Whats in your back country packs ?

[fillthefreezer]

What about for situations you cannot anticipate, like injuries etc? My medic kit is probably the heaviest thing I have on me that barely gets any use. Some say Im alittle overprepared, but I dont think thats possible. Plus I carry an extra 300 foot rope with a carabiner secured to one end incase someone falls somewhere that you absolutely would need a rope. It probably weighs 5-6lbs alone, and only has a weight capacity of about 200lbs max. Thinking of just switching to 7 strand 550 cord. If it stands true it should be better, plus paracord weighs virtually nothing. I wear 2 quick strip survival bracelets I made that have about 15-20 feet per.

typically as you spend more time in the woods, you get comfortable with carrying less. i would bet youd want to bury most of that stuff two days into steep country

[JackOfAllTrades]

As you get older, you'll want to reduce the weight. There is no reason to take things you won't use, using energy that you don't need to.  Your hunt/hike will be much more enjoyable by carrying less weight. You're also preparing to bring out more weight (deboned animal), than you took in with you. Sure, you'll have eaten some food/weight, but that is nothing compared to bringing out quarters of a deer along with all your gear.
 
-Steve

What about for situations you cannot anticipate, like injuries etc? My medic kit is probably the heaviest thing I have on me that barely gets any use. Some say Im alittle overprepared, but I dont think thats possible. Plus I carry an extra 300 foot rope with a carabiner secured to one end incase someone falls somewhere that you absolutely would need a rope. It probably weighs 5-6lbs alone, and only has a weight capacity of about 200lbs max. Thinking of just switching to 7 strand 550 cord. If it stands true it should be better, plus paracord weighs virtually nothing. I wear 2 quick strip survival bracelets I made that have about 15-20 feet per.

100' of paracord is all I carry.  I'm not on a search and rescue mission/team. If someone fell, and they're well enough that 300' of rope would get them out, I can just hike out for help. Your med kit is your med kit. ....  I'm no surgeon and won't be setting broken bones or reattaching an ear in the field. A bandana or two, some superglue, some duct tape wrapped around my pill bottle, a couple of bandaids, benadril, tylenol/ibuprophen, antiseptic....   There are other things that are useful but a med kit shouldn't need to weigh more than a pound. If you need to splint a broken bone, there are tree branches/bark that will work just fine when combined with that paracord.
 
-Steve

[JPhelps]

My medical kit includes duct tape, ibprufeon, and vicadin.  If I can't fix it with that I can't fix it.

[fair-chase]

My medical kit includes duct tape, ibprufeon, and vicadin.  If I can't fix it with that I can't fix it.

lol I should strip my med kit down and take a photo, half of you would probably laugh at me.

I'm actually quite curious about this kit. Would really like to see a photo and maybe a list.

[JackOfAllTrades]

I think you'd do better by being a bit more careful!   
 
"lol I love how you referenced to all my previous statements. "  That's how I write.
 
A stitch kit would be lightweight too. I think I've got dental floss and a needle in mine. I just think that many people try to prepare for too much of the unexpected and not enough for smart survival. There aren't many places in this state you can go, and not get to a trail in a day or so if you're back in ten or so miles. Careful use of fire and sharp objects keep the injury possibilities to a minimum.  Having map and compass, knowing how to use them, Orientering, are skills that most people lack, and truthfully... need the most.  -even more than rendering emergency first aid.
-Getting a little off-topic here....   I think that what we put in our packs for the back country should be the things we need, Not the comforts of an Ipad watching a movie to pass the time. I'd rather enjoy the view/critters/sounds of nature.
-Steve

[JM]

An Ipad seems like a little much to me, but one thing that I do to kill time when the sun sets at 530 in mid  to late October and I'm packed in and don't wanna light a fire to let everything in the basin know that I am there is pack my 120gb Ipod and listen to books on tape. I started doing this last year and it made it a lot easier to kill dark time. I go by myself though so it gets pretty boring when the sun sets.

[Mudman]

Your nuts dude!    Pictures!  I wanna see this pack loaded up and its weight!!  Are your legs bigger than your waist?

I'm just puting it out there to pay back the input at ideas i've collected from others.

Sounds like you've got a much better back country system and much lighter pack list - i'd like to hear what's in it.  Would you mind sharing?

No mine isnt better but lighter for sure.  I go minimal style.  H2o filter camel back food tools garb sacks visqueen bag few clothes fire gps radio hunt gear wipes.  Im being general but u get the idea.  Sometimes I have treestand, gets heavy depends how far Im going.  My hat has a light in bill.  Gps is radio and camera. Elect. tape and fish line and hook and garb. sack is my first aid.  fire to cook and heat and dry clothes/boots etc.  I try to use as much from the land as possible.  plastic garbage sack and chunk of visqueen do alot.  Have lighter mag. fire starter and mech. compass. paracord too.  Never weighed pack but would guess it around 30-38lbs.?

[brocka]

My medical kit includes duct tape, ibprufeon, and vicadin.  If I can't fix it with that I can't fix it.

