Let's talk hunting packs/bags

[tomsm44]

I started a thread similar to this about canoes a while back and got a lot of good responses.  It seemed like several other guys besides myself were interested and were able to pick up some ideas as well, so I figured it'd be worth doing the same thing for hunting packs.  

So, what type of packs and bags do you guys like to use when you go hunting?  Just like canoes, I know there's no one size fits all, so I'll leave it open for whatever uses you put them to.  Anything goes, from 2-3 hour hunts in the evening after work, to 2-3 week excursions.  And the more pictures the better.

[tomsm44]

Let's include quivers in this also, meaning quivers with additional built in storage, and methods of mounting quivers to other types of packs.

[Terry Green]

I'm looking at at making a combo vest/pack...to accommodate bows with....

[Orion]

I'm now hiring a packer to pack in my gear, but when I carried it on my back, I used a Cabelas metal frame pack with what I believe is called an Alaskan pack.  Not the most comfortable, but got the job done.

My daypack for western hunting is a Bison Gear Lost River model. I initially thought it was a bit heavy, but at 3 1/2#, it's considerably lighter than most other synthetic fabric packs of equal size.  

My daypack for deer hunting around home (northern Wisconsin) is a KOM.  I've modified and lightened it a bit by removing the waist straps and other straps on the side of the bag, and adding strap attachments to the base of the bag for whenI want to pack my heavy coat to my stand. It's a pretty big pack, but I usually sit all day. Also carry a few survival items incase I need to spend the night in the woods.

[Ryan Rothhaar]

For whitetail hunting around the Midwest if I'm using screw in climbers I use a possibles bag built off the design Dad started using in the '60's - think plain type possibles bag, leather, no extra pockets etc .... this is a simpler is better deal.  Probably 18inches wide, 8-10high, 5 deep.  Now that I'm using ladder sticks more I've been using a small brown duck "messengers bag" I got from Amazon for like 12 bucks - it has a couple zipper pockets, and is probably 8in wide, 11 high, 3 deep.  Plenty of room for stuff for a stand sit.... maybe it is a "Murse" but it works great, and is out of the way.  You don't need all the crap you own to sit in a tree for 3 hours.

When I started going out West in the early 90's I paid attention to what locals and woodsman types out there used... not fancy dancy packs with space age components.... but sturdy pack frames and appropriate pack bags for the load carried.  To that end I use a BullPac - freaking bombproof and it will carry WAY more than you or I will be able to pack.  You CAN'T overload this frame.  I use a waterproof canvas duffel type pack bag for packing in my gear, and when it's time to haul out an elk I just lash the meat bags on a load at a time and pack it out.  This pack frame has covered a lot of miles and it will outlast me.  It is ugly and plain, but made to use in the mountains, not look good in a catalog or on a model's back in an advertisement.

R

[tomsm44]

Originally posted by Ryan Rothhaar:
You don't need all the crap you own to sit in a tree for 3 hours.

Agreed.  I used to carry all kinds of crap to just sit for a couple hours or so.  The longer I hunt trad, the less I tend to carry.  I think that's a natural evolution for people who go Trad.  This season, I've mostly hunted in cargo pants and have carried everything I needed in my pockets.  I'be been considering getting something along the lines of a haversack or one of the messenger bags (murse).  Just using my pockets means I have a bunch of crap laying loose on my truck seat all season.  A small bag would keep it all ready for me to just grab and go.

[Ryan Sanpei]

I'm currently using a Kifaru frame with their apollo bag and guide lid. This current set up is for my day hunts. I'll switch out the bag for longer excursions.

 


 


 

[Ryan Sanpei]

In terms of quivers, here's a slightly modified one from Farr West. It simply hooks on to my Kifaru belt. I have this extra belt for days at the range.

 

[Msturm]

I am a huge fan of my Badlands Diablo. Been using it for a few years now. Very durable, real comfortable, holds a lot of stuff and has this cool suspension system thing that keeps the pack from making your back a sweaty mess.

[Msturm]

I am a huge fan of my Badlands Diablo. Been using it for a few years now. Very durable, real comfortable, holds a lot of stuff and has this cool suspension system thing that keeps the pack from making your back a sweaty mess.

[old_goat2]

Same pack for everything pretty much now! Kifaru Nomad with a lid and Camp Bag. Once I get to where I'm going to camp, the Camp Bag comes off and I have a daypack that's capable of carrying a lot more weight than I can handle! The top bag is my nomad fully decked out, that's a dry bag under the lid and on top of the camp bag, they get removed and I'm ready to hunt.
 

[bbell]

Here is my Stone Glacier Sky 5100. I absolutely love it. It has two hind quarters of an elk on the meat shelf that my wife shot. It collapses down to 3000ci and is what I use for a day pack. I like having the frame at all times so I can take a good load out the first trip. Lately I have been putting the quarters  in the bag from the top and like the way it carries better. The bag has been able to handle half a cow elk and half a bighorn sheep. You can see I take the lazy man loads