Need help managing weight

[P-nut]

All, I am headed to Wyoming for my first wilderness hunt for elk. Can't seem to manage my weight right. I have to stay under 50#. Can any of you give me some pointers? I am limited to 2 bags and I am having trouble making it all work with my sleeping bag. Need some pointers. Thanks in advance.. God bless..


P-nut

 

[hoshour]

You mean 50 lbs for the airline?

Wear your hunting boots while you fly instead of packing them, same with your heaviest pants. Put your outer hunting jacket over your arm and carry it on the plane, even if it's hot outside.
Put heavy, valuable stuff like binoculars and spotting scope in your carry-on bag. Same with any book or other small, heavy item.
In other words, let your carry-on weigh 30 lbs if you have to. You get a carry-on bag and a "personal item" which they are usually pretty lenient about. For me, that's a soft-sided briefcase that will hold quite a bit.
See if you can fit some small stuff like your flashlight, headlamp and rangefinder into your gun case.
Buy batteries and food after you land.
Don't pack too much clothing.
Keep your toiletries small - I use the WalMart travel size stuff or better yet, a small bottle of concentrated soap from REI.
Don't bring both a tripod and shooting sticks. Just shoot off your tripod.

 

[ivorytip]

damn hoshour, done that a few times eah? sounds like sound advice

 

[hoshour]

Yeah, when you're taking the whole thing - backpack, tent, pad, sleeping bag... and everything the weight adds up.

I also bought a tapered rifle case so it stays under the 62" to keep it from being oversize.

Plus, I fly SWA for two reasons - one, I get two checked bags free and two - I can change my flight home if I score early and not have to pay hundreds for a change fee.

 

[JimP]

Hoshour just told you what to do and almost exactly what I did on my trip to South Africa.

In my carry on which was my day pack I took:
Cameras
Binoculars
All drugs that I needed along with my bathroom stuff
A complete change of clothes.
My heavy jacket tied to the outside of my pack.
What ever else I could stuff into it's pockets to lighten up my suitcase.

I wore clothes that I could hunt in just in case my suitcase didn't show up. I wore my hiking boots laced loosely just for TSA

 

[P-nut]

Thanks for the help. I actually meant for the pack in from trailhead on horse.. I can use some of your ideas though. I actually already have and I am still about 10 lbs over. This is my first ever trip in Wyoming and I just want to be prepared. Have you ever been on a pack in hunt like this? How did you pack? I am wearing one suit of clothes that I will be hinting in as I go.. Thanks and God Bless..

P-nut

 

[Work2hunt]

What do you have to bring for your pack in trip vs what are you bringing vs what does the outfitter provide? If you can put a list up we might be able to help better.

 

[hoshour]

Not sure why your pack is so heavy. Can you list everything that's in it?

Is this a guided trip? If so, your guide will likely have some of the stuff you may be packing, like a spotter.

 

[P-nut]

Yes it is an outfitter..
In bags=
1-Long jons
1 wool pants
1 wool sweater
1 wool vest
Canvas game bags
Rain suit
Sleeping bag
Camera
2 box 300 shells
Personal toiletries
2 small battery packs for GoPro
2 pair socks
Light camp shoes
Day pack with gloves ect.

On me=
binoculars
Suit of clothes




P-nut

 

[zpooch]

You can lose one box of shells. I can't see possibly shooting that much.

 

[ivorytip]

and half of the other box of shells can be left

 

[hoshour]

I can't see how that could total over 50 lbs. unless your rain suit is a heavy slicker, your wool is really heavy and your sleeping bag is big, very low temp. and not high quality.

Your outfitter probably already has game bags.

If your camera is a GoPro, it shouldn't weigh much. If you have a second camera, make it a quality point and shoot with a decent zoom, not an SLR. Your toiletries shouldn't be bigger than 3 oz size. Your long johns should be merino wool.

 

[hoshour]

For example, my sleeping bag is a 0 degree bag and weighs 36 oz, my rain suit is 12 oz, my merino base layer weighs practically nothing and my intermediate layers are either high quality down or merino and don't weigh very much, either.

 

[go_deep]

Got to say I missing it also. My pack with everything for camp and food weights less than 50 pounds. Weight each thing and list it.

 

[P-nut]

You can lose one box of shells. I can't see possibly shooting that much.

Outfitter recommended 2 boxes is why I had those. Also said day pack is considered part the 50# but not imperative that it fit in the duffel bag.

This is my first hunt out there and I really appreciate all the advice.

 

[Skibum81]

Ask your outfitter if you can UPS some boxes of gear to them. Not sure if he will allow it, but if he does that should make it easy. I have done this a few times with a fishing outfitter I visit every summer.

 

[mntnguide]

I agree..i dont see how that lists breaks 50...Ive seen hunters bring the damn kitchen sink in a bag it seems..yours is a list I wished most hunters would have showed up to the trailhead with...First off..Which outfitter you going with here in the wilderness?...Im pretty surprised they dont have sleeping bags provided..as I never worked for an outfitter that asked clients to bring their own...DO bring the game bags...Most outfitters do not provide them, and I always liked having clients with their own to keep the meat cleaner especially for the ride out. . How long is the total hunt?..aka I used to guide 10 day hunts...1 day riding in/ 8 hunting/ 1 riding out...Make sure the Gear bag you bring to get packed into camp is a SOFT sided type duffel..not a dang suitcase or anything with hard sides...They are a Packers most hated object and not good for loads...Ill try to think of other stuff, but your list looks pretty dang minimal already and I dont think you should need to really cut down. . In honesty...outfitters tell clients a poundage to not exceed more so for the guys who show up with everything you can think of...If your gear looks neat and fits in a smaller duffel and doesnt look large and bulky...he shouldnt bitch at all IMO

 

[JimP]

I know on my grizzly hunt in British Colombia for 10 days I was limited to 60 lbs total not including my day pack which I wore in while on the horse. My two duffels weighed less than 50 lbs and the outfitter actually put some food into both of them for the pack in.

I think that if you go over a little not much is going to be said. I would also check with the outfitter and ask for sure about the day pack that you will have with you at all times and won't be on a pack animal.

One problem with leaving 2/3's of your shells is the what if factor. Lets say that you have to resight your rifle in after a fall that you didn't realize was off until you took 10 shots at a elk? Then you will be glad that you had that other box with you.

 

[P-nut]

I will be going with Livingston Outfitters. I found out that my sleeping bag does not need to fit in my duffel. I think I will be ok hopefully. I was only 8 pounds overs with day pack and sleeping bag.


P-nut

 

[P-nut]

I can't see how that could total over 50 lbs. unless your rain suit is a heavy slicker, your wool is really heavy and your sleeping bag is big, very low temp. and not high quality.

Your outfitter probably already has game bags.

If your camera is a GoPro, it shouldn't weigh much. If you have a second camera, make it a quality point and shoot with a decent zoom, not an SLR. Your toiletries shouldn't be bigger than 3 oz size. Your long johns should be merino wool.

My wool is the cabelas outfitter wooltimate. I have the borrowed GoPro (soninlaws) and a quality camera (Nikon) which is the wife's. Merino wool socks.. Badlands long johns. Borrowed a Apex rain suit from brother in Law.. Lol .
I am a father of 6 and my budget is tight if you are wandering about all the borrowing.. Lol.


P-nut