What’s you preferred method to carry gear while hunting and why?

I am in the process of adapting how and what I carry while hunting.

A fleece multi-pocketed fanny pack goes on every hunt with me. I like it because it carries easy and has enough compartments for stuff I need for a morning or evening sit.

If I'm hunting all day, I'll take the fanny pack and a small day pack. The day pack is nice to have some waters, snacks, sandwiches, extra clothes, gloves etc. The fanny pack and day pack carry nicely when worn together and I can shoot my bow while wearing them.

If I'm taking my portable stand and my day pack, I just strap the day pack to the stand.

Depends on where I am and how long I'm going to be out. For typical jaunts I use a fanny pack. I have used a couple of haversacks over the years, and they are ok, but to get one that really works for you you just about have to make it yourself.

For longer excursions I'll sometimes use a day pack.

I carry a fanny pack now but also considering a haversack. The fanny seems always be in the way when carrying a back quiver

I prefer a haversack. I’ve got 2, one is bigger hat the other for carrying a bit more in late season. I’ve been using one for years and really like it. It keeps my stuff together and at hand. I sling it over my shoulder and out the door I go.

I have a fleece fanny pack I love. It has the two pouches on the sides, one smaller zipped compartment on the front, then a large zipped compartment and it's quiet. But, it is getting worn, broke front zipper and a hole between the compartments. The strap has been sewn back on a few times also. I just cannot find another like it. I did buy a large fanny/back pack style one that I have not tried hunting yet. I hope it is fine, it does seem big.

Daypack. It's more comfortable for me. It holds more than enough stuff. If I shed some clothes or want to take extra clothes with me it has straps to attach the clothes to. Has mutiple pockets and sections. It has a hydration system built in.

the little haversack 3 Rivers sells is great for just morning/evening stuff or all day if not loaded down

Rather good quality and construction

if you don't wear a back quiver a small day pack not bad either

Depends on how far I am from truck. If I’m back too far to drag I carry a backpack and cut up the deer.

I prefer a small backpack with only one strap to throw over my shoulder when hunting locally. I can clip my quiver to the side of the pack. It does not hold all that much and is very light. On longer hunts where I am more likely to get stuck overnight, I carry a conventional backpack, but still not too large or heavy.

I always carry my "Day One Camo" backpack. It's a light weight pack that I can carry everything I need and everything is very accessible. Had my first one about 30 years and just bought a new one couple years ago.

I like a small fanny pack wore in the front (belly pack) Im looking for a small one in camo fleece if you know a supplier. big enough to hold a few items

For archery I use a backpack, which rides on my tree stand. Gun hunting I use a haversack.

I’m really liking the 3-Rivers Haversack. I hunt mostly in the area around my house and I can carry what I need in the haversack even if I want to stay out all day. I like being able to grab stuff at my side better than taking a pack off. I’m using it here on the farm doing chores and it hangs nicely on the tractor and 4- wheeler.

Can't stand day packs, especially in warmer weather and they certainly don't work well with a back quiver. A fanny pack is perfect for me since it rests on, or just above the hips. My fleece model has plenty of room for anything I need for a whole day, or even a night over. The plus for it is in colder weather, it will keep you warmer when worn over the midrift area. As Bobo might have said, I wouldn't give you twenty dollars for a barrel full of haversacks. ;)

I like haversacks. Easier to get to the items you need. Most times I’m carrying a stand so Fanny or back packs don’t work too good for me. It really depends on where , and how you are hunting. Also have a single strap shoulder pack. It worked well but when I got the haversack I quit using it.

I'm chubby enough that I could never keep a fannypack on, they would always slide down. Last year I bought a backpack with a water bladder from Walmart. Best thing I've ever used, I always have a drink ready, no more messing with a water bottle. I don't like putting hunting stuff in my pockets,so everything is always in the pack, just add water and I'm all set.

Haversacks are dump bins, and I have enough problem with separate compartments. Kudos to you guys who like them. I like to know if I need the camera it's in the second pocket from the right...where the water bottle is, and the file, etc. It keeps me more organized and I don't have to take it off to access the pockets. And yes, the back quiver works fine along with it.

I like a big fanny pack with suspenders attached

I stillhunt/stalk most of the time, with a lot of log-sits thrown in. For a typical day hunt I use a fanny pack. I use it with a Mini-Catquiver that I sling over my shoulder. It's easy to remove without a lot of body motion when I sit.

