How many of you guys do backcountry bowhunting? What do you use for gear, where do you go, how do you train for it, how long have you been doing it?

I've been working on getting better at this aspect/type of hunting for close to a decade. I've been through all sorts of gear and I am slowly working on making less gear more of a pleasure in the backcountry.

Interested to see some of the responses here.

I do it every chance I get. I keep everything as simple and compact as I possibly can. A Hammock camp can be an excellent option, as well as a tarp/bivy set up.

Surprisingly, you don't needs as much gear as you are lead to believe, if you select it correctly. One exception to that would be if you are in an area, at a time pf year when weather could actually life threatening.

What other kind is there?

Justin, What area of Colorado are you from?

I originally from the northern plains. I left after high school and recently moved back last May. I'm now residing in SW Colorado, a small town east of Durango.

I've been through a wide variety of backcountry shelters. Tents, tarps and tipis. I currently use a tipi, due to the versatility. I can use it all year long as I have a small takedown stove to run in it during the winter. I've never tried a hammock, just didn't appeal to me. I happen to have two different hammocks, but never had the desire to use them.

I have also been through quite a few packs. Right now I'm using a bison gear lost river lumbar pack and it works well for my daily outings.

Have been doing it on and off for about 30 years throughout the west. Nothing esoteric. I use a Kifaru TP for shelter, an old Cabelas aluminum frame freighter pack, one set of extra clothes and one extra outer garment for when the weather turns bad, and eat a lot of freeze dried food.

The last couple of years, my hunting partner and I have been having an outfitter pack us in, and pack out critters when we get them. The requirement of packing out a critter before the meat spoils is the limiting factor on how far one can go in.

running a sawtooth and smith cylinder stove. I carry two sets of first lite fusion and a kuiu rain set. MSR pocket rocket EE quilt, build my own bows and a whole list of other sorts of small stuff, Kifaru DT 1. I carry two sets of clothes in hopes that I'll be swapping them out at the truck sooner than later

This was my base camp at 11,000' this past September. A three-season Mountain Hardware tent with a sleeping bag and a wool blanket inside, a little MSR cooking set, and a fanny pack for maps, lighters, lunches, first aid, etc.. There's a tiny cooler hung in a nearby tree...and about every third day I'd scoot back down to the truck and zip into Telluride for groceries and rehydration.

I decided not to use one of those big backpacks, but I did have an old 70's-style aluminum pack frame--which was plenty of pack to put two boned-out hind quarters on (from someone else's elk, alas!)

I like the pics!

I'm 65 and have been doing it since about age 24. Kelty external frame pack, 41 year old Gerry down bag, and a MSR pocket rocket stove. Most trips I use a small nylon tarp, about 7' x 9' and set it ip if it looks like rain. I hike year-around with my wife and dog. Most trips are for 3 days, and to save weight I don't take extra clothes. My recommendation for anyone wanting to do this is to get out there in the summer and find out what you need/like/want, and the price you have to pay weight-wise for that. Nothing, and I mean nothing, can beat backpacking into a high country lake and catching some fish and cooking them on the spot with some foil, butter, and a pinch of salt. Call it prepping for your hunt!

I agree with Muddyboots.

I've also been doing it for most of my life (I'll be 64 this month).

Besides equipment, I think that a key issue is to feel at ease in the bush, especially when you're alone (I'm usually by myself).

Contrary to what they show us on TV, it's not "man against nature" - it's man with nature!

We were originally part of nature... so blending in, feeling at home, and (within reason) reverting back to your primitive self will do much to the success of your hunt whether you kill anything or not.

I could explain it in more detail but I think that you get the gist of it.

I use an 8x8 oil cloth set up as a diamond fly. This is the only thing where I sacrifice a little weight, because of it's durability. Everything else is as light as possible. And don't make the mistake of carrying too much food. Oatmeal, coffee, and protien bars. Just enough til you harvest something or get back to the truck. There are lists and reccomendations everywhere, only you know your limitations. Stay safe and have a great time.

I have been fishing/backpacking into NH WMNF remote ponds for over 25 years using tents and more recently hammocks. The last 10 years I've done several Colorado elk bow hunting backcountry bivy or spike camping. I much prefer to do 2-3 night trips then resupply and move to a different area if not seeing elk. I usually use my Badlands 2800 pack, 1p tent, 15* down bag, BAIAC pad, and Snow Peak stove/pot. This setup weighs about 30# with 3 days food and water.

Here's my pack loaded to go for 7 days in the backcountry. Small light tent, food, bag, pad, clothes, supplies and everything you need to live and hunt for a week. It worked great. Conditioning is really important. I do a lot of biking, running intervals up hills, stepping with a heavy pack on and weight training. You will have to find your sweet spot between light and simple and being able to be comfortable and rested. You should try some trips before hunting season to narrow down your options.

Paul, that pack looks heavy.

The pack with everything weighed 55 lbs. I have since been able (lighter bag, pad and a few other things) to get down to about 45. Remember I had food and supplies for 7+ days. For just a couple days I am much lighter and have a smaller pack.

Never have, we don't really have any back country in Texas. I would love to give a go someday.

here i am in day pack mode with some snacks, kill kit and rain gear if needed. Total pack weight for me last year was 39 pounds when I checked it in for my flight.

My first true backcountry hunt was in Montana in 2014, went in for 8 days, weight was 42lbs with everything. Went back in 2015, for 11 days and weight was 38lbs. Lightweight gear is nice, but being smart about what you are taking and why is better. Can't beat experience, that is for sure.

I like to go in with a mule. I can hunt further back. It's much easier to get further back in than walking . Really you can't walk very far because of meat spoilage.

When i was a kid we packed into the national forest in Virginia Far enough to get away from 1/2 day hunters. Didn't kill Much but had i great time. Sleeping bag water purifier And native brook trout for dinner.goods memorys

I've entertained getting a mule, but I am not sure I want to deal with the extra work to use one.

I hunt fairly close to a river source, my thoughts are that I could "leap frog" my meat to the truck by placing it in the river to keep cool. It is just a theory as I haven't had the opportunity to test it out yet.

I've done a few backcountry hunts. My usual destination is Alaska and backcountry there is a different animal from most places in the lower 48. It generally starts (for me) with a plane ride to a remote airstrip or gravel bar, and the allowable gear weight means minimal luxuries make it the trip. Once there, it's only a matter of camp where dropped vs load the pack and make the hike to...somewhere deeper and higher. Sometimes my camp and hunting area are next to a stream.

At times it's been a mountain camp after hiking in.

Might be a smaller tent or a larger tipi.

More effort to get there but sometimes worth it when this guy decides to answer the call.

Mr. Dill,

That is nothing short of awesome....

a fine sight to see after being out all day and wanting a place to lay down and get dry and warm. absolutely love my sawtooth. Kevin Dill we have the same likings you have a sweet setup as well

If you have already registered, please

sign in now

For new registrations

Click Here