A quick note on equipment since someone asked. First off, great footwear is a must. Don't skimp on taking care of your feet out here. Since the weather was on the milder side, I wore my Danner hikers. These hikers have served me well over the last couple years in mild temperatures. They are waterproof, breathable and have great support. I wear a silk liner under my lightweight socks to help wick moisture and prevent any chance of blisters.
You've heard the saying "cotton is the enemy". It's very true out here this time of year. You want a base layer that can wick moisture away from your skin. Cotton won't do that. One day I got hot while hiking and I took everything off and just put my long sleeve cotton shirt back on. Well, after a few miles, the sweat built up pretty good on my skin and in the cotton. It got cooler the higher we climbed and the wet cotton and skin turned into a freezer. Fortunately, I had enough clothing in my pack to change out but you need to remember that. A fun hunting trip can turn into a survival situation at any moment in this country. Keep a jacket or pullover, some gloves and a beanie cap or other warm hat in your pack. Like I said, temps can change in a hurry.
I have an old Rocky backpack that has been all over North America with me and has been part of my hunting gear for over a decade. Yep there are better packs out there but I don't see the need to replace this one just yet. Just make sure you take a comfortable pack with a plenty of storage.
A quality pair of binoculars is essential. And be prepared to spend a lot of time looking through them. I have a pair of Steiner 10 X 32 and they get the job done pretty well. I always tell people to get the best glasses they can afford, even if you have to wait a little longer to save up for them. Someday I will upgrade to something like Doug has, which I believe are Swarovski 10 X 42. The Steiners I have work well, but the little details like studying antlers and things are a little more difficult at longer distances. Have a quality, comfortable bino system/harness too. I like my Crooked Horn Outfitters harness.
I'm using a home made longbow, 59# @ 28 inches for this trip. 600 grain Gold Tip Traditional arrows including the Woodsman broadheads. I like sling quivers and the GFA model works well for me.
I also have a pretty well stocked first aid kit with me at all times. I have one of the soft sided cases and it's only about 6" X 6" X 1" and weighs less than a pound. A paramedic friend of mine stocked it pretty good with all the essentials and then some, including a few suture kits. I also saved a bottle of Vicoden from a previous prescription. There are lots of resources on-line to find out what you want in your kit. Cover the basics at least, pain killers, cold remedies, anti-diarrhea, band-aids and gauze, tweezers, tape, moleskin, snake bite kit, etc.
And don't forget your water bottle/bladder. You don't want to get dehydrated up in those hills.
Did I forget anything? Probably, but you get the idea.
-Brian
www.bowyersjournal.com
Topic: St Jude Elk Hunt (Read 1468 times)