George has it right. Haversack equals dump bins most of the time. I tried and tried to like them. Since I'm not hunting unless my backquiver is on, I also prefer only one strap across my torso. I've gotten real comfy with an Allen fanny pack. Small yet can carry everything I need and it rides below my backquiver.

Haversack started making my own, the strap on my back has shoe strings to tie a jacket on. Lot of pockets on inside made the right size for small binos, water bottle, grunt call, pocket all the way across back outside for hats or gloves. I have a lot of packs that are great don’t seem like I need that much stuff on me to hunt. Trying to get to mostly primitive hunting. Seems so simple to me

The 3-Rivers haversack has 3 interior sections. The main compartment, a section with a draw string and one with a zipper. Much better than one big opening.

I failed to mention that the 3-Rivers haversack has an exterior water bottle pocket with a draw string and straps to secure a jacket or poncho to the bottom

The items I carry would fit in a small fanny pack but anytime I hunt deer I use a backpack that can haul meat. In cold weather it carries some additional clothes. This past year it was an Eberlestock X2. Rides below my head level and is fairly light.

In the recent past I limited my hunting to areas where I could get a deer out if I shot one. I usually hunt alone and there's no way I'm dragging a deer a mile or so up and down hills. But that prevented me from going to places I wanted to hunt. So for the past few years I've been carrying a pack that is not overly large but can haul 50 or so pounds of meat. It gives me the freedom to go where I want to.

Sling bag type day pack. I can still wear a backquiver. I used to use an old Army surplus gas mask bag as a fanny pack, It worked quite well too. Until I started carrying more than just a small flask of water. The weight of the water made it slide down.

I agree with the "it depends" responses. I have a couple of both the haversack and backpack varieties and if I am planning on a lot of walking I like the haversack packed light. If I plan on sitting put I tend to use the backpack.

But sometimes I do just the opposite.

Also the temperature makes a difference - if I want to shed or add clothes I take a backpack. A couple seasons ago I picked up a Timber Hawk Day Pack (about 1,100 cu in volume) that is relatively small and well thought out. I keep a half-dozen loose "modular" zippered pouches that I separate out things like: first aid, food, survival items, deer dressing kit/organ bags/clean-up, etc. I can quickly swap them around depending on the day's plans and be fairly sure I won't be missing something.

Haversack for me. I've been using one for years and love the pure simplicity. Besides that I'm a creature of habit and figure if it ain't broke, why fix it.

Backpack or possibles bag.

the Grey one is a larger one I use when staying longer and in cold weather ,needing more clothes

wears as a haversack but has a wiast belt

so stays tight and supports most of the load

Haversack. Easy to move around as moving or access needs require. fdp has it right - had to make my own to get the size and configuration I wanted. A used, women's leather purse. Added a strap and flap cover myself. The right purse will have internal dividers and small zippered pockets inside for organizing gear, and preventing it from becoming a "dump bin."

Started in the early 1980's with a fanny pack. Seems lately that my fanny is receding, LOL! Tried a Badlands Monster Fanny Pack (with shoulder straps). I found it was as bulky as a day pack without the carrying capacity. Five years ago, I got a Badlands Pursuit day pack, and have never regretted the purchase. Just enough capacity for an afternoon in the woods. Doesn't have a waist belt, and that's fine with me. After five years of year-round use, it's still like new - no rips, torn seams, broken buckles or anything. It will likely outlast me.

Use all three depending on the he trip but prefer and usually a small haversack.

I like the Johnson Wool Mills backpack. It's very lightweight, quiet, has outside compartments for food and drink and enough room for extra layers, poncho, camera etc. Since my fannypack is always packed with essentials and more I just drop that into the backpack. The padded wool strap interferes with rifle alignment so I replace one with a flat nylon strap for that season. It also attaches nicely to a PacSeat.

I use two backpacks! Let me explain. I use a regular back pack to carry my stuff used for hunting, the same stuff most of you guys carry. Inside that backpack I carry a rolled up mesh backpack like some schools require for quick inspection of what students are carrying into school. These mesh backpacks can be bought for less than $20 on ebay.