Exactly.

[whacker1]

tagging - I over packed last year, but found a few spots to cut weight with lighter gear and packing smaller.

5 lbs will make a big difference.

[coachcw]

A roll of sports tape has many uses too always in my pack .

[Benny]

These weights are in ounces?   Your pack weighs 8 pounds empty? Your water filter/purification weighs 3oz?  But you carry a gallon of water? 10 pounds of food for every day?   No mechanical compass?  What's your 'meat kit'? No binoculars? You carry a range finder, but what are the realistic shooting distances for your hunt?
 
Room for improvement....

let me clarify some things, my compass is in my emergency kit, 10lbs of food is for a 7day hunt. i run a kifaru long hunter with xtl lid. before this season i might end up with a bikini frame and that would shave about 2.5lbs right there. meat kit contents are listed at the bottom. sawyer inline water filter with potable aqua tabs also in my emerg kit. my effective shooting range is 450yds.

I think you could be due for a lighter quality pack and ditch that much water. This could save you at least six pounds.
 
-Steve

Jackofalltrades, maybe I missed it earlier in the thread but would you post your list? You sure seem to have things dialed.

[JackOfAllTrades]

I certainly don't have it dialed yet!      I doubt I ever will. I'm not a minimalist, but I'm still trying to see where I can shave a couple pounds so I can put the spotting scope and tripod back in.
 
http://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=97940.0;attach=211450;image
 
-Steve
-

[JM]

Rifle/ammo or bow/arrows with an extra field tip
allen wrenches ( archery season)
Leupold gold ring Binos and nikon Spotting scope
Leupold 800yd range finder
leatherman
2 mini utility knives
Tent or (hammock depending on time of year and area)
Thermarest neo air sleeping pad (worth its weight in gold)
Asolo 40deg bag for early archery and a kelty 0 deg for october or later
Titanium cook pot
2 long DQ blizzard spoons ( Lightweight and I hate getting sticky food on my hands eating Mountain house meals)
Weather proof lighter and paper for cooking. (brother got me a lightweight burner for xmas to replace this)
A 2 serving mountain house meal per night I plan on staying
2 power bars/day
I usually boil about 8 eggs and cook a couple burgers to bring up also
a 2 liter water bottle for just water and a 12 ounce water bottle( to mix gatorade or an energy supplement like NO EXPLODE for example)
Katadyn camper pump filter
powdered gatorade and a powdered energy supplement( I get tired of just drinkin water)
Cough drops with Vitamin C
100 ft 1/4 in rope
extra socks
gaitors
rain coat
duct tape
Ipod
and also a can of Copenhagen but don't tell my ol lady
I also forgot to put Starbucks via( if you've got time to cook them it's pretty nice)

[Hawgdawg]

You guys have all mentioned things I have used and still do.....most anyways. I think the single mot important thing in my back country pack is vaseline soaked cotton balls and flint. If you can't start a fire in ANY condition then you have no need for comfy feet or a soft pad. Food ? That's great but, as tall and skinny as I am I have gone 10 days with no food and only water. I know a lot of you have spent cold lonely nights on a mountain, but if the weather is really bad and your 10-15 miles in the back country, and suffering first stages of hypothermia and your a couple miles from base camp, do you really need that sandwich or sleeping pad? Nope you need a fire. I have helped too many people start a fire In those exact conditions. Many of whom probably would not have made it off the mountain.

I love the luxuries......don't get me wrong, but if you can't build the most basic thing for survival (fire) then all of those luxuries are for not. You can buy fancy fire starters, waterproof mat he's lighters etc, but the only thing that. Works 100% of the time, even when wet is Vaseline soaked cotton balls.

Ok I'm off my soap box. Just remember the scout motto "Be Prepared" and if being comfortable fits in there somewhere that's great too!
 

Great point Buck man.

  Another good trick is to get yourself a pint tube of osi quad pro series caulking. Freeze it and then cut into two inch chucks and vacuum pack. That stuff will burn underwater.

That and a contractor grade garbage sack and you have yourself a pretty warm poncho/tent. Cut holes for head and arms.for a poor mans rain poncho. I have hovered through the night over one in deep snow and freezing temps and made it. 

Sterno cans for warming chafing dishes work good also and don't smell as bad but they won't burn in monsoon conditions
I have also used them under the exhaust manifolds of snow machines to get them started in minus temps. in the Arctic. Learned fast not to shut  off your iron Huskey when your out on the ice pack of the beufuert sea taking pics of Polar bears!

[Benny]

I certainly don't have it dialed yet!      I doubt I ever will. I'm not a minimalist, but I'm still trying to see where I can shave a couple pounds so I can put the spotting scope and tripod back in.
 
http://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=97940.0;attach=211450;image
 
-Steve
-

Sweet, thanks!

So...you're busting Fillthefreezer's balls about his pack that is 2lbs heavier than yours and able to haul half an elephant but you don't mind packin' a six shooter at 3.5lbs?

These threads always crack me up.