High Hunt in 2 years- rookie gear mistakes

[BeWitty]

More than noise, I'd be concerned with functionality and packability.
Marmot Precip is good stuff, as is all the Sitka, Kuiu, First Lite, etc.

Thanks. I was looking at the Kuiu stuff some-the guide jacket and the Chugach rain jacket etc. Also looked to see what ASAT has. I really like their camo pattern, but I'm not sure I'm sold on their raingear quality.
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I can get the First Lite Stormtight rain gear in ASAT.

[Eric M]

I got the BA pad recently. I had a decent enough pad before that but this one's a little better I guess. I have either a GoLite SL5 or a BA Fly Creek UL1 so I'm pretty good there. The bag will likely become a quilt soon. That will help a lot. I think the biggest problem I have is leaving stuff at home that I won't absolutely need.  Too much food, comfort items, etc.
I fill my 6k bag pretty much completely.

When I used to backpack, I'd get away with 50 or maybe up to 60 lbs. But I was a lot younger, and wasn't carrying a rifle, a spotting scope, and etc. for hunting. Sometimes we'd even carry CANS of food. ha ha

[jackelope]

I got the BA pad recently. I had a decent enough pad before that but this one's a little better I guess. I have either a GoLite SL5 or a BA Fly Creek UL1 so I'm pretty good there. The bag will likely become a quilt soon. That will help a lot. I think the biggest problem I have is leaving stuff at home that I won't absolutely need.  Too much food, comfort items, etc.
I fill my 6k bag pretty much completely.

When I used to backpack, I'd get away with 50 or maybe up to 60 lbs. But I was a lot younger, and wasn't carrying a rifle, a spotting scope, and etc. for hunting. Sometimes we'd even carry CANS of food. ha ha

You gotta remember if you kill a buck, you'll have another 80-100 pounds to get out. A 60 pound pack will kill you without the venison and antlers.
If you're just backpacking, you don't have that concern. You'll only get lighter as time goes on, unless you collect rocks on your trip.

[jtw]

In terms of raingear its almost impossible to have durable waterproof breathable and quiet. I wear water resistant pants with gaiters and a wr shirt in all but downpours. When that happens I bust out the goretex. And when its raining that hard the noise of your raingear isnt an issue. Ive tried a lot of raingear and quiet usually means some sort of brushed exterior which means heavier and holds water.

[Eric M]

In terms of raingear its almost impossible to have durable waterproof breathable and quiet. I wear water resistant pants with gaiters and a wr shirt in all but downpours. When that happens I bust out the goretex. And when its raining that hard the noise of your raingear isnt an issue. Ive tried a lot of raingear and quiet usually means some sort of brushed exterior which means heavier and holds water.

I think I just need to change my way of thinking. I'm so used to sitting in a tree stand or spot and stalking during bow hunting and Goretex is so loud I usually just put up with getting wet. In a rainstorm at 500 yards away I suppose it wouldn't matter. Thanks. It seems so obvious when someone else says it.

[predatorG]

Moss should be close by and will be alot like a sleeping pad. Maybe not quite as good, but you don't have to carry it around.

[Eric M]

I've never really cared for sleeping pads, but it might be because I've never had a good one. I still think my pack is going to weigh close to 50 lbs. for a week. Maybe if I whittle down my toothbrush and take the lanyard off my rangefinder.....

[jackelope]

A 50 pound hunting pack for a week is not too bad I don't think.

[jackelope]

Moss should be close by and will be alot like a sleeping pad. Maybe not quite as good, but you don't have to carry it around.

Not into worrying about finding enough moss to make a bed when I can pack a pad that is a little bigger than the size of a pop can and weighs a pound.

[JLS]

A 50 pound hunting pack for a week is not too bad I don't think.

I went into the Ruby Mountains in Nevada on a 9 day hunt, and my total pack weight going in was 58 pounds.  That included my binos, bow, water, food, everything.

You'll lose about 1.5-2 pounds per day from your pack weight from food you've consumed.

Don't try to play mind games with yourself about not counting binos, gun, etc.  It all gets carried out one way or another.  Be realistic about your capabilities and limitations. 

[high country]

I run a mystery ranch pack which is heavy and still come in around 47lbs with a pair of 15x56 Swarovski and a tripod. I use a megalight tipi and a bivy with my western mountaineering bag and big Agnes rem pad inside the bivy......it's super cozy, I can cook inside and it's warm enough for even late seasons.....but it's not mouse proof...

[high country]

When pulling out all of the stops for weight, I  use ti everything and my pop can stove.....it's Uber light.

[JimmyHoffa]

I got the BA pad recently. I had a decent enough pad before that but this one's a little better I guess. I have either a GoLite SL5 or a BA Fly Creek UL1 so I'm pretty good there. The bag will likely become a quilt soon. That will help a lot. I think the biggest problem I have is leaving stuff at home that I won't absolutely need.  Too much food, comfort items, etc.
I fill my 6k bag pretty much completely.

When I used to backpack, I'd get away with 50 or maybe up to 60 lbs. But I was a lot younger, and wasn't carrying a rifle, a spotting scope, and etc. for hunting. Sometimes we'd even carry CANS of food. ha ha

You gotta remember if you kill a buck, you'll have another 80-100 pounds to get out. A 60 pound pack will kill you without the venison and antlers.
If you're just backpacking, you don't have that concern. You'll only get lighter as time goes on, unless you collect rocks on your trip.

I like to take a big trashbag.  Just put the meat in the pack for haul out.  wrap all the gear in the trashbag and come back for it.  Some gear comes out with the meat, but stoves/sleeping bags/tent/etc are the weight trade off.

[McCRIZZLEY]

Never high hunted, but plenty of backpacking under my belt... and trust me, you want a pad. Some of the nicer newer ones are very light/small. And it is not as much for comfort as it is for heat retention. Maybe high hunts are warmer than I imagine, but I doubt it.

I would rather leave the tent than the pad. Weather permitting, I usually bivy, sleeping bag, and pad.

[McCRIZZLEY]

That being said, there are guys in here that say they don't bring a pad, and they're still alive. I guess it comes down to preference.

Also, make sure everything you bring for food is SUPER high in calories and nutrients. If it's not, leave it.

Try to plan trips around water. Or be mindful of where water is/isn't. Water is a huge variable at about 2.2 lbs per liter if I recall. factor in a couple liters a day for hydration and cooking, and your pack weight can easily fluctuate plus or minus 15 pounds.

make sure you know what you want to buy and need before you buy it. Then buy the nicest thing you can afford. Buy once, cry once.

stool hardener is something that has been in my pack for years. Learned that lesson the hard way.