When I shoot a doe or small buck, in states that allow this method, I use this gutless method: https://vimeo.com/27839614 I put the loins, neck, and flank meat into plastic bags that go into the mesh packpack. I hang each quarter by a length of rope from a tree trunk and bone them out. It is easy to bone out a quarter if you follow the natural muscle seams. There are lots of videos on youtube that show how this is done. I can get the meat from an average sized deer completely inside that mesh backpack. I put on my regular backpack first and snug it down.

The mesh backpack with the meat rides on top of that and settles just below the other backpack. The last four deer I have taken have been processed this way. I have timed myself on those four deer, and I average 35 minutes from start to first step walking out. A good headlamp makes the job easy in the dark. A large buck would require a different approach, especially if you want to have the animal mounted. When I am done, I leave behind the bones and guts. If I want to save the rack from a smaller buck, I saw it off with my breakdown saw. That takes me about five additional minutes to do.

If you want to save the heart, it is easy to do so by cutting and reaching up under the ribs after you have completed the process.If you don't want a carcass left near a stand, drag it out of sight. I've never had a problem with a nearby carcass. I have had deer walk up and sniff the remains and walk on. Normally, the carcass is gone in a day or two, courtesy of scavengers. When I get home, the meat goes in an extra refrigerator or cooler in camp. No mess in the garage or the back of my truck. In CWD areas, there is no transport of a carcass from one location to another. Another benefit is that I can do the job without assistance, no troop of friends leaving extra scent or making noise near one of my stands.

Day pack.

Fanny Pack from Badlands. I wanted to find some old webgear like I carried in the Army, couldn't find what I was looking for. Then I found this. Was used to carrying it from the service and I was comfortable with it.

I have never used a Haversack...Fanny Packs and Day Packs/Big Packs...It all depends on Terrain/ How/What/Where we're hunting and how long we plan and don't plan(insert Boy Scout Motto)on staying in a given area...I usually use a well worn "Dwight" flexible pack frame with a over sized Fanny pack modified attached to it for close to home/truck ie. 10miles or so Bowhunting...Carries all the essential stuff-emergency over night stuff etc., has a water bladder and I can strap extra clothes etc. to it plus I can bone out a mule deer (see scienceguys link above) and carry it out without heading back anywhere to get a pack frame...A day pack fills the same order when chasing elk...I have used the Badlands 2200 and Superday packs for years and have hauled out Antelope to Mt.Goats in them without any failure...I/we use BigPacks like in the picture on extended overnight and unplanned extended overnight trips and like this trip where water is basically non existent and your carrying a gallon or so per day per person...and will be bringing out all the meat/hides/horns in one trip if your successful...I do know One thing for sure...Adventure Awaits with ANY Pack on Your Back!...Happy New Year!!! And Hunting!!!...4finger

I like the old web gear. Can what you as needed

Black spot

I like your set up, is there a certain model or name for it?

Not that i know of. I think mine is from the Nam/korea era

"Dwight" pack frame setup...4finger

The suspenders were called an "H" Harness, I loved those. It was casually referred to as Web Gear. Officially it was called LBE (Load Bearing Equipment). Some was called M14. Some are cotton, others, mainly later versions were Nylon.

Cannot tell you how much stuff I carried in those. Here is me in 1985 with mine, about to go into El Salvador.

I carry a large day pack. The main reason I do this is to be able to carry a fairly large load back to the truck on the first trip out if I kill something. I also carry enough things to not starve or die of hypothermia if I have to stay out overnight. I hunt too far from the truck and camp to not have those survival items. If I was hunting in the back 40 of my own place or something like that this would be overkill but I hunt on public land exclusively.

My haversack was made by a buddy and is the only one I’ve used. It has 5 pockets. I have a flashlight holder on the shoulder strap and keep my pull up rope clipped to the outside. Can’t imagine needing to carry more stuff than it will hold for a day of hunting. One thing I did that improved the haversack was to install a stick at the top to keep the bag spread. It snaps in place and I have my drag rope wrapped around it. On the rare occasion I need a drag rope it’s there already tied to the stick/ handle.

Haversack for me, but I don't take a lot with me. Works best with my back quiver.

I used to use a fanny pack but have gone to a Haversack. It can be carried high under the arm or slung back out of the way. Easy and quick access. I have several of them in various sizes to choose for the days need

A good variation on the haversack/possibles bag idea is what is known as a messenger bag. Very popular among students and professional workers, to carry lap top computers, water bottles, books. They have largely replaced briefcases. There are dozens of well made choices at reasonable prices. And they are easy to find at thrift stores for cheap, I got several that way, in various sizes to try out the idea and I like them.

