Carry backpack for elk hunting?

[nw_bowhunter]

I'm looking for input on weather you hunt with a backpack ? If so what type of backpack and why? I personally used a rei McGregor day pack which holds the basics. Reason I'm asking is whether it's necessity to have a framed pack when hunting elk during archery season? Do you just go back to the truck, prefer to carry so you can hike out the first load, etc?

 I prefer to hunt without a pack as I don't get as fatigued but need the water to ensue I stay hydrated. My brother in law recently purchased a Mystery Ranch with bikin frame and longbow bag. I tried it and it was very comfortable. Had load lifters and I felt no weight on my shoulders.

I'm trying to decide if I need to invest in a nice pack or just stick to the used frame pack for packing and keep my day pack
 

[Crunchy]

Im a daypack guy.  Inside, food, water, knives, game bags, flagging tape, first aid, wallet, and that's about it.  I kill, butcher, bag, and haul out a quarter to the truck or camp.  Get external pack frame and get the rest.

[MountainWalk]

I've been back and forth on this issue.  I sold a pack last year I really wish I hadn't. It held the barest of essentials,  and I loved how super low profile it is. Now I've got an Eberlestock frame-bag bat wing set up pack and have used it on three bear and two deer. That and quite a few wood blocks!  The pack carries insane weight, and does keep the low profile theme (it's a short square frame), Man I must be getting older. Really need to look into the whole load lifter thing. Still don't have full comprehension of it.


   Point of all this, I'd like a weight capable pack that doesn't stick up and out and across. Not a burden to wear. Good topic man.

[buglebrush]

Badlands 2200 for me.  First load capability is super important for me, and functional load lifters make carrying that water easy. 

[Bean Counter]

Im a daypack guy.  Inside, food, water, knives, game bags, flagging tape, first aid, wallet, and that's about it.  I kill, butcher, bag, and haul out a quarter to the truck or camp.  Get external pack frame and get the rest.

^this.  Esp when bow hunting. If you're planning to hunt with a large backpack, I hope you're practicing your draw with that pack on. I can shoot with my small camelback on all day. It's got 2 liters of water, myriad flashlights, small trauma kit, compass, some food, tags, keys, etc

[hughjorgan]

I'm looking for input on weather you hunt with a backpack ? If so what type of backpack and why? I personally used a rei McGregor day pack which holds the basics. Reason I'm asking is whether it's necessity to have a framed pack when hunting elk during archery season? Do you just go back to the truck, prefer to carry so you can hike out the first load, etc?

 I prefer to hunt without a pack as I don't get as fatigued but need the water to ensue I stay hydrated. My brother in law recently purchased a Mystery Ranch with bikin frame and longbow bag. I tried it and it was very comfortable. Had load lifters and I felt no weight on my shoulders.

I'm trying to decide if I need to invest in a nice pack or just stick to the used frame pack for packing and keep my day pack

Your brother in law is using a kifaru frame for his mystery ranch longbow bag? How does that work, wouldn't think they are compatible.

Anyways I use the mystery ranch longbow as my day pack. They are well made but not the lightest of packs. Very comfortable, lots of little pockets for organization. I like the idea of being able to haul my first load of meat on the way back to the truck and then use a pack frame. There is more than enough room to pack everything you need and it compresses down real nice to be low profile while hunting. And if you ever decide you want to do some backcountry hunts the bag is big enough to do a couple day hunt out of it or you can just buy one of the bigger bags to meet your demand.

[RadSav]

I find I hunt much harder with a pack on.  Supports the back and I stay better hydrated.  I also don't worry about being out too late or wanting to go back to camp for lunch.

It used to be that I carried a Black Creek Western pack as my primary.  That gave me a first load limit of about 50-60 pounds.  Then I'd trade that out for a larger external frame for remaining loads.  But that two pack need is no longer an issue.  The newer larger load packs compress so nicely that they aren't much different than a day pack.  Actually my new EXO pack is about 3 pounds lighter than the Western was, packs closer to my back and allows for much more mobility without losing the back support.  Now if it only had as good a waist belt as the BC I'd have zero reason to keep the smaller pack.

Few things better in the woods than busting your tail chasing critters from sun up to 11 or noon.  Then breaking out the Jet Boil and fixing a couple hot dogs followed up with a nice Mountain Mocha.  Take a happy nappy in a comfy elk bed then bust tail for the evening hunt.  If you are solo, just settle in for the night wherever the hunt takes you.

