New to the game

[Jpmiller]

Sorry I guess I wasn't clear. Don't buy cheap gear but don't thi k you need to buy a 600 dollar tent to start out because Randy Newberg uses it, or you saw some guy on YouTube with a ultralight 300 dollar sleeping pad so you need one too or you may as well stay home. Top of the line expensive gear is great but usually not necessary. I would definitely buy the best you can afford or even stretch yourself a little if it makes sense but don't fall into feeling pressures to have the best most expensive whiz bang thingamajig right off the bat.

If id bought the first sleep system I thought I wanted I'd be in it for close to a grand all said and done and I now know I would have hated it. I used a cheaper pad, a bag I already had and bought a 125 dollar tent and figured out what I did and didn't like and went from there. Living out of a pack is alot different than a truck. Get out there and have fun!

[kselkhunter]

A few comments/suggestions:
1. You mention you haven't backpacked before.  I'd start there and do a few backpacking trips this summer to make sure you enjoy it.  Because if you don't enjoy backpacking, you're not going to enjoy backpack hunting. 


2. Goat Rocks in October will have weather.   I have done a lot of October/November/December backpacking trips, and there are different challenges you run into due to weather that maybe better doing your first trip in an earlier season.  Have you considered doing the September "high buck" season in a different wilderness area for your first backpack hunt trip?  Yes those seasons can still sometimes see snow, but nothing on the level of what you can get in October in Goat Rocks.  I change gear for later season hunts, so my answers to your gear question become different.  For example if you're set on October in Goat Rocks, then my tent suggestion would change.


In terms of what to buy, there are plenty of online gear lists that you can research, and it really depends highly on your budget regarding which brands you choose.   When prioritizing how to spend your budget on the big ticket items, I would rank in this order of funds priority:  1) Boots, 2) Sleeping bag, 3) Pack, 4) Tent, 5) Pad, 6) Filter, 7) Cookstove.  If we're talking October/November hunts, I would swap the Tent and Pack order.  Quality boots are extremely important to me, don't cut costs there.   Survival gear is also important, so have a good survival kit/first aid kit.   I love the InReach for communicating back home as I frequently solo backpack hunt, but you can see how the budget gets high fast.   


Always pack multiple headlamps/light sources. 


Feel free to PM with any specific questions. 

Edit:  I just realized you could be talking about September archery deer season, so my comments about October weather are not as relevant.   Also, note that deer numbers in that area are lower than other areas.   They're in there, and you can fill the tag if you spend the time to learn the area and deer patterns.  But it's lower densities so keep expectations low on how many deer you may see per day. 

[JeffRaines]

I'd try to borrow gear to begin with. Yes, you don't need to spend thousands on gear to start with, but the reality is that lightweight gear thats good kinda costs $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$... its pointless, in my opinion, to buy a $100 sleeping bag, a $50 dollar sleeping pad, some $150 pack and a $100 tent to end up figuring out that you enjoy it. I don't know if you've checked the used market on stuff, but the cheap stuff holds value terribly... and thats if you can even find a buyer. You'll be lucky to sell the stuff back for $100 bucks total.

If you don't have anyone to borrow from, another alternative is buying used. You can find things like ultralight tents, packs, bags, etc that are already at used prices. Buy it, try it, if it doesn't suit you sell it back for little to no loss.

A third alternative is buying yourself a pack, and renting the other stuff from REI. The downfall is that all of the stuff will be heavier than you want... but at least you're getting out and trying it out before taking the plunge.

With that said, I echo kselkhunters #1 - get out there this summer and try backpacking in general. Hike in to some lakes with fishing gear... it makes for a fun evening, and bonus of maybe having some fish for dinner.

Another reason I push buying used is that inevitably you'll try gear that just doesn't work for you. A lot of things like packs, sleeping bag/pad, tents, etc. are very personal... some guys are totally fine climbing into a coffin at the end of a day with nothing more than a CCF pad and their rolled up jacket as a pillow and get the best sleep of their life. Other guys like an actual pillow and an inflatable pad... for the most part, this isn't something you can know beforehand... only through trial and error. This is also why there is a huge market for used gear... this goes from packs to tents and even water filtration.

[milldozer]

You might find this podcast informative.

https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/the-hunt-backcountry-podcast/e/58468250

[yakimanoob]

@haftard there's lots of good advice on here. 

I cannot urge you strongly enough to spend as much time backpacking between now and your hunt as you possibly can.  If you just do internet learning (which is very valuable, don't get me wrong) and walk out into the Goat Rocks, you're setting yourself up for disaster. 

The terrain is complicated at best and downright treacherous in places--it's MUCH easier to get lost there than you may expect.  And like others have said, watch the weather.  Fall in the Goat Rocks is lovely... 90% of the time.  But there's also a chance of a storm that will rock your world. 

Warnings aside, HAVE FUN!  If you can stay safe, there's no such thing as a bad trip.  GRW has some of the most stunning scenery Washington has to offer, and enough goats to justify the name.  If you get lucky you might see a deer too 

PM me if you have specific questions.

[yakimanoob]

And just to drive the point home:  PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE have a plan for when things go wrong.  A Garmin inReach or Spot device is worth its weight in gold.

But if you can't buy or borrow one, make a plan, tell at least two friends or family members your plan, and then STICK TO YOUR PLAN.  If something goes wrong and you're not in the area that you told people you would be, you have nearly eliminated the chances of Search and Rescue finding you in time.

[mburrows]

Good boots, good pack, good layering for wet and cold weather, a good sleeping bag, a good sleeping pad, a decent tent, med stuff, water filtration, good headlamp, gear repair items and food.

