What Do You Carry in Your Deer pack?

newmuzzleloader · Sep 15, 2017

My walk from the barn to our farthest stand is +/-400 yds, I carry my crossbow with it's quiver and the seat pad(s) for the stand or my gun. Knife is on my belt, butt out tool n string is in a cargo pocket. Fone and hanky in back pockets, I'm wearing my headlamp and I have 3 more pants pockets for snacks and a drink. In cooler weather I have 2 shirt pockets and if it's really cold 2 coat pockets also. Living where I hunt I can travel light.

BearArms · Sep 16, 2017

I basically have to walk my butt off for most spots. I'm not exactly a lightweight backpack hunter but I do have to travel a mile for several spots, more for the deep woods spots.

My pack is an LL Bean Blaze Orange day pack and inside:

Hunting License
Zip Ties
Alaska Knives Whitetail Skinning Knife
Ammo wallet for 30.06
Several big and small ziploc bags for nasty bits of deer I like to eat
Uninsulated Dishwashing Gloves
UA Balaclava
UA Glove Liners
Ragg Wool fingerless Gloves
Firesteel
Petzl Headlamp
Garmin Monterra Android GPS /w 24K Topos loaded
Deer Drag
MRE Toilet Paper
Field Stripped MRE of dubious quality
Extra MRE Heater
Source 2L water bladder with insulated drinking tube
EPIC Bars (The Bison and Lamb are my favorite)
Clif Mojo Bars
Peppermint candy for "lipstick on a pig" breath scent management

During Flintlock Muzzleloader Season I have a Possibles bag I made from a Russian military surplus gasmask bag. I generally go much lighter with this setup. In it I have:

6x .50 Cal Lead Round Balls
Daisy Cutter lubed wads in a plastic baggie
Powder Measure pre-set to 100g
Brass Powder Horn
Priming Powder dispenser
Nipple Pick (giggity)
1 spare flint
Small screwdriver for adjusting flint jaws
Ball Starter
Ball Puller
Patch Puller
Deer Drag
Knife
Gutting Gloves

h2u · Sep 16, 2017

I hunt behind my house. I carrying license, binos, knife, and a bottle of water.

outrider58 · Sep 16, 2017

danb said:
taking a picture requires unpacking... and generally I keep it packed after Sept 7th so that I can leave at a moment notice (my schedule can be funky).

I have most everything pictured except the call (dont use em). I also have an extra deer drag, plus extra ropes. I also have 3 small portable hanging work lights for night gutting (hang on tree). Plus a bottle of cover scent, obviously.

Not pictachios, snickers or Kind bars. Plus, where legal, some treats for the deer.

Oh and I dont use the tree hanger pictured I just carrabiner stuff to a hammock strap around the tree.

I get ya about the unpacking for pix. In my case I was doing my season load-out and figured I'd snap a pic. My hunting won't start until late October.

For all you "minimalists" out there... :beer:

Most guys I know who carry only the bare necessities usually seem to be the first ones out of their trees. I go in before sun up and come out after sundown most days. No matter the temps(colder is way better that warmer). I love to just sit out there and enjoy nature.

SummitCnty · Sep 16, 2017

I have a 100 yard walk to my stand. Weapon, license, coffee, and snacks.

My kill kit if I think about it. If not I walk back to the house to get it if I need it.

SummitCnty · Sep 16, 2017

Forgot to add binos.

lazarus · Sep 16, 2017

h2u said:
I hunt behind my house. I carrying license, binos, knife, and a bottle of water.

I read that as I "nut behind my house..."

Which made the rest sound really creepy and peeping tom like.

lazarus · Sep 16, 2017

Depends. My minimalist is a surplus Multicam buttpack.

License
Zip ties
Two pairs of latex gloves
Three tags (because I am an optimist and my neighbor who I hunt with a lot often doesn't remember to bring one)
Folding knife
Gutting knife
First aid kit with added quik clot and trauma pad
Black diamond LED head lamp (cosmo I think?)
Black diamond LED lantern (don't recall which one, the 4 AAA one)
30ft paracord
1qt canteen
Rangefinder or binos (8x32)
Long sleeve camo shirt or ACU Multicam jacket (I'll usually tie around my waist while still hunting once I warm up)
Usually a snack bar or two. Maybe a small haggis of trail mix.

