If you want a really high quality pack that will be fairly light but be a breeze to carry, check out Exo, Kifaru, Stone Glacier or Mystery Ranch. I’ve heard good and bad about Kuiu.
If you hunt close to a camp and don’t want to shell out much money, any of the frame packs mentioned will work. They won’t be as comfortable, but that does not matter much if the pack out is short.
100% Kifaru. I've been running their hunting frame since 2017 and it's been bulletproof.
I've swapped out a number of packs through various hunts and seasons but I currently run the 7,000 Muskeg bag as my go to for most hunts. Previous packs have included Fulcrum and Woodsman.
The Muskeg is large enough for spiking out after Elk but can compress down for an easy day pack for scouting/hiking. My most recent outings have seen it paired with a Sherman pocket but in the past I've run it with the Xpac Guide Lid or OG Guide Lid for added space.
For archery elk hunts in the wet-side, it's been a huge plus to have the waterproof Muskeg. My first Kifaru bag was a Fulcrum which was a nice bag but for WA Western elk, it meant running with a cover and ultimately the wings proved to be unwieldy for running as a day pack - too many straps.
Prior to the Kifaru setups, I ran a Kuiu Icon Pro 7200 and while it's a nice setup, found that the frame squeaked during long hikes and the design of the frame causes a heavy pack to pivot laterally due to the v-shaped upper frame design. That and their customer service being atrocious (went back and forth for a month to get a bag repaired after a side pocket teared internally during a simple hike.
Kifaru is American made and their customer service is amazing. Aron has replied directly to my questions and has gone above and beyond to help with anything I've needed.
While not packs, their Sawtooth and Mega Tarp have seen plenty of use and this spring I've finally tried their slickbag, which is nice although very bulky given that it's synthetic.
If you're near Seattle, I'd be all for letting you try the pack out for size/fit before you buy. Just holler and we can figure out a time that works.
