High Hunt in 2 years- rookie gear mistakes

[BeWitty]

Not trolling. If he could ACTUALLY have a 6 day pack that's 25 lbs with those two modifications more power to him. I know I'll never have a sub 35 lb pack for a 3+ day backcountry hunt but everyone's needs and priorities are different.

I enjoy some luxuries and some items that I find important that others may not, good sleeping pad, tripod, spotter, enough food, etc

[Zuus]

Some things to keep in mind: many lightweight backpackers get food with higher calorie/energy content. More bang for your buck sort of thing.
A pound on your feet is like 5 on your back. Don't skimp on boots, but check weights too.
Read some books on lightweight or ultralight backpacking. The have some good ideas, but may be a bit extreme for hunting type situations. One book I just read, the author uses a fly tarp and ground sheet which he sewed up himself. Cost was low and weighs in at a pound.
I like some comforts, so I am willing to carry a little more weight to keep me happy at camp. I have gone to a hammock, which is much nicer than sleeping on the ground. It weighs in at 3 lbs, but I sleep much better than on the ground, and that has value to me.
Got a buddy that spent a couple grand on new gear for a goat hunt. All very nice Kuiu gear, lightweight and durable. His 5 day pack was still 40 lbs, plus rifle, binoculars and spotting scope, he was over 55 lbs! Lucky he had good buddies that helped Sherpa stuff for him!!

[haugenna]

I am not trolling either. I would love to see a 6 day pack list that weighs 33-35 lbs. I am questioning whether or not it is possible or safe but also looking to learn something. I also have a suspicion, I eluded to it earlier, that some fudge the numbers to boast a low weight and carry the weight in some other fashion. At the end of the day you are carrying the weight, either in your hand or in your pack, and in some cases as the picture above shows, on your head. 

[JackOfAllTrades]

I would love to see a 6 day pack list that weighs 33-35 lbs.   

I can certainly get a 6 day pack down to that weight!  A SUMMER pack with no comforts or hunting gear! 

As suggested, reading a lot... and getting with someone that has been a successful lightweight back packer will be very rewarding. But the back country hunter preparing for the worst weather, using gear that is designed for heavier loads will never be able to match the low pack weights the summer PCT trecker can.

Last season I encountered a guy completing the PCT. His pack for the I-90 to northern Border route was less than 15 pounds with food drops for him along the way.  Go-Light everything. Hiker/tennis shoes, not BOOTS with heavy soles. No water filter. -He was used to Iodine tabs for sure. Food and clothing are heavy!  He had the bare necessities.

We on the other hand,  add things like cameras, binoculars, GPS's, rifle/ammo/bow/arrows, spotting scopes and tri-pods. First aid kits! Hunting knives. We add layers of clothing because we expect to be out in the weather beating the brush or sitting on that ridge point with our spotting scope for hours in the wind and sideways rain/snow. Even with the best light gear, the light weight hiker would hole up out of the weather somewhere and wait out a storm.

To get back to the subject of the original post, 'Rookie gear mistakes', The biggest mistakes in my eyes are 'Not knowing your gear' and 'Not taking the right gear'.

The ONLY way to get to know your gear is to use it. Use it before you need to rely on it to stay alive.

The ONLY way to know whether you have the right gear, -and I mean the basics, is to assemble a good pack of what works for you and use it.

Some people like a hammock. Some are good with a sil-tarp. Others want a tent. C'mon.. People have been hiking and hunting for years in the back country that never had a TI wood stove! Some people like Iodine in their water. YUK!  And I'll take a heavier coat, because that stove won't keep me warm out on the ridge during the day away from camp.

Like has been mentioned, Test your gear well before using it on a hunt.  Can you set your 'tent/sil-tarp' or whatever shelter you have, up in a 50mph wind? Will it stay set up? Is that lighter 30 degree back good enough if you sleep in your goose down long underwear?

My neighbors probably thought I was nuts when they saw my tent set up on the edge of my field during a Frasier valley snow-blowin northeaster in January a couple years ago.

-Steve

[Highmountaindan]

I will put up a gear list, the only difference is the food quantity. I am pretty sure I can get close , my 4 day was 33 so with a few more freeze dried meals it will be at 35 or a little over.

[Highmountaindan]

I would love to see a full list for 6 days.