Haven't don't this crossbow yet. For ML I'll keep a 35mm film canister with some foam and a dozen primer caps in it. 1 quick reload tube with 5 sabots and 240gr .44 cal XTP bullets. 5 premeasured charges of FFFg 777. My muzzleloader. For rifle leave that stuff behind and either an extra clip with 8rnds in it in addition to what is in the rifle or 5 rounds in a padded holder tucked in a pocket in addition to the 5 in the rifle (AR vs .308 bolt action). Shotgun I'll take 8 rounds in a pouch.

Going heavier all of the above, except it goes in a Midway Rendezvous pack. Probably more food. Maybe a 12oz thermos with some hot soup if planning to be out all day and it is cold. Usually some dried fruit and jerky in addition to the snacks mentioned earlier. Likely long underwear/base layer goes in the pack. When I setup, I put it on, when I go to still hunt if no success on a morning sit it comes off and goes in my pack to go back on for an evening sit. Probably a deer call. Probably a 2nd canteen. Almost certainly an extra pair of socks for while I sit. Also hat, face mask and gloves.

Usually I take a pack if I will be out all day and won't make my way to my car mid day for lunch. And/or when it is later in the season and cold.

lazarus · Sep 16, 2017

Depends. My minimalist is a surplus Multicam buttpack.

License
Zip ties
Two pairs of latex gloves
Three tags (because I am an optimist and my neighbor who I hunt with a lot often doesn't remember to bring one)
Folding knife
Gutting knife
First aid kit with added quik clot and trauma pad
Black diamond LED head lamp (cosmo I think?)
Black diamond LED lantern (don't recall which one, the 4 AAA one)
30ft paracord
1qt canteen
Rangefinder or binos (8x32)
Long sleeve camo shirt or ACU Multicam jacket (I'll usually tie around my waist while still hunting once I warm up)
Usually a snack bar or two. Maybe a small haggis of trail mix.

Haven't don't this crossbow yet. For ML I'll keep a 35mm film canister with some foam and a dozen primer caps in it. 1 quick reload tube with 5 sabots and 240gr .44 cal XTP bullets. 5 premeasured charges of FFFg 777. My muzzleloader. For rifle leave that stuff behind and either an extra clip with 8rnds in it in addition to what is in the rifle or 5 rounds in a padded holder tucked in a pocket in addition to the 5 in the rifle (AR vs .308 bolt action). Shotgun I'll take 8 rounds in a pouch.

Going heavier all of the above, except it goes in a Midway Rendezvous pack. Probably more food. Maybe a 12oz thermos with some hot soup if planning to be out all day and it is cold. Usually some dried fruit and jerky in addition to the snacks mentioned earlier. Likely long underwear/base layer goes in the pack. When I setup, I put it on, when I go to still hunt if no success on a morning sit it comes off and goes in my pack to go back on for an evening sit. Probably a deer call. Probably a 2nd canteen. Almost certainly an extra pair of socks for while I sit. Also hat, face mask and gloves.

Usually I take a pack if I will be out all day and won't make my way to my car mid day for lunch. And/or when it is later in the season and cold.

bigdv · Sep 16, 2017

Flask. (Just kidding. I would never do that)

Inigoes · Sep 16, 2017

From a thread that helped Neot start out

AlBeight · Sep 16, 2017

Inigoes said:
From a thread that helped Neot start out

550 chord for dragging? Dragging what, squirrels?

Inigoes · Sep 16, 2017

550 cord on top for deer dragging. 550 cord is stronger than you think. Plus I carry extra if additional strands are needed.

The trick is to fashion a handle. I will admit, I don't have to drag a deer more than 100 yards.

AlBeight · Sep 16, 2017

Inigoes said:
550 cord on top for deer dragging. 550 cord is stronger than you think. Plus I carry extra if additional strands are needed.

