Backpacks for bow hunting

[Bow_mon]

Hello.

As silly as this may sound I'm a bit stumped for a bow hunting pack set up. Some of my other hunting friends have the Wilderness Specialities pack which is nice and does have a built in pack board for hauling meat out. They use the packs has day packs as their camp set up is wall tent as base camp.

I'm leaning towards that, but at the same time at some point I'd really like to do more backcountry hunting trips.

The Exo Mountain packs far exceed my current budget and I also just don't hunt enough at this point to justify such an expense.

Right now, I'm mostly do day trip style hunts and or crash my buddies wall tent when I can get away for deer camp.

I'm looking for a pack that I can pack for a day, perhaps grow into but also be able to haul meat out of the woods.

Any suggestions??

Thanks in advance.


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[Bow_mon]

I should add that the Wilderness Specialities pack is $375 and I've got a lot of Cabelas gift cards I'd prefer to use.


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[kentrek]

Depending on your sale you can get a kuiu ultra for 25% off....so like 220 bucks

Pretty good deal for a pretty good pack

[Bow_mon]

Depending on your sale you can get a kuiu ultra for 25% off....so like 220 bucks

Pretty good deal for a pretty good pack

Is there a local dealer so I can try it on and see how it fits?

[kentrek]

Nope its all direct order...and there not usa made...so those are down sides

[carpsniperg2]

For hauling meat and gear I run the wilderness bighorn and my bow or rifle is packed well in the carrier.

For lighter day trips. Look to the horn hunter pack series. The have models geared towards the bow hunter and I run them when do a lot of spot and stalk hunting and not hauling heavy loads of meat.

[LeviD1]

I have been looking into new packs as well. I think im going to go try out a badlands summit pack. Looks good for all the uses you mentioned which is the same thing im looking for. Sportsmans warehouse and cabelas are both retailers for that company so im going to go try one on probably this weekend. That is another reason why I am looking at that one so I can actually put it on since I dont know anyone who owns one of the other higher end brands of packs.

[issaquarcher]

I can't comment on overnight packs but when I finally decided several years ago to ditch the fanny pack (can't stand em now) for a day pack. Like shopping for a pair of boots I tried them all on. Also try them on loaded. It's surprising the difference there was from one to another. For me I settled on a Sitka pack like the current Flash 20. It was unbelievable comfortable. When I put it on it just made me smile. No restrictions in movement and fit like a glove. Even loaded up you forget it's there. Even used it to climb Mt. Hood. As you probably guessed it was also pretty pricey compared to the others but I'm a firm believer in quality over costs. When I'm in the field I hate any distractions from my gear like noisy binding clothes, uncomfortable boots packs etc.

[ridgefire]

I would look for a used bikini frame with a highcamp bag. Really lightweight compact and will carry 100lbs if needed.

[300rum]

I would look for one of the old Badlands 4500.  Cabelas has them online but it says that you have to call customer service?  If you can't find it I would look for a used one maybe Ebay?  I use it for day trips and have had it for 8 days in deep.  It hauls meat real well and the bow can attach easily too.   

I think Badlands calls it the 'Summit' now but it is different then the old Batwing 4500 and I'm not sure its better.   

[SilkOnTheDrySide]

I would look for a used bikini frame with a highcamp bag. Really lightweight compact and will carry 100lbs if needed.

Could probably find this setup in the 350-400$ range used.


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[Bow_mon]

Thanks fellas,

I took a look at the Sitka Flash 20. Looks like a good ruck and I'm glad it's carried by Cabelas so I can go look, try it on and load it up there. I'm also hog to check out the Badlands packs too.


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[Tbob]

Hey Bow mon,
    I've got an older Badlands 4500 almost new. Let me know and Id give you a heck of a deal on it.. It's just hanging it in storage right now..

[Bow_mon]

Hey Bow mon,
    I've got an older Badlands 4500 almost new. Let me know and Id give you a heck of a deal on it.. It's just hanging it in storage right now..

Hey Bob,

I'm intrigued, what are you thinking?

[SGTDuffman]

I just sold off a Kuiu Icon 6000 (one of the original Canadian made packs) for a Kuiu Icon Pro 1850 to use basically exactly as you describe. I was doing solo hunts for a few years where I'd hike myself in and set up a solo camp out of the Icon 6000, then I'd always end up using a Camelback Linchpin as a day pack. A few years ago I found a hunting buddy and we started doing basically just day hike hunts in gated timber lands, so I almost never used the Icon 6000 anymore, unless I had to haul something. The Icon Pro 1850 will allow me to ditch the Linchpin for something easier on my back, as well as haul out heavy loads in the load sling, all in one pack. I don't have make that initial trip out with a half measure anymore, I can make all the trips out with the same pack, and without having to dump a bunch of my crap out, because there isn't a lot of crap to dump out of a day bag. The newer Kuiu packs (the Pro line anyways) are also made of a more durable fabric than the originals were.