How do you hack for a hunt?

[410001661]

How do you guys pack for a bow hunt? Do you hack different for morning hunts vs evening hunts?

I see all kinds in my group from the backpack that is loaded with every possible accessory, extra jacket, extra hat, gloves, snacks, thermos of soup, 2-3 knives, extra socks, and about anything else he saw laying around to the guy that has does not use a bag and slings his bow and carries an insulated seat and has snacks in his pocket.

I'm the guy in the middle. I do not like big bags because you tend to fill them up with useless stuff. Getting into the late season I use a climber more often and just carry a small bag that hangs on the stand and I can throw it over my shoulder for the walk in/out. I usually leave the stand out there and move it around as I choose.

This is my bag after yesterdays evening hunt:
- Paperwork in sealed container
- Neck gater and touque
- Gloves (fingerless and regular)
- Grunt call & doe bleat
- Rangefinder
- Knife, gut hook & Nutt out tool
- Snack
- Wind indicator

[dean.f]

I would consider myself in between, knife, TP, water, compass, a couple garbage bags to encase my bow if I'm past dark, and whatever clothes I can wear, sometimes I take my jacket off and strap it on my pack for the hike in to keep from sweating. I often cover ground by bicycle to get in deeper where motorized vehicles aren't allowed so trying to pack alot of clothing along with my bow is a pain.

I always try to avoid the extras because I never seem to use them. Just carry them around for no reason. I have also been known to stash some gear if I know I'll be back that way to pick it up.

[gbk]

I think this will depend from the hunt itself-deep hunt, no return till the end of the day is one thing ,half a day sit or a whole day sit is another,when weather man says it will be ok.

I carry in my back pack a parka,always always walking in light.Bow sock-gun sock(if going in for the afternoon)a toque, fleece gloves and a pair of silk gloves to act as liner if needs be. Chocolate bar or 2,little water,toilet paper ,some bandage,deer calls,tree steps(if hunting from tree and not using climber-just the bottom 5 though)extra bow hanger,licences,2 flashlights, pocket knife, bone saw(small)wind checker, ammo or x bow bolts strapped to my backpack.That is it.My car is a warehouse though ,for equipment to haul out deer,but stopped carrying 2 sets of clothes many moons ago.Waterproof parka and bib suffice for the whole day- have no intention to fall into water
Oh -and i carry a climber,or have the Trophy Line Saddle strapped on me,or carry the el cheapo WalMart beach chair(i guess i hunt many ways)

No pop up blind used for many many years-but i guess next year i may need one .

[trimmer21]

I like to be a minimalist when it comes to my backpack. Knife,cord,lighter,mini flashlight,thermos,extra ammo,gun sock,gloves and lunch.

[Species8472]

I think this will depend from the hunt itself-deep hunt, no return till the end of the day is one thing ,half a day sit or a whole day sit is another,when weather man says it will be ok.

This^^. All day at -20 and several miles into the bush is a whole different game than sunny +6 or 7 and a 1/4 mile from my back door or the cabin.

[genec]

im 73, and gave up on backpack many years ago because I would put too much stuff in it. I use a fanny pack with chest wader suspenders on it to keep it from sliding down when walking.
Inside it - vinyl gloves, small branch saw, limb snips, spool of paracord, scentkiller spray, grunt and bleat calls, pack of kleenex, spare gloves.
Attached to outside is leg quiver for crossbow bolts.

[fratri]

I guess it all depends where you are hunting.... For me, since most of my hunts are just a few hours long and relatively close to home, I just carry the bare minimum with me.... My crossbow, a knife, my deer calls and a seat (cushion if it's wet out to keep my butt dry) if I am going to lie in wait for a bit....
I will keep the extra stuff in the truck itself, rope, sled, water....but in the field bare minimum so I can move around easier....

[GW11]

I carry a pretty bulky pack, so it might look funny some of the time, but I need it in the cold weather for the size and carry it on warmer days and shorter hunts for the convenience of knowing where I keep all the essentials. It also save transferring stuff from one pack to the other in November.

On a short, warm hunt I'll usually only carry the basics and maybe my outer upper layer in the pack. On longer hunts and during cold weather I might carry as much as a folding chair, thermos, lunch and all outer layers to change into when I get to my spot.

Seems to always be a balancing act.

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[Candice_h]

Totally depends on the hunt and weather at the time. All day hunt crossbow/bow arrows, case, coffee?, water, flash light, snack, lighter, range finder, couple calls, rope and a knife. Sometimes a pack of hand warmers incase I need them.

[dean.f]

I guess it all depends where you are hunting.... For me, since most of my hunts are just a few hours long and relatively close to home, I just carry the bare minimum with me.... My crossbow, a knife, my deer calls and a seat (cushion if it's wet out to keep my butt dry) if I am going to lie in wait for a bit....
I will keep the extra stuff in the truck itself, rope, sled, water....but in the field bare minimum so I can move around easier....

This is pretty much the same thing I do. I like to move around freely so the truck stores anything that's not essential. I'm not very far from civilization so it works well.