One of them is big enough to carry two bags of groceries on my motorcycle - very handy.

The trick is to not let it flop at your side but to adjust the straps so you can shove it around back to ride on the back of your hips, or the motorcycle seat. I am thinking about making a small back quiver to attach to the back strap, and adding some laces to carry my longbow. Even on the motorcycle. - lbg

Daypack I bowhunted with this year.

I’ve been using a Timberhawk Guthook fanny pack for the last two years. Comfortable and carries all the essentials for a day hunt. I just picked up a Badlands Monster pack that I will be trying out. It’s more comfortable and rides better on the hips. I tried a haversack, but didn’t like that it kept swinging around to the front. I was constantly having to move it to the back of my hip.

I have a 3pc fanny pack that I put a longer belt in and carry it over the shoulder. It fits alongside the hip, clear of the back quiver.

-Joe

Fanny pack for last 45 years, carries all l need and then some. Quiver always bow mounted.

I use a back pack while hunting. Have tried a Haversack but just wasn't crazy about it for long hikes. While shed hunting i use a large fanny pack with shoulder straps and belt. Can pack as little or as much as I like regardless of the season regardless of gear needed.

Yes, I use all 3, depending on the duration of the hunt and the weather. Walking any distance I like a day pack, short hunts need less gear so Fanny pack, quick hunts or scouting just a bag !!

Depends on where and what type of hunt you're doing. I have always hunted in area a mile or 2 from truck/camp.

I carry my field gear in a fanny pack containing only those items I will use on the hunt. All my post-kill gear is in a backpack that stays in my truck/camp.

When still hunting I will often park my fanny pack in a near-by spot and continue hunting, carrying only a thermos of coffee, a can of Dinty Moore stew, some dried beef strips, and a spoon. I made a cylinder-shaped pack with sling that carrys the coffee, stew, beef strips, and, of course... shite paper.

Use all three depending on situation. Johnson Wool Mills backpack is pictured in a previous post. Fanny pack here is mostly used when larger items won't be carried and when carrying a sidearm with no belt fleece camo pants. The thin profile fanny pack has been converted to a haversack for shorter or light duty hunts like small game and roving. Either fanny pack loaded with essentials can be dropped into the wool backpack along with the additional items.

3 different methods for me. A fanny pack with 2 bottle holders for hunting when I don't have much time. A Catquiver III for day trips and an old Dwight Schuh frame pack if there's a chance of being out overnight.

I use a fanny pack.Never cared for back packs.Never tried a haversack and probably never will.Reason being I've got more than enough stuff already.

I use a rancho safari catday mini. It's a little bigger than a fanny but smaller than a backpack. Plenty of room with straps to lash a coat or other stuff to.

I used to do Fanny packs, then KOM lumbar pack, and I have really migrated to a real backpack with a quikee quiver on a belt rig. My normal rig now is the Kifaru Stryker XL. I went from elk hunting with a std pack to creating (they created it) a rig that I can carry a little, a lot, a deer, a stand, anything I want under about 100# without a problem. Yet fold it all up and cinch it tight and it’s like a tiny backpack. So on a deer hunt it’ll carry my coat and everything, including sticks and stand on a comfy rig without pain, pulling, in complete comfort. I have it all customized to my needs. It’s super versatile and little. Love it. A pack that weighs nothing that carries over 100#…

Wow, I kinda feel silly being an old fashioned hunter. I use none of the above unless its an overniter. I do carry a bow with extra string ,arrows, and a knife tho.

Don’t feel silly. I keep what I need for most of my southeastern river swamp hunting in my pockets. Most of my setups are accessible only by water so anything bulky remains in the boat.

sometimes a backpack, sometimes a Norway military bag, like a possibles bag.

I have a Eddie bauer day pack clipped to my waldrop pac seat. The seat material is super breathable, and there is a gap between your back and the pack, creating air flow and no back sweat..

Badlands Monster pack:

https://www.badlandsgear.com/collections/day-packs/products/monster

I have 2 -one set up for treestand hunting, the other for ground hunting. Holds everything I need, (& a few things that I probably don't!)

It has a pouch that will hold a 1 liter water bladder, which is usually enough water for me.

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