Help me trim my pack weight!

[Apex Predator]

Alright folks, this is what I normally carry on my hunts.  My pack loaded like this one weighs 18 pounds.  Not shown in this photo is a lightweight, rechargeble, led tracking light, and my head lamp.

I'm normally a long ways from the truck, and butcher my game in the field.  I will pack out the meat in this pack.

 

Starting at the back row, this is what we have:

- pack
-safety harness and climbing lanyard
-two bottles of water.  I will normally carry more on my bike.
-rope ratchet for getting game off the ground for butchering.  My back won't take doing it on the ground any more unless the critter is over about 125# and I can't hoist it.
-marking tape and emergency whistle
-rattling bag
-campers toilet paper for marking blood trails
-bow hanger, and a couple of small hangers for pack and quiver, and extra knife
-reflective twist ties
-compact thermacell attached to pack, re-fills, and bic lighter for starting
-extra batteries for lights, camera, and gps receiver
-map
-a couple of granola bars
-mini grunt call
-camera and spider leg mini tri-pod
-ink pen, mini mag-light, compass
-two heavy duty trash bags
-mini scent free bug spray
-crock stick sharpener
-skinning knife and parachute cord
-drill and climbing bolts in case
-Gps

Your input is welcome.

[Kip]

Marty what is a compact thermacell only seen the reg.Couple of points.
Maybe just 1 water,smaller knife sharpner can you do without the gps in areas you are familiar with,maybe use the small hangers for bow and gear and last seems like a lot of batteries.Kip

[wingnut]

Looks too me like you have what you need.

How many days are you staying in the woods?  LOL

I goe through this same thing every year elk hunting and end up not taking a thing out of the pack.

Mike

[Lost Arra]

Put in fresh batteries and forget carrying the extras especially if the gps, camera and flashlight use the same size.

I love good hunting knives as much as anyone but you can save some weight by going to a Havalon which would also allow you to drop the sharpener.

 http://www.high-mountain-outfitters.com/Havalon-Knives-Piranta-Z-Pro-Skinning-Knife-XT-60Z.htm

[Stickbow98]

Looks like a good list, but I'll throw in my $.02...

Forget the tracking light, headlamp should cover nearly everything.

No need for additional insect repellent with a Thermacell.      

Good Huntin',

>>--Ron--<>

[John3]

Your gear list seems pretty well thought out... I carry too much "stuff" as well, but when I need it all is worth the weight.  Good advice about the whistle, I carry a cell phone and have used it calling for "drag out" help... Hope to never need it for any other help.

JDS III

[Apex Predator]

My cell phone is with me, but doesn't get reliable reception where I hunt.

[Gray Buffalo]

this is what i would carry. and what Lost Arra said


- pack
-safety harness and climbing lanyard
-two bottles of water.
-marking tape and emergency whistle
-rattling bag
-campers toilet paper for marking blood trails
-bow hanger, and a couple of small hangers for pack and quiver, and extra knife
-reflective twist ties
-compact thermacell attached to pack, re-fills, and bic lighter for starting
-map
-a couple of granola bars
-mini grunt call
-camera and spider leg mini tri-pod
-ink pen, mini mag-light, compass
-two heavy duty trash bags
-mini scent free bug spray
-crock stick sharpener
-skinning knife and parachute cord
-Gps

[Orion]

Apex:  I assume this is for one-day hunts.  I concur with what others have already noted.  One less water would reduce the weight quite a bit.  If you plan to hunt a tree you've hunted before, can leave the drill home occasionally.  Two small single pulleys and parachute cord would take up a lot less space and be a lot lighter than the rope ratchet.

[blind one]

Something I have is a first aid kit. Nothing fancy just some bandaids ,gauze and such.. Accidents happen no matter how careful you are....Roy

[rappstar]

How far is a "long way"?

