Elk hunting gear checklist

[spectr17]

I'm putting together a gear checklist that people can download and print. This is a general list and no, I don't lug all this around. I check off what I need and put a dash mark by items I don't. The list also covers several types of hunting so that is why so many items.

You'll need Acrobat Reader to read and print this .pdf file gear checklist. You can get Acrobat at

http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html

The gear list is at

http://www.jesseshuntingpage.com/hunting-gear-list.pdf


Can you think of anything else that would be handy to have in the field when elk hunting?

Thanks.

 

[Oregon Archer]

youre gonne need a Uhaul to carry all that stuff in lol

 

[gizz]

CASH!
When i went to purchase my license in Mancos I had to pay with cash! No Credit Cards and I didn't take my Checkbook with me. These licenses are expensive and this one purchase pretty much took care of the cash I brought along. Problem was i had to borrow from one of my buddies to tip the Camp Hand. That's about the only thing that went wrong with my trip and it wasn't too bad although i would've been running all over the place trying to get some cash. The reasoning was that the store owners don't make much on license sales and if they except CC's then the CC fees would end up costing them money.
TAKE CASH or arrange for the TOTAL price of your license before you get there and verify the payment method.

 

[340mag]

keep in mind that the less junk you have to carry with you the less junk youll need to look through,keep track off and worry about, Ive got one rule that helps a great deal,
EVERYTHING YOU TAKE MUST FIT IN YOUR (1) BACK PACK OTHER THAN YOUR RIFLE OR BOW,
this cuts way down on the B.S. equip every new guy wants to take with him on the first few trips. that includes your tent and sleeping bag! youll be surprised at how little youll really NEED and how much ,WOULD BE NICE TO HAVE ALONG JUNK their is. a second simple test is (will I need this EVERY DAY?) if the answer is no than you might be better off without it, the exceptions are group stuff like coolers for the meat but be very carefull or all that extra junk suddenly becomes (group stuff) thats NOT THE IDEA! group stuff is things like snow chains, a small tool box, a good jack, spare tire,chain saw etc.

 

[gizz]

Good Advice 340mag!
Last year was my first and I took WAY too much junk! I really had no idea what i would and would not need so i tried to take it all. I ended up only needing about a 1/4 of what i brought and that poor horse took the brunt of it. A buddy who goes every year told me to only bring what i needed and he had the smallest damn sack that i've ever seen. I said is that it and he said yep. I guess everyone lives and learns on the first trip.....Next time it will be a lot less painful for me and the horse.

 

[MNTNMAN]

If it doesn't fit in my pockets it stays in truck. Tip: wear clothes with lots of pockets.

 

[340mag]

I was asked whats in your back pack? well heres a fast list and advise on what to carry while sneaking around in the woods for 3-4 days at a time!
>
>It makes no sence to hunt where theres no elk so get to a high spot and glass the area to spot the herd first, study the topo maps,escape routes, ambush points,water sources,timbered slopes access trails ETC.and if you have a partner have him meet you at noon and at dark at agreed upon spots or in most cases travel with you.
> first thing to keep in mind is you need a good, quite back-pack (internal frame)if possiable (less weight/noise) and a warm sleeping bag. (if your packs feel heavy when you start they will kill you by the third day so pack lite!
next is you need a poncho, in case of rain,(this also doubles as a second layer ground cloth under the sleeping bag and insullation over your coveralls if it gets nasty out)
tents are too heavy so I carry a 12'x12' 6 mil plastic tarp and some para-shoot cord to make a tent/lean-to for weather protection at night. youll need a good 4"-7" knife for cutting wood, game, etc., a couple of 2 liter soda bottles for water, water purafication/iodine tablets in a small PLASTIC bottle(glass is too heavy)(TANG drink powder in a zip lock bag to add to the water to kill the taste) one rifle/10 rounds of ammo, 4 disposable lighters, a lite weight aluminum 1 qt pot for cooking,1 stainless steel brillo pad for pot clean-up, 1 lite weight 16oz aluminum coffee cup with tape heat insullation on the handle,one spoon,one fork,one compass, toilet paper/napkins(in zip-lock bag) one down jacket, gortex lite weight outer jacket (dress for the weather your likely to see but I normally wear a insulated camo coverall/ghillie suit and leave it unzipped if it gets hot.a wide brim hat to shade your eyes, a face mask/net, now as far as food goes its all freeze dry rice,soup,pasta,chicken,coco,coffee or things like nuts,raisins,oat meal or freeze dry fruit ETC, to save weight/space (a tiny bag of cinnamon and one of red pepper for spices)(10) 1 gallon zip-lock for meat packing, all together I try for 30 lbs max(gun not included)(yes it can be done)I try to stay out two to three days at a time but never get more than 4 hours from the truck if possiable (not much sence in shooting something if you cant walk it back to the truck.)I might have forgoten someting so feel free to add stuff but keep it on the lite side or youll pay in the long run for being dumb! your NOT in a hurry, try to stay on north and east slopes , move slowly and keep your eyes open at all times, good luck!