2018 High Buck PACK SHAKEDOWN

[yakimanoob]

Alright folks, shake down my setup.

Where can I cut weight?  What could I do as an alternate strategy to carry less gear and thus less weight?  How can I get better at this?

Mission: take a bear or mule deer out of ALW or GPW. 
General strategy: solo rifle hunt. mix of trails and bushwhacking.  Get as high as I can on the forest roads and hoof it up into the wilderness alpine/sub-alpine areas.  Not likely to be more than 4-5 miles in as I would likely need to make two trips to get all the meat out.  2 nights / 3 days max.

Pack and poles:
- Osprey Aether 60 (I know, I know, I should get a different pack from your favorite brand, but I'm neither sold on that idea nor flush enough with cash to buy a big hunting pack.  Maybe one day.)
- Leki Makalu Ultralight Ti trekking poles

Findin' and Killin':
- Savage Lightweight Hunter, 7mm-08 with Nikon Prostaff 5 2.5-10x44mm scope and Quake Claw sling
- 4 rounds in the mag + 4 extra rounds of Hornady Precision Hunter ELDX factory ammo
- Leupold BX-4 10x42mm binos, with soft case and tripod adapter
- Vortex Summit SS-P Tripod
- Thermarest Z-Lite Seat
- Bushnell SpaceMaster 15-45x50mm spotting scope
- Dead Down wind checker

Misc tools and Kill kit:
- Leatherman
- Gerber Vitals knife, with extra scalpel blades
- electrical tape (currently about 1/5 of a "full" roll)
- tags and license
- 4pk 48" Alaska Game bags
- 2 pair nitrile gloves

Toilettries:
- toilet paper
- Duece of Spades trowel
- moist wipes
- contact solution and case
- glasses and case
- toothbrush and toothpaste
- floss

Light and electronics:
- Black Diamond Storm headlamp, plus 1 set of extra AAA batteries
- iPhone 7 in UAG case
- Anker PowerCore 13000 portable charger 
- 2' iphone charger cable
- Garmin InReach SE+
- in-ear headphones and adapter

Shelter and sleep system:
- Hennessy Expedition Ultralight hammock
- Mtn Hardwear 20° down sleeping bag
- Exped Synmat HL, large
- Sea2Summit Aeros Ultralight Pillow (you keep your dirty mitts off my pillow)
- **3x9' Tyvek (in case I need to use the hammock like a tent in very cold weather; may double as a ground sheet for processing meat)
- two MSR groundhog stakes

First Aid/Emergency:
- 1 roll 2" Coban
- 1 roll 1" athletic tape
- moleskin
- surgical pad
- 2 non-stick gauze pads
- various band-aids
- antiseptic ointment
- alcohol wipes
- ibuprofen
- antihistamine
- anti-diarrheal
- pepto tabs
- space blanket
- lighter and firestarter
- ~50' reflective cord

Apparel (everything is synthetic):
- Sunglasses
- OR boonie hat
- Prana Stretch Zion pants
- OR pants (backup in case my zions get soaked)
- 2 pair Darn Tough hiking socks
- 2 pair undies
- longsleeve t-shirt
- short sleeve t-shirt
- Marmot Variant jacket
- **Mtn Hardwear Phantom puffy jacket
- OR Foray Rain Jacket
- **Cabelas spacerain pants
- **Patagonia Capilene 2 long undies
- Scarpa Zodiak Plus boots
- OR Flextex II gaiters
- **OR overdrive convertible gloves
- **OR Guide gloves
- **Mtn Hardwear beanie
- Scarf

Water:
- MSR Hyperflow water filter
- 2.5L Osprey Hydraulics hydration pack (filled to the minimum point I think I need at any given fill-up spot)
- 1L Platypus collapsible water bottle (used almost exclusively in camp)

Cookware/Kitchen:
- JetBoil Sol Titanium stove
- small JetBoil fuel can
- Sea2Summit Titanium cup
- MSR Mugmate coffee filter
- Sea2Summit long spoon

*Food:
- Mtn House dinners, portioned into foodsaver zipper bags
- oatmeal for breakfast
- lara bars
- trail mix
- deer summer sausage for good luck
- sometimes dark chocolate


*Obviously highly dependent on the length of trip, which varies from an overnight to 2night/3day.
**May be left at home depending on the weather forecast. 