[DIYARCHERYJUNKIE]

I find I hunt much harder with a pack on.  Supports the back and I stay better hydrated.  I also don't worry about being out too late or wanting to go back to camp for lunch.

It used to be that I carried a Black Creek Western pack as my primary.  That gave me a first load limit of about 50-60 pounds.  Then I'd trade that out for a larger external frame for remaining loads.  But that two pack need is no longer an issue.  The newer larger load packs compress so nicely that they aren't much different than a day pack.  Actually my new EXO pack is about 3 pounds lighter than the Western was, packs closer to my back and allows for much more mobility without losing the back support.  Now if it only had as good a waist belt as the BC I'd have zero reason to keep the smaller pack.

Few things better in the woods than busting your tail chasing critters from sun up to 11 or noon.  Then breaking out the Jet Boil and fixing a couple hot dogs followed up with a nice Mountain Mocha.  Take a happy nappy in a comfy elk bed then bust tail for the evening hunt.  If you are solo, just settle in for the night wherever the hunt takes you.

I'd swear you hunt with us rad.  Thank god I talked the wife into drinking out of the elk bed creek  or we never would have got that evening hunt in.     I always wear a pack.  I see guys that don't have anything and just laugh to myself.  every year I expand the inventory with new items.  It's like Yuppie living in the woods with a well set up pack.   

[RadSav]

My wife is a bad arse, but she won't drink out of most creeks and definitely does not sleep in the woods.  She sees cougars, bigfoots and Hell's demons all around us after dark.  Really P's her off that I just sleep while we are on the brink of being torn to shreds and/or taken to the underworld.

[nw_bowhunter]

I'm looking for input on weather you hunt with a backpack ? If so what type of backpack and why? I personally used a rei McGregor day pack which holds the basics. Reason I'm asking is whether it's necessity to have a framed pack when hunting elk during archery season? Do you just go back to the truck, prefer to carry so you can hike out the first load, etc?

No sorry I was looking at both frames meant to say "nice frame".


 I prefer to hunt without a pack as I don't get as fatigued but need the water to ensue I stay hydrated. My brother in law recently purchased a Mystery Ranch with bikin frame and longbow bag. I tried it and it was very comfortable. Had load lifters and I felt no weight on my shoulders.

I'm trying to decide if I need to invest in a nice pack or just stick to the used frame pack for packing and keep my day pack

Your brother in law is using a kifaru frame for his mystery ranch longbow bag? How does that work, wouldn't think they are compatible.

Anyways I use the mystery ranch longbow as my day pack. They are well made but not the lightest of packs. Very comfortable, lots of little pockets for organization. I like the idea of being able to haul my first load of meat on the way back to the truck and then use a pack frame. There is more than enough room to pack everything you need and it compresses down real nice to be low profile while hunting. And if you ever decide you want to do some backcountry hunts the bag is big enough to do a couple day hunt out of it or you can just buy one of the bigger bags to meet your demand.

[nw_bowhunter]

I will say the Mystery Ranch was pretty compact and didn't feel that much heavier wearing it than my day pack.  Imo would not be an issue shooting my bow.

I don't see myself doing over nights as my current gear is for car camping. I do hunt all day so taking my jet boil and extra gear is common. I hunt from camp a lot and my truck. I do hunt hard but typically there are roads so I wouldnt say I'm hunting areas where I can't access back to my truck with a little effort.

[Rainier10]

I used to be a daypack guy and go back for the packboard.  Now I just take my Bullpac with me and have one quarter bag in a seal a meal bag and a fanny pack strapped to the pack frame.  The Bullpac is pretty light and super comfortable to hike around with.  It is great when you get something down to make good use of the first trip out with something on your back rather than just a walk back to the rig to get the packboard.  My buddy hunts with the same setup so we can get the whole animal out on the first trip with two pack boards.  Deer are easy that way, elk are a lot more work but still doable with two packs.

[RadSav]

Two pack elk days are long gone for us!  Nowadays even four pack elk seem like more than I want to do

[D-Rock425]

I'm a day pack guy myself but I can haul some meat my my day pack.  Last year I packed elk head and a quater out on it.  And even took a selfie! 

[vandeman17]

I always have my pack with me. Even if I was road hunting and spotted an animal to put a stalk on, I would still toss my pack on my back. Main reason is all my essential gear is always in it so it helps me not forget anything in a rush or in my tired slumber leaving camp each morning.