Need some ideas on how to pack for backcountry Elk hunting trip?
If you’re new to backcountry hunting, the massive lists of hunting gear can be intimidating. Here, we’re going to try to break it down into separate systems so we can see exactly what we need. This is exactly what I pack when I go elk hunt in September. Will this list work for everyone? No. There is so many different styles to backcountry hunting. This is simply a resource for anyone building their own gear list or looking to improve their existing one. I always like to have a paper copy of my gear list when I’m packing for peace of mind that I’m not missing anything. It’s also very handy to write down the weight of each piece of gear, that way you can visualize where your weight is coming from and can help you know what gear to cut out or upgrade to a lighter weight. Check out the pack list below if you would like a copy for yourself so you can start working on your own pack!
With no food, water or weapon, I like to aim for a pack weight under 25 pounds. This can vary of course, on the type of gear you need to bring. Will you take a spotter, rain gear, tripod…
Be sure to check out our YouTube video as well. There you can see all the gear I use and how I pack it in my pack.
So what should I pack?
Based on some wise advice I received from an experienced backpacker, I try to use the same gear for multiple uses. I’ll use my trekking poles for an example. I use them for trekking poles, obviously – tent poles, and if I’m rifle hunting they will be my shooting sticks as well. By having one piece of gear that does three jobs for me, I’m “saving weight”. The more you can do this, your pack will be more efficient and you’ll have less gear. As I mentioned before, I like to break my gear down into systems.
▲ Shelter/sleeping System
▲ Cooking/Drinking System
▲ Clothing System
▲ Personal/Hygiene
▲ Safety/Essentials
▲ Kill System
▲ Electronics
▲ Misc. Gear
I also like to separate the gear that goes in my pack and the gear that I carry or wear. If you would like to see the exact gear that I use, you can download my gear list from the top of this article.
Clothing that is worn: – Hiking Boots – Socks – Pants – Base layer shirt – Cap
Gear that is worn or carried:
– Binoculars
– Bugle Tube
– Range Finder
– Wind-checker
– Calls
– Phone or GPS
– Bow, quiver, arrows…
– Release
Now for the gear that goes in your pack. I’ll brake down each system separately. There’s a few things that I don’t have in a system because they’re always in or on my pack: – Bear Spray – Water bladder w/splice kit – Bow hook
Shelter/Sleeping – Tent & stakes – Sleeping Pad – Sleeping Bag – Pillow – Trekking Poles
Packed Clothes – Socks – Underwear – Base Bottom* – Jacket – Rain Gear* – Beanie – Camp Shoes
Kill Kit – Knife – Game Bags – Flagging Tape – Gloves – Black garbage bags – Cord – Tags and License
Cooking/Drinking – Stove – Fuel – Utensil – Water Filter – Bottle for Flavored Drinks
Personal/Hygiene – Toothbrush/Paste – Baby Wipes & TP – Backpacker’s Towel
Safety/Essentials – Map – Lighter – Fire Starter – First Aid
Electronics – Headlamp – Extra headlamp batteries (AAA) – Satellite Communicator
Hunting Gear – Decoy – Bow Care Kit – Extra Release – Tripod*
Even with all the extra gear, tripod, rain gear, and decoy, I still able to stay under 25lbs. On top of that, I figure about 2lbs of food per day + 2 liters of water (4.4lbs). On paper, that would put a 4 day hunt at 37.01lbs. Technically, I would be less than that. On longer trips I would drop the decoy, and I won’t pack rain gear unless I absolutely need to. Also, most hunt I will not take a tripod unless I plan to do a lot of glassing and I will only pack half the food for the days hiking in and out. That will subtract 6.5lbs putting me at just over 30lbs for a 4 day hunt. That is a comfortable weight to haul around the mountains plus, you’ll be able to pack more meat when that times comes!
And that’s all you need! The items marked with a “*” on the pack list are item’s I may leave at the truck depending on the country or conditions. Again, if you want a PDF pack list of my list or a blank list to help you pack, click the links at the top of this page.
Happy Hunting! – Wes