Are you Tired of Pack List?

[Jack Skinner]

I hope not need little help. I need to get this in and on that pack
 

First I know there are better packs but this catquiver (forget what number) has been with me for years and it holds sentimental value. It will hold enough I just need to get maybe a little help here and there.

Some pictures of what may be going in
 
 

Now here is the first try. All but the extra layer for cooler times.
 
What is left of the tent is for my son to carry and this is some of the stuff that will be on me
 

I am close, the tent fly will have either another tie or I will use straps. So as far as the extra wool layer would like to get it inside.
I have taken the food down to 2.5 days worth instead of 4 we should be able to come out at midday on the second full day to shower and restock some.

[Jack Skinner]

Two stove choices. One is a fold down burn what you find on the trail stove. Here is my granddaughter helping me try it out.
 
It worked really well and got the water to low boil but left soot all over the pot. I cleaned it off pretty well with wet wipe but got it on my hands. Would need more wet wipes and a small stuff sack to keep soot off other items in pack.
Other stove is an old coleman that I have had for over 20 years.
 
Have not used it in years and it took a few minutes for it to began burning clean then.
 
It was good to go and burned clean and would not leave soot on pot.
The coleman stove goes into the pot and lid with hot pot handle and spoon, so a little bulky and heavy but no soot. What are your thoughts.
 

[Olin Rindal]

Add a ditty bag on the outside and then take it off when at camp.

[elkbreath]

Ok, just thinking critically here...hopefully constructively

I take my asbell wool and wrap the arms through straps on either side of the pack and back, tying them together.  IT gives the whole pack a bit more quietness and takes up no room. if you have another layer under that for extra, put it inside the jacket before putting the whole thing through the straps and over the outside.  

Thinking critically.

You have three knives, one boning and two regular.  Might need them?

Is the pot full of stuff?  or is that empty space inside the pot/stove? only one flask?

I've never taken a hatchet/axe. (not saying you shouldn't)

Carrying the tent and wool, do you need a poncho?

For just a couple of days, could you eat cold but calorie dense food, lessen that load and avoid the stove altogether? Just use it when you get back to the truck to reload your spirit? (again, not saying you should, just a thought)

Looks like you have a strap that could be used to lash that ditty bag.

Do the grunt tube and calls go inside the pack?

Buy your son a bigger bag.  

Cant wait.  Im actually going to go get my bag out and get it ready too!  Good luck!

[awbowman]

Could you add a vest with pockets for smaller items now in pack to gain pack room?

[Matty]

I'd like to think this year I have it dialed in. At 35lbs WITH my  water bladder full. (Prob 5lbs)
I see you have 2 spoons. Lose one. Go with the smaller stove less bulk. And lose the trail mix. Bulky and weighs a lot. Better alternatives. OR. Make smaller zip loc portions. But not the whole bag. Ditch the fire steel. You have a lighter. The poncho is pretty necessary if you don't have other rain gear. To me. My rain gear is my most important layer. I bough the cabelas space rain gear this year for the both of us. Excited to see how it performs. Good luck my man!!!

[Olin Rindal]

After looking more closer I would also loose some knives. One quality knife and a sharpener. Loose the hatchet. check out TAG bags. They are a light weight game bag that packs small but good quality.

[Panzer]

I would keep two knives loose the hatchet and take a small folding saw.

[Veneficus]

I would ditch the tent first. Not everyones cup of tea,but if it is warm (60 degrees plus)I sleep in a hammock(one specifically for backpacking),weights 1 lb,packs small and I sleep amazing in that thing,(I run a line from the two trees above the hammock and hang a tarp/poncho for cover from rain and dew. or I sleep in a bivy bag on the ground with a wool blanket by a fire and or build a shelter if allowed.
I would only consider using a tent if car-camping,they are too bulky,too heavy for too little benefit in my opinion.

[Archer Dave]

I also think you have too much stuff. You have multiples of most of what is there. Remember the mounian men had very few items and did just fine. Ditch the files, a knife or two, are you really going to eat wih two spoons, ditch the stoves( make a fire and cook on that), and see if all that other stuff is necessary ( there are lots if stuff i don't recognize).

That is just my thoughts but I am a minimalist.

[Jack Skinner]

Going to leave the boning knife and fire steel, the mora knife has a steel in the handle. Will take the folding stove that will leave room in the pots (will get small bag for pots because of soot) for the breakfast meals. Will make ziplock portions for the gorp and am making some home made antelope jerky. If I cant get the hatchet on my pack belt then I will leave it. I like Matty's idea on his post about vaccum sealing the mt house meals, but seem to have tossed my vaccum sealer cant find it. Still thinking the poncho, may leave it and just use the tent fly for cover if it rains. I dont hunt in rain as both my son and I have color vision issues. A look at weather shows warm and so far not much for rain, may leave thermal pants and add another pair of socks. Also I may try to get the wool into the compression sack with the sleeping bag.
When I get home tonight I will make the changes and weigh the pack as well.
Thanks for the help so far

And elkbreath should have thought of the bigger bag for my son before I bought Matty's bag he had sold to me earlier. Matty good luck to you as well.

[Russ Clagett]

Did I read correctly your son is going with you?

Buy him a large rucksack. He carries it. That's what strong sons are for....problem solved.

Enjoy your hunt!

[old_goat2]

I'm packing mine tonight, going up for three days two nights, never done it like this before, I'm only going in less than a mile, actually going to carry in a couple of bulky items and stash them for when me and my wife are up together next week, going to make it a comfortable camp. Then I'll round trip it again if needed with what I need for next couple of days! This work day can't get over fast enough!

[Jack Skinner]

I removed the hatchet from inside to the outside on the pack belt. I removed some extra fire starter my son can carry that if needed. I removed the thermal pants is suppose to be 70's day and high 30's night. I took out the frog togs poncho (still a maybe if weather changes). I took the coleman stove out from inside the cooking pots, and put in my breakfast meals/spoon/hot pot holder. My son can carry the fold down stove (if not only another lb. Then I weighed the pack is 21.5 not bad. I got my extra layer inside as well. I rolled some things up tighter and packed better. Once I add water, snacks, three broadhead and two blunt arrows I still will be about 25lbs. I may even be able to add a small camel back water bladder.

Thanks for help and ideas its looking pretty good.