I'm about 100% I've forgotten to list something, so I'm sure I'll be editing this as we go.  Thanks in advance folks!! 

[7mmfan]

My personal opinion, I would dump the following:

Leatherman. What you forsee using it for?
Toothbrush/paste
Headphones
Moleskin, use athletic tape
Do you need both Anti-diahreal and pepto?
Sunglasses, use the hat
1 pair undies, buy wool, they'll last 3 days
Short sleeve T-shirt, roll up the sleeves on the long one
One of those puffy's, based on weather forecast. Should be pretty confident in a 3 day out forecast
1 pair of those gloves
Scarf if any of your jackets are hoodies

[Jonathan_S]

4 game bags? Two pairs of gloves?

There’s a whole bunch of stuff there. After a few high hunts, you’ll figure out what you want to ditch

That’s a lot of clothes IMO

[shmacker]

  Plus I would drop the spotter unless you are really keen on trying to size up a trophy.  One you use those Alaska game bags and toss them, do yourself a favor and get some T.A.G.s or Black Ovis synthetic game bags and never look back.

[yakimanoob]

Leatherman. What you forsee using it for?
Various things; I find myself frequently using it backpacking and scouting.  Importantly in this case, I'm not a huge fan of the gutless method and that little saw makes quick work of the pelvis and ribs to access the body cavity.  Also it's the only thing I'm carrying for a pocket knife.
Toothbrush/paste
I've got enough bone loss in my jaw already from inadequate care, and while I could leave this behind for a trip or two each year, if I skipped it every time I'd seriously regret it when I'm older.
Headphones
Moleskin, use athletic tape
Tape had been my standard technique for many years, until I realized that moleskin weighs basically nothing and is way more comfortable if you do get a blister.
Do you need both Anti-diahreal and pepto?
I hope not, and haven't yet.  I think about this just about every time I go through my first aid kit.
Sunglasses, use the hat
1 pair undies, buy wool, they'll last 3 days
Short sleeve T-shirt, roll up the sleeves on the long one
I hear ya.  The prepper in me can't stand the idea of not having a back-up set of clothes though, in case the set I'm wearing gets wet.  If the weather's warm and getting wet isn't dangerous, I could probably stand to leave the extra clothes at home.
One of those puffy's, based on weather forecast. Should be pretty confident in a 3 day out forecast
That's what I meant with the **.  I agonize over the forecast every time trying to decide to carry my puffy or just make due with layers.  The thing about that Phantom jacket though, is that at 11oz, it's easy to tip the scales with 1 or two layers. 
1 pair of those gloves
Agreed.  I should have clarified that I would take EITHER not both, depending on the forecast.  Editing now...
Scarf if any of your jackets are hoodies
They are not (besides the rain jacket, anyway).  Picking up a hoodie might need to happen before Sep 15...

Thanks!!

[yakimanoob]

Plus I would drop the spotter unless you are really keen on trying to size up a trophy.  One you use those Alaska game bags and toss them, do yourself a favor and get some T.A.G.s or Black Ovis synthetic game bags and never look back.

I've been thinking a lot about getting some good synthetic bags.  The Alaska bags I have are already used and washed.  I've heard mixed advice on whether that's a good idea in the first place...  I guess those syn bags are worth the $$, in your opinion?

Thanks for the feedback!  . 

[banishd]

Heres what i would do. Somethings you may have reasons for, but based on my experience there are some simple things to lose some weight that do not cost you anything: Bring the puffy jacket to sleep in or wear if cold, ditch the marmot jacket, lose the sleeping pad and zip your sleeping bag around the hammock like a underquilt and topquilt. Leave the leatherman. Leave the scarf, bring long underwear. Ditch tp and just bring the wipes. Get some disposable contacts. Bring a backup headlight/flashlight. Bring higher calorie per ounce foods.

Everything else costs more money. I dont know what the vortex tripod weighs but check out kdc ultralight to cut maybe 2lbs of weight out for under $200. Everything else will probably be less cost effective for reducing weight.