Here it is, my list.
Food) Mary Jane farms dehidrated quantity 6= 1lb 12 ounces,Trail mix= about 2lbs,jerky=1lb 8 ounces, Some candy=1 lb. oatmeal=1lb 8 ounces
Clothes) Cabelas polar Tec insulated base layer=9 ounces, 1extra wool socks 4 ounces,1 beanie 6 ounces, 1extra pair of undies=3 ounces, 2 long sleeve merino wool 20 ounces, 1rain pant 1 lb.1-set of gloves 8 ounces
Gear) Eberlestock f1 mainframe with dry bag= 4lbs 11ounces, Eberlestock transformer 4 Lbs, vortex rangefinder pocket knife havalon head lamp compass half roll of T P 4 rounds of ammo in small case=1 lb 8 ounces, Game bags= 12.5 ounces, PLB collapsible water bucket matches 20 ft para cord pen and map=13.25 ounces, 1 camel back and a small tarp=2 lbs ish. I pack my gun on my shoulder, binoculars strapped to my chest, rangefinder on my hip and compass in my pocket along with the pocket knife. Sleep bag =4 lbs
28lbs total. With the camelback filled it would be 30 lbs. the reason it was 33 on my high hunt was because of the loaf of bread, bottle of syrup, and grape jelly. Now the trolls are  and I am  at them

[SilkOnTheDrySide]

No the trolls aren't bashing, the trolls are laughing because as is standard practice, you decide not to include your weapon or binoculars.

Usually the things not counted include trekking poles and clothes being worn. Everything else is counted.




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[Highmountaindan]

Y'all are funny. A critic is never satisfied. Any ways,as to what jackofalltrades said, I totally agree, you don't know what you want or need till you start doing it and over time you modify things to your liking. It's trying to balance safety, functionality and comfort. We are all different.

[SilkOnTheDrySide]

I would love to see a full list for 6 days.

Here it is, my list.
Food) Mary Jane farms dehidrated quantity 6= 1lb 12 ounces,Trail mix= about 2lbs,jerky=1lb 8 ounces, Some candy=1 lb. oatmeal=1lb 8 ounces
Clothes) Cabelas polar Tec insulated base layer=9 ounces, 1extra wool socks 4 ounces,1 beanie 6 ounces, 1extra pair of undies=3 ounces, 2 long sleeve merino wool 20 ounces, 1rain pant 1 lb.1-set of gloves 8 ounces
Gear) Eberlestock f1 mainframe with dry bag= 4lbs 11ounces, Eberlestock transformer 4 Lbs, vortex rangefinder pocket knife havalon head lamp compass half roll of T P 4 rounds of ammo in small case=1 lb 8 ounces, Game bags= 12.5 ounces, PLB collapsible water bucket matches 20 ft para cord pen and map=13.25 ounces, 1 camel back and a small tarp=2 lbs ish. I pack my gun on my shoulder, binoculars strapped to my chest, rangefinder on my hip and compass in my pocket along with the pocket knife. Sleep bag =4 lbs
28lbs total. With the camelback filled it would be 30 lbs. the reason it was 33 on my high hunt was because of the loaf of bread, bottle of syrup, and grape jelly. Now the trolls are  and I am  at them

Also didn't see cool stove/fuel, whether you carry a filter or not, pad or bivy? Do you sleep under the tarp? Any first aid?


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[7mag.]

If I didn't count necessary items, I could make my pack weight whatever I want. I've been doing this long enough to know that list is incomplete, and the only time you don't count your weapon is when you don't take it.

[jackelope]

If I didn't count necessary items, I could make my pack weight whatever I want. I've been doing this long enough to know that list is incomplete, and the only time you don't count your weapon is when you don't take it.

I certainly haven't got the experience that some of you others have, but I've been out there a time or 6 and I agree. That's an incomplete list. It's all weight too. It should all be counted if you're after a realistic number. You're carrying it after all.

I'm the king of bringing stuff I don't need.
 

[Bill W]

My pack would weigh 61 lbs with the rifle.   It's hard to get one lighter than that without leaving out something essential.

[JLS]

It makes no sense to me to try and make your load "look" lighter by not counting items.  It all weighs something, and if you carry it that's weight you have to carry out.

You can shave weight by buying different gear, but you can't make weight disappear by pretending it doesn't count.

It's no indictment on anybody, it's just being realistic and honest about what you're really carrying in and out.

[SilkOnTheDrySide]

Pretty standard weight list I've seen and used is everything counts except clothes actually wearing, and trekking poles.


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[blackveltbowhunter]

HMD I apologize I didn't tally all your items, but are you saying that you have six days worth of freeze dried meals and they weigh under 2 pounds? That's a huge weight savings if so.

....I won't argue if you that you have your weight that low, although you are certainly sacrificing many comforts, I personally see as necessities on a 5 day plus hunt. Especially if any chance of bad weather. 

   Everyone counts weight differently, and its contentious as counting as counting points  Different strokes for different folks. IF I were to post my weight it would be for everything boots, clothes, weapon, water etc. But to be honest my pack weight  seems to be the most FELT weight I carry. I never strap my bow to my pack because its much easier to carry in hand, unless I need them for climbing.