elk hunting lst

[robslifts]

I am going elk hunting in colorado in october and I have never done this so I was wondering if anyone would tell me if I am missing something in my pack

included in my pack so far is (please note this is a day pack where we are returning to camp everynight)

extra socks 1 pair
extra pants 1 pair
extra shirt qty 1
binos
emergency blanket
wipees
toilet paper
bow & arrows
knife
face cover up
snacks
water
Meat bags
latex gloves
rope
lighter
headlight
compass
first aid kit

please help me as I want to do this right

[Lost Arra]

rain gear and/or poncho?

fire starting stuff?
(oops, missed your lighter)

[robslifts]

thanks will add to the list
      should not have missed that one

[gobbler10ga]

I like a tarp instaed of rain gear

[AnointedArcher]

How about topo maps of the area! A GPS would be great as well.  If a guy needed to borrow a GPS for this hunt I might know somebody who has one availible  :D !

[robslifts]

oh yeah I just may know that guy also

[elk ninja]

Wind direction indicator?

[mmgrode]

You might think about getting a camelback hydration system.  Definitely worth the money.  Along the same lines you might consider bringing a water filtering system(pump or bottle w/filter) in case you get lost and run out of H20 or just need more.  also might consider a sat phone if going way in.  Have a great hunt! Cheers, Matt

[Ga.boy]

spare bow string

File or other type BH sharpener

[Strutter]

camera, extra flashlight,gps,map of area.

Just curious but how are you hunting CO in Oct with a bow?  Archery season ends in Sept.  Is this a ranch/landowner tag or whatever they call them where any weapon is OK?  
Anyway, good luck with your hunt.

Rob

[robslifts]

I am Rifle hunting but will have my bow also I would love to take one with it first time out there doing this

[wapiti792]

Emergency kit: signal mirror, fire starter, whistle, orange heavy trash bag (for quick rain shelter and signaling), water purifying tablets, vasoline soaked cotton balls for quick fire or chapped lips, sunglasses (el cheapo) for snow blindness. All should fit in a gallon sized ziplock along with your topos and EXTRA compass. HAVE FUN!

[Travisc406]

Most of my hunting for elk requires a good "light" daypack. I used to bring items that served only one purpose. Once you carry that heavy ol pack up the hill you will start to look on how to shed weight. The more doulbe duty items to minimize weight the better. I used to carry a mirror until my cousin signaled me from acroos a canyon with what I thought was a mirror,It turned out to be his knife, hence  I shed 6 ounces. I think things like the extra pants and shirt will be shed pretty quick. The extra socks is a must though. Nothing makes your day better than a pair of socks. I like wax paper as fire starter it works wounders. Also I would trade out the toilet paper for paper towels. Being they are durable it can serve many more purposes than just TP. The water purifying tablets are great as well. I would add aspirin to the list to help with the high altitude headaches. Nothing ruins a day worse than a dang headache. So in short look for things to lighten the load that can serve dual purposes. Like  I carry a knife, can be used like a mirror and gut an elk. the wax paper starts fires really well and in a pinch can generate enough wax to wax a bow string. Rubber gloves, first obvious reason to used when gutting an elk, can be used as a turnicate and if you cut a finger off in severe rain can be pulled over a barrel to keep moisture out. 6 squares of paper towel. Can be used for TP or to clean up hands after gutting, possible gauze in worst case scenerio, and is moderate fire starter. One thing I don't leave home without is a roll of black electrician tape. IT works well to attatch the tag to the animal and alot of other uses. Good Luck!!!

[Travisc406]

I want to add that the emergency blanket makes a great signal as well.

[ArkyBob]

Add a sewing needle, thread, and one button can be used for the obvious plus emergerncy suture. a safety pin for many purposes. a fleece toboggan{sp}?. spare batteries for light and gps, small  spray bottle scent eleminator. bandaids and antiseptic wipes. antidiarreha tablets for the obvious.  powder gatoraid for 1 qt of water to add to purified water from tablets, elk calls. plus everything the others have mentioned.  Good Luck....        BOB

[MW]

I think a gear list is a very personal thing.  I could not disagree with the items that each person has listed.

Trav has a good point of bringing items with multi use.  

I prefer to go very light but as a result I take knowledge in place of gear resulting in less comfort.  When I do go out I am always amazed with how little I really need.

As you no doubt know the places that elk hang out has very unpredictable quick changing weather and safty can be a real issue.

[quackersnacker]

A couple I never leave without are; my trusty "zip" saw and, coincidentally, +/- 10 zip-ties.  You will always find a use for them.

[Sawtooth]

Here's my list.  Keep in mind that I backpack hunt, and this list would be same for me whether I'm out overnight or for five days.  The only thing that would change would be the quantity of food.  No, I don't take more clothing for longer trips.  I rinse out my socks and hang them on the clothesline to dry.  I also rotate socks every other day, in an effort to keep them fresh and comfy.

I realize you're doing day hunts, but you may get some ideas on items from my list.  

Sawtooth’s 5-Day  Bowhunting List
TOTAL WEIGHT: ~ 40 Lbs. (some items listed worn, not carried in pack)
All quantities are 1 each unless specified.