[jackelope]

Get rid of:
Wind checker(Don't need it)
Leatherman(Don't need it)
Alaskan Game Bags. Upgrade these to some Tag bags, Caribou bags or VIAM bags or anything smaller and lighter.
Trowel(use a rock)
Anker PowerCore 13000 portable charger 
2' iphone charger cable(put phone in airplane mode and shut off all your apps and it will last a week.
1 pair of pants.
Marmot Variant jacket
Scarf
Pick 1 pair of gloves
MSR Mugmate coffee filter (get via's)

[yakimanoob]

4 game bags?

I've been mulling over this.  Do y'all carry only 2-3?  I figure if I'm boning out the meat, I could probably get by with just 2? 

[jackelope]

4 game bags?

I've been mulling over this.  Do y'all carry only 2-3?  I figure if I'm boning out the meat, I could probably get by with just 2? 

I put all the meat from my mountain goat in 1 bag boned out and put the cape/head/horns in another bag. 2 is all you need if you're boning meat. Those other brands are lighter and will save a bunch of space too. The Alaskan bags don't pack down very small, which would be my main concern. You'd be better off with a few pillow cases.

[yakimanoob]

Get rid of:
Wind checker(Don't need it)
Yeah?  I use it all the time and feel naked without it.  You don't use one?
Leatherman(Don't need it)
What do you carry for blades?  Without the leatherman, I'm guessing just a skinning knife?  I think if I dump the leatherman, I would at least add my pocket knife (Kershaw OSO Sweet) back into the mix.  I'll have to learn how to get at the heart without breaking the ribs...
Alaskan Game Bags. Upgrade these to some Tag bags, Caribou bags or VIAM bags or anything smaller and lighter.
Trowel(use a rock)
Just as a note: the trowel I carry weighs 0.6 oz and does double duty as a shovel in case I need to cover a fire.  I've covered a depressing number of campfires left unattended by other groups while out and about.
Anker PowerCore 13000 portable charger 
2' iphone charger cable(put phone in airplane mode and shut off all your apps and it will last a week.
You're right about it lasting that long in airplane mode.  Right now I use it for mapping and navigating; I suppose I could shave weight by going old school and using a paper map.  But I'm a millennial soo......
Most of your clothes.
1 pair of pants.
Marmot Variant jacket
Scarf
Pick 1 pair of gloves
MSR Mugmate coffee filter (get via's)
Now is a good time to mention that I'm an extreme coffee nerd.  You're lucky I'm not carrying a grinder. 

[yakimanoob]

I put all the meat from my mountain goat in 1 bag boned out and put the cape/head/horns in another bag. 2 is all you need if you're boning meat. Those other brands are lighter and will save a bunch of space too. The Alaskan bags don't pack down very small, which would be my main concern. You'd be better off with a few pillow cases.

Good to know.  Thanks!

[yakimanoob]

Plus I would drop the spotter unless you are really keen on trying to size up a trophy. 

This is certainly on my mind.  I'm in the stage of my hunting career where I'll take the first legal animal I can, so definitely not trying to size anything up.  I need to do more field testing between the very nice binos and the VERY budget spotter.  I'm a little unconvinced that I can see more detail through the spotter anyway -- the bad optics seem to balance out the added magnification. 

Don't be surprised if I end up going binos-only. 

[Karl Blanchard]

Take this for what it's worth but if you are boning out your meat it is absolutely silly to gut the animal.  There's literally ZERO point in adding that step.  Also if you are gutting, splitting the pelvis is also a wasted step.  Ring the pooper and it all comes out when you pull the guts out.

Ditch any duplication in clothing.  Good wool socks just need a good mid day scrubbing in a creek and a solid naps worth of time to dry and they are good to go.  Same with undies.  Any good synthetic or wool will easily scrub to "good enough" with some water and a rock.

I agree with others on the game bags.  Not only weight but serious space can be saved.  I take half a B.O.M.B. kit per deer.

Id leave my wife before i evwr left my spotter.

Hammocks are the devil but to each their own.

I don't even waste space with T.P.  100% wetwipes for this guy.
If weight is an issue then dry them out then rehydrate once you are up there.  I also take a travel sized bottle of gold bond for any chaffing issues or to just clean up a bit.

 Other than that evwrything looks solid.  Give er hell up there!

[Karl Blanchard]

Oh and if hitting the ALW, be sure and start drinking deet a month in advance.  You'll definitely get cancer but it may aid in keeping the mosquitos at bay.  Won't help with the endless hoards of flies though