Lots of variation.

Go do a summer fishing trip overnight to learn what you want and can carry.  Your "system" will continuously evolve.

Dont pitch your tent in a depression or in sketchy timber.

[Archry]

 first trip out limit it to a mile away from your vehicle. That way if things went bad you have a good chance of getting back. work out further from then.
 for Firestarter I like petroleum jelly wrapped in a cotton ball. even if it gets wet you can shake it out and still light it on fire

[Bushcraft]

Clothing and gear selection is very straightforward and has been belabored to death for the last 20 years or so, and particularly so in recent years.  Quite frankly, that infinitely re-hashed conversation has gotten stale and boring.

What's infinitely more interesting, and others here have touched on it, is...How bad do you want it?

Here's a litmus test:

Try hiking in all your load-out for a backcountry October alpine hunt 7-10 or 20+ miles into where you want to go.  Then, after 3-7 days of being trapped in your tent in the cold, rain, sleet, snow, fog and wind that oftentimes feels like it's want to rip you and your shelter off the mountain (and sometimes succeeds in doing if you're using crap gear!), see if your rifle will reliably shoot a minute-of-deer-sized rock at some distance just before dark. Then, assuming your rifle system proved reliably capable enough, put that heavy rock in your pack (i.e., meat, horns and hide) in the dark and get it back to your camp.  Then, put the heavy rock and some or all of your camp in your pack and begin death marching for the trailhead and your rig (that you hope starts when you get there), either in one stage or a couple of trips.

If you swear on all of your ancestor's graves that you'll never ever, ever, ever do anything that dumb or painful (or life threatening!) in your life ever again...then mountain hunting might not be for you.  Don't worry. It's not a big deal. The mountain doesn't care. Understand that most that try it realize it's not for them.

On the other hand, if you like that sort "Fine and Pleasant Misery"...good on you.  You'll likely find yourself doing even more dumb and painful things on future hunts. 

[BeerBugler]

For the Goat Rocks...good rain pants, good gaiters and good boots.....even if it’s nice out. If there’s dew in the morning, you will eventually have to walk through a huckleberry bush and will be instantly soaked without protection.

[Buckhunter24]

I'd try to borrow gear to begin with. Yes, you don't need to spend thousands on gear to start with, but the reality is that lightweight gear thats good kinda costs $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$... its pointless, in my opinion, to buy a $100 sleeping bag, a $50 dollar sleeping pad, some $150 pack and a $100 tent to end up figuring out that you enjoy it. I don't know if you've checked the used market on stuff, but the cheap stuff holds value terribly... and thats if you can even find a buyer. You'll be lucky to sell the stuff back for $100 bucks total.

If you don't have anyone to borrow from, another alternative is buying used. You can find things like ultralight tents, packs, bags, etc that are already at used prices. Buy it, try it, if it doesn't suit you sell it back for little to no loss.

A third alternative is buying yourself a pack, and renting the other stuff from REI. The downfall is that all of the stuff will be heavier than you want... but at least you're getting out and trying it out before taking the plunge.

With that said, I echo kselkhunters #1 - get out there this summer and try backpacking in general. Hike in to some lakes with fishing gear... it makes for a fun evening, and bonus of maybe having some fish for dinner.

Another reason I push buying used is that inevitably you'll try gear that just doesn't work for you. A lot of things like packs, sleeping bag/pad, tents, etc. are very personal... some guys are totally fine climbing into a coffin at the end of a day with nothing more than a CCF pad and their rolled up jacket as a pillow and get the best sleep of their life. Other guys like an actual pillow and an inflatable pad... for the most part, this isn't something you can know beforehand... only through trial and error. This is also why there is a huge market for used gear... this goes from packs to tents and even water filtration.

This made me laugh, over the last few months I bought all 4 pieces of gear mentioned and was within $20 of each of the prices mentioned..

[Old Grizzly]

Hey Buddy,  theres a lot of good advice on here from guys that have done it.
I have done it as well, did 9 days solo in Idaho, ( 69 yrs old) last year and will do it again this year.  If you care to PM me I will give you my phone number and we can talk through all your questions and concerns.
Old Grizzly

[blackveltbowhunter]

Bushcraft nailed it.  Gear cannot replace sheer determination no matter how good. It can make it more enjoyable/bearable, but unless you have catastrophic failure you will be the one choosing to leave the mountain.

If you have not backpack camped. Do that first and go from there.

A bottle of Tylenol PM can overcome lots of adversity and is cheap and light.

NOTHING on a backpack hunt is more difficult to overcome than lack of game. Spend 5 days socked in rain, wind, fog in a pup tent and get out and chase game all day. Who cares. Spend 5 days in gorgeous weather with no game spotted in that time and I will take the first option every time. Gotta be tough. But temper it with being smart.

Anything in the Cascades/Olympics be prepared for wet. Wool and functional rain gear are your friends.

Being over prepared comes at a high cost and is where a lot of weight can be saved that wont cost a dime. This will come with expereince, but besides survival gear and some basic backup items, be very skeptical of taking things you "might" need. I used to pack softshells, extra long johns, thermals, throw in extra bars and food "just in case". All that added up to significant weight and 99 percent of the time it never came out of the pack, the other 1 percent was luxury more than anything. I do pack extra coffee, tea or cocoa packets as it helps pass the time stuck in a tent, or behind the spotter and is very minimal weight cost.

Specific to GR get off trails. Especially if the weather is good. Its a beautiful area, have fun.