The trick is to fashion a handle. I will admit, I don't have to drag a deer more than 100 yards.

You must hate your hands.

Inigoes · Sep 16, 2017

AlBeight said:
You must hate your hands.

That is what a handle is for

Never use your hands. There are plenty of sticks to choose from in the woods.

AlBeight · Sep 16, 2017

Inigoes said:
That is what a handle is for

Never use your hands. There are plenty of sticks to choose from in the woods.

I have several nylon "drag straps" (as I call them). Really they were safety belts that were included in older treestand purchases, before it became normal to include harnesses. About 6 or 7 feet long, 1-1/2" to 2" wide in a loop with a cinch buckle. Best drag strap ever, similar to what you can buy as a commercial drag strap, but these were free (sorta I suppose). Wrap one revolution around the hand & you're off, plus the cinch buckle slides down around the neck, no tying knots etc... You can also loop around your shoulder for more leverage if needed. And you can't tie this too tight that you have to cut it free, like parachord.

Sorry to all for straying off OP topic....

newmuzzleloader · Sep 16, 2017

outrider58 said:
For all you "minimalists" out there... Most guys I know who carry only the bare necessities usually seem to be the first ones out of their trees. I go in before sun up and come out after sundown most days. No matter the temps(colder is way better that warmer). I love to just sit out there and enjoy nature.

My ADD ( evan at age 55) wouldn"t go for that. I've never been able to sit in a stand for more than 3-4 hrs after sun-up, my mind starts thinking of all the other stuff that needs doing. :sad20:

h2u · Sep 16, 2017

outrider58 said:
I get ya about the unpacking for pix. In my case I was doing my season load-out and figured I'd snap a pic. My hunting won't start until late October.

For all you "minimalists" out there... Most guys I know who carry only the bare necessities usually seem to be the first ones out of their trees. I go in before sun up and come out after sundown most days. No matter the temps(colder is way better that warmer). I love to just sit out there and enjoy nature.

Definitely a minimalist. After I shoot a deer, I'll pack my stand out and grab my deer cart - a three minute walk each way

I generally stay in from an hour before shooting light until 11:30 - 12pm for the morning hunt and get back out by 2pm and stay until dark for the evening. Those two hours really help! I've tried to stay in all day, but I just start to fidget - which is obviously bad.
Know you're limits and all...

lazarus said:
I read that as I "nut behind my house..."

Which made the rest sound really creepy and peeping tom like.

Yikes! Sorry for the confusion

outrider58 · Sep 16, 2017

AlBeight said:
550 chord for dragging? Dragging what, squirrels?

Any port in a storm...

I start out with two drags in my pack. Soon enough, you'll find yourself without a one. Then you scrounge for anything that will work. Para-cord will do the trick. Tie it into a big loop with a water knot and double or even triple it into a smaller loop(doing this makes it easier on 'sensitive' fingers) and haul away.

Doco Overboard · Sep 16, 2017

6Den said:
Was gonna add first aid kit but I think I see one in Outrider's picture. At minimum I carry some band aids, clot gauze, and tourniquet.

Had a guy one time cut the hell out of his thumb in a big field one night, I had a first aid kit in the truck and had to run out and get it. (the truck) so we tied it shut with whatever we could get off his sleeve until I got to him.
It was like 12 or 14 stitches he got over at the Hospital in Cambridge that night and i think it was opening day but he was there for a week hunting from Baltimore and it ruined his whole trip.
I used to stash stuff in the woods when I was younger, in a polyethylene bag. Usually like a road flare, a jar of cold packed meat
some 3/8 rope trail markers stick matches and those little foil blankets. A cheap Chinese hatchet. If you shot something decent heavy plastic sheeting made for an easier drag.
Now you can just call it in, quarter cape and pack out with a frame. Or get the boys to do it. Thats what they're for right? I don't even think I could run across that old field anymore. This was pre four wheeler and cellphone. I don't know how we survived.
I only go about a mile in at the Marsh anymore at tops, about a hundred yards to where the phrag starts and maybe not even that much this year.
Getting tired of it I guess.

What Do You Carry in Your Deer pack?

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