for my son-in-law, who is going on his first ever elk hunt and was told to keep things as light as possible.Something else to consider is that even with horses available elk don't always end up dying where the horses can reach them. A pack-out of some length may still be needed, I've been there.
That's pretty much what I pack in my Exo. I prefer the 3500 bag most times because the side pockets are great for my tripod and spotter. With the 2000 bag I used the water bottle holder and compression strap for my tripod and put the spotter in the stretch pocket on the back. The 2000 fits everything fine, but I prefer the layout of the 3500 for the extra half pound or so. The 3500's long side pockets will also hold my rifle if I want to get it out of the way for a long hike or climb. It's just easier to get everything organized in the bigger pack and then compress it down. I rifle hunt so I usually have a puffy jacket and pants stuffed in there later season too. I can dress light for the hike in and put them on at my glassing point.Maybe I should have been more specific. I always have my weapon, spare ammo, 3 liters of water/day minimum, the pack itself, knife and other essentials, rangefinder, headlights, lunch, snacks, often a 65mm spotter and tripod, and layers I take off. That's 25 lbs, so we're not talking a lunch sack.
It's probably a bit more common where I hunt than most places. A big fire went through the canyon and left lots of sharp limbs and down trees that make getting horses into spots a little more hazardous. It can be easier to pack an elk a half mile than saw your way to where it dropped so horses can safely reach it. I also hunt the end of rifle season when bulls are pushed back into some really nasty stuff but they are pretty reliably in those spots.Quote Originally Posted by mcseal2 View Post
Something else to consider is that even with horses available elk don't always end up dying where the horses can reach them. A pack-out of some length may still be needed, I've been there.
this is true, I have a couple times had to pack an elk a short distance to the horses,but in all the years I have been hunting elk ,this is a rare situation. but it DOES happen. once had a bull bail off a cliff and roll down into some ugly, steep, stuff, where , I did not particularly, want to be , let alone take a horse.
for the most part though , if an elk can get there ,so can a HORSE. and on those few occasions I did have to pack it to the horses ,it was never a far pack. generally less then a couple hundred yards at most, with the exception of that one ,which was probably closer to half mile
I agree 100% with this statement.I guess it depends? Since we don't use guides or have access to horses and pack in for 7 days at a time I don't carry a day pack at all. I empty my Kifaru except for water bladder ,food for two days, first aid stuff, cleaning gear with meat bags and other essentials. I always plan on killing a elk on every venture away from camp. (It doesnt always happen that way) So if I head back to camp I plan on it being with a heavy load!! I have never had any issues carrying my regular pack.
Same here, that's why I went with the Kifaru Woodsman. Gives me a ton of options......even if I have stock tied up in the valley to get meat out.I agree 100% with this statement.
Yep. I think there is a bunch of great options out there to accomplish this.I agree slugs. For the same reasons but I use the Reckoning pack.
What do you think of the woodsmanSame here, that's why I went with the Kifaru Woodsman. Gives me a ton of options......even if I have stock tied up in the valley to get meat out.
I agree! I use my AMR when backpacking and my mountain rambler on most day trips. But have been eyeing the fulcrum. I do run a Nimrod pack for short hunts closer to the base camp or pickup. Much quieter material, suspension isn't comparable though.I guess it depends? Since we don't use guides or have access to horses and pack in for 7 days at a time I don't carry a day pack at all. I empty my Kifaru except for water bladder ,food for two days, first aid stuff, cleaning gear with meat bags and other essentials. I always plan on killing a elk on every venture away from camp. (It doesnt always happen that way) So if I head back to camp I plan on it being with a heavy load!! I have never had any issues carrying my regular pack.