[Gaff]

how often do you use the drill and climbing bolts?? that looks like it weighs the most.

gaff

[Gatekeeper]

From looking at your list I assume that you are carrying a treestand also. If not, you could dump the harness, climbing lanyard, drill and steps. If you are going into a previous hung stand, you could wear the harness going in instead of carrying it in your pack and presume the steps would already be in place so the drill could be left behind.

[Overspined]

getting into trees complicates everything and adds the most weight when going in a long way. when I elk hunt my pack weighs considerably less, even though I have more "stuff" because I don't plan on hunting from trees. I do like hunting from trees, but it is a definate trade-off. From your set-up, unless you ditch some of the tree climbing paraphanalia, I think you are good-to-go. I might only use an aluminum water canister, the ultralight kind, with a refill of naturally found water and iodine tabs. That would potentially add a touch more volume than one plastic bottle, but then you can refill as many times as you may need.

[oldgun]

I often hunt the same areas and for long  travels I stash items in a small container at my destination, hidden so no one can find it. Mostly the cheaper stuff I'll leave back in the bush.

[Apex Predator]

The last hunt was 2.5 miles from the truck.

When the heat index is 100 deg or better, water is not a luxury item.  It's hard for me to imagine drinking this stagnant swamp water, even filtered.  Anyone try these new systems with this stagnant water?  That would be a way to save lots of weight.

Tree climbing does cost plenty, but I have trouble enough getting them in bow range from a tree.  

What's the breaking strength of genuine parashoot cord?

I really appreciate all the input.

[2madjacks]

I would...
 
toss one water
get rid ofreflective ties and orange marking tape   (toilet paper will do the same job)
knife belongs on the belt
get a smaller sharpener
carry the call around my neck under the shirt especially since its so small
choose between the compass and gps depending on how well I know the land
toss the climbing lanyard and just use the parachute cord if your just using it to pull up your bow?
no need for extra batteries unless hunting for days

[Frenchymanny]

I would add crazy glue (for instant repairs and body repairs), q tips and twizzers and a second cheap flashlight, depending on how late you get off the woods

F-Manny

[sagebrush]

I would not toss the water. I have gone on a short hike before with just one bottle. It was 95 degrees and I was sweating a lot. By the time I got back I would have paid 100 bucks for one water bottle. That was the thirstiest(probably not a word)I have ever been. Now I don't take chances. Gary

[AkDan]

some redundancy,

 3 lights?
 2 or 3 knives and a sharpening stick?
 3 kinds of marking devices?
and a drill???

learn to grunt on your voice.... while sucking in, say the word ehcccck (works well!)  (sounds almost like ick, but with Eh (not candian version LOL) in place of the i.

Drill...lots of weight!  

Use your rope to hang your pack and extras (minus the bow) in the tree, that'll save some weight.  wrap around tree, tie off, and hang from here, u can use the rope itself to tie off easily enough without cutting it, that'll serve a double purpose, though maybe not as convienient till you get it tweaked how you like it.

carry one light, one knife and a sharpener, and one light.

Dunno about that drill and climbing sticks, nice idea...dunno how or even WHAT you're hunting...so I cant say leave or keep...but if it were me I'd leave.

I for some reason always thought of GA as a swamp.  You might find a filter, of carry something like aquamira to purify water.   Or carry one bottle and then carry the filter straw incase of an emergency.  You NEED water but I cant imagine you are too far from it.   The filter water bottles atleast the one I have, isnt the greatest...gotta suck AND squeeze extremely hard to get anything out of it, I've heard there is better though.  Water is heavy, so if you can omit it and get it in the field you'll save a bunch of pack weight!  (along with ditching the drill and pegs LOL).  There are options here.

You may shave a few ounces with the new rattling deal they've got out...not sticks in a bag but two plastic discs with bumps.

Foolish I know but ounces equal pounds and pounds equal a heavy pack!  We've gone as far as to rip tags, cut tooth brush's, amongst other things, to lower weight.  

You're pack itself depending on what kind, can be over kill in the weight department.


forgot to add, I cant see pics on my work computer, so I can only go off of what has been typed.