Kifaru Longhunter (Regular) Backpack w/Gunbearer, Platypus water bladder, cargo chair for late fall hunting
OR
Kifaru Late Season Backpack with Medium Pod for early season bowhunting

Bob Lee Classic Recurve 51# @ 27”  60” AMO with Selway slip-on quiver.  Four Beman ICS Classic 500 carbon arrows, three tipped with Magnus two-blade broadheads (125 gr.) and one with a Zwickey Judo (125 gr.) for bowhunting

Kifaru Para Tipi and Small Stove

The North Face Cat’s Meow 20 Degree Sleeping Bag with Kifaru compression stuff sack

Cascade Designs Z-Rest Short pad

Tyvek pad (fits under Z-Rest pad and sleeping bag)

Komperdell C3 Trekking Poles

Petzl Tikka Plus Headlamp (top pouch)

Pentax DCF-SP 10X43 Binoculars (top pouch)

Digital Camera (top pouch)

Wristwatch-   Avocet Vertech Alpin


Clothing:
Cabela’s Rain Suede jacket (camo) (top pouch)
Marmot PreCip pants (black) (top pouch)
Patagonia Micro Puff pullover
Microtex shirt (outfitter camo) (worn)
Microtex pants (outfitter camo) (worn)
REI lightweight fleece long sleeve zip t
REI silk weight synthetic long sleeve zip t (worn)
Cabela’s MTP lightweight long john bottoms
Patagonia Classic Boxers (worn)
Wigwam polypro sock liners (1 pair worn, 1 pair extra)
Thorlo backpacking socks (1 pair worn, 1 pair extra)
Manzella liner gloves (top pouch)
Outdoor Research waterproof glove shells
Ultralight fleece watch cap (for camp and sleeping)
Cabela’s Gore-Tex boonie hat (camo)
Sunglasses (top pouch)
Silk bandana, black (for around the neck, keeps drafts out, weighs nothing) (top pouch)
Cotton bandana/hankie (carried in pants pocket)
Meindl Island Pro boots
Crocs (for camp)

Possibles Pouch:
(All stored in a Kifaru Large Pullout)
Garmin Foretrex 10 GPS
Brunton 54LU Compass
Map Scale (credit card sized)
Space Blanket
Area Map (Carried in left leg pocket of pants most of the time)
Signal Mirror
Military Parachute Cord (50 ft.)
20 Matches in Waterproof Case plus a strip of striker material from an old box
Hot Hands Hand Warmers (5ea.)(El Cheapos from Wal-Mart)
Kifaru Meat Baggie
Large Heavy Duty Leaf Bag
Orange Survey Flagging (10 ft.), wadded up, wrapped with rubber band
Duct Tape (10', wrapped around trek pole handles)
Super Glue (.06 oz. tube)
Cabela’s Lens Pen (for cleaning optics, got it free with my last scope)
Fingernail Clippers
Trioxane Bar(s)
Tent stakes (11 ea.)
AAA batteries (4 ea.)
2016 lithium batteries (2 ea.)
Pencil, Mechanical
Whistle/thermometer combo
Bic Lighters (2 ea.)
Sharpening stone, fine, 1”X4”
Victorinox Swiss Army Hunter Knife (top pouch)
Extra bow string
Bow stringer
Corona Model 7245 folding saw
Gransfors Bruks mini hatchet
Broadhead wrench
iNova Microlight
Sewing kit stashed inside a 3” section of aluminum arrow shaft
Surefire E1L Outdoorsman LED flashlight
Broadhead file
Elk call(s)

Cooking/Food:
Evernew Titanium 1.5 L pot with aluminum foil lid
Snowpeak Titanium Spork
PUR (Katadyn) Hiker water filter
Ziploc 16 oz. plastic bowls with screw-on lids (2 ea.)

Homemade dehydrated supper meals, double serving, 4.8 oz.  (5 ea.)

Instant oatmeal for breakfast (4 ea.)

Homemade lunch meals consisting of :  Power Bar Protein Plus bar, deer jerky strips (6 ea.), smoked almonds (3 TBSP), whole cashews (3 TBSP)  (5 each lunch meals)

Folgers coffee bags

Toiletries:
(Stored in a Pullout)
Baby Wipes in small Ziploc
Paper Towels in a Ziploc
Sunscreen in a 1 oz. Na1gene bottle
Saline Solution in a 1 oz. Nalgene bottle
Contact lens case
Spare set of contacts
Dental floss (small coiled-up bundle)
Toothbrush without handle
Baking soda for brushing teeth in a contact lens case cut in half
Multi Vitamins (5 ea.) (stored in a little Nalgene container)


First Aid Kit:
(Stored in a Pullout, stashed in the top pouch of Longhunter)
Ibuprofin (Motrin) 800 mg (12 ea. in a little bottle)
Anti-diarrheal tablets (6 ea.)
Tums (12 or so in a little bottle)
Moleskin, 3 sheets, 3.5”X4.5”
Butterfly Bandages, Medium Size (4 ea.)
Knuckle Band Aids (3 ea.)
Fingertip Band Aids (3 ea.)
Gauze Pads, 2”X2” (2 ea.)
Non-adherent pads (2 ea.)
Regular Band Aids (5 ea.)
Antiseptic Towelette (3 ea.)
Iodine Prep Pad (1 ea.)
Chap Stick (1 tube)
Safety Pins (3 ea.)
Eye Drops (.5 oz.)

Even if I'm doing a day hunt, the Possibles Pouch ALWAYS goes with me, along with the first aid kit and some other items.