The day before Thanksgiving my vehicle was broken into by some friendly neighborhood crackheads who were a little jazzed up about being out of crack to smoke as I am sure you have all been there The vicious attack to my daily driver has left me shaken and scared . To help rid me of the devastating effects that have occurred contiguous to this invasion of my personal property, and b/c I get a poopy load of insurance $, I feel an elk hunt is in order...

Being that I have never been on a bivy _style_ elk hunt, 7-10 days or so, I have a few questions that I would like to ask my western brethren...

1. what are your pack essentials? (clothes, tools, water purification, etc.)

2. What type of boots (actual model would be nice, but at least one person explaining _style_- height, insulated or no, stiff soled, etc, would be helpful.)

3. essentials that I probably don't have and need; gps unit, binocs, calls, etc...

It is looking like a 2nd or 3rd rifle season in the Steamboat Springs area if that helps dictate your suggestions...

I already have an awesome tent and a sleeping bag. Thanks in advance for all of your input! I can't wait to be the Michigan guy lost in Colorado again... Gonna take a lot longer to find my fanny. If they come to you guys asking for leads, tell them to look 2/3rds of the way up the mountain clutching a tree, dead from cardiac failure with a Marlboro hanging out of his mouth. I'll look like this

DeRyderM wrote:
The day before Thanksgiving my vehicle was broken into by some friendly neighborhood crackheads who were a little jazzed up about being out of crack to smoke as I am sure you have all been there The vicious attack to my daily driver has left me shaken and scared . To help rid me of the devastating effects that have occurred contiguous to this invasion of my personal property, and b/c I get a poopy load of insurance $, I feel an elk hunt is in order...

Being that I have never been on a bivy _style_ elk hunt, 7-10 days or so, I have a few questions that I would like to ask my western brethren...

1. what are your pack essentials? (clothes, tools, water purification, etc.)


2. What type of boots (actual model would be nice, but at least one person explaining _style_- height, insulated or no, stiff soled, etc, would be helpful.)
I like an 8 inch high boot made of leather. Danner has worked for the past 10 years. Goretex lining has been good until I go over the tops. 200 gr thinsulate is plenty unless you are in the snow.

3. essentials that I probably don't have and need; gps unit, binocs, calls, etc...
Elknuts dvd's on elk calling, three diaphram calls, and a hoochie mama for when your mouth is so dry you couldn't whistle if you had to.
8 or 10x42 binos for sure.

It is looking like a 2nd or 3rd rifle season in the Steamboat Springs area if that helps dictate your suggestions...

I already have an awesome tent and a sleeping bag. Thanks in advance for all of your input! I can't wait to be the Michigan guy lost in Colorado again... Gonna take a lot longer to find my fanny. If they come to you guys asking for leads, tell them to look 2/3rds of the way up the mountain clutching a tree, dead from cardiac failure with a Marlboro hanging out of his mouth. I'll look like this


DEryd, I actually put together a gear list that is far from complete, but gives some brand names and links.
http://skinnymoos...racker/gear-list/

Here is what is in my Badlands 2200 pack for a Weekend CA wilderness Hunt. Figure more food and more clothing in a 4000 cu inch pack like the badlands 4500 for Colorado.



Belt attachments
Fleece pouch -16 oz Nalgene container, flavor packets (propel, crystal light)
Camera Bag

Left wing outer pocket
Empty Nalgene 64 oz. collapsible H2O canteen

Left wing Spotting scope pocket
2 pair wool poly blend hiking socks
Burris Landmark 15X-45X Scope

Left Belt pocket
2 granola bars
2 power bars
4 Carb Boom energy gels

Right Wing outer pocket
Toilet paper-backpackers roll (Charmin)
Kleenex

Right wing Tripod pocket
K&K Tripod 36”
NF/Wilderness Map
Specific area topo map 1:50,000 (Topo USA)
*50 ft 3/8” braided core rope

Right belt pocket
Compact Body Glide stick
Carmex lip balm
Kin-E-Sys sunscreen

Main Compartment
*Down sleeping bag w/ bivy sac
Orange drawstring sack 7×15 (4-5 pounds)
Blue drawstring pouch
Hemp soap
Titanium Spork
Cooking pot
Stove and gas line, ½ cup plastic measuring cup
Fuel canister for stove
2- 2 serving freeze-dried dinners
2- 1 serving freeze-dried dinners
2- 1 serving freeze dried breakfasts
2- 4 oz albacore tuna steaks in foil pouch
1-3 oatmeal packets
3 instant coffee singles
3 cocoa packets
1 top ramen
Wool shirt button up
UA cold Gear top
UA Cold Gear Bottoms
*Rain Suede Jacket
Stocking cap poly fleece

Back small outer pocket (stuff For quick access or emergencies)
Headlamp –Badlands 12 LED
Duct tape
Compass-if not in pants pocket
GPS – If not in pants pocket
Ziploc baggie
Blister kit
Kotex pad
Matches (in waterproof cylinder with whistle and mirror)
Dark Blue drawstring Sack
Space blanket
100 ft para cord
Glow stick
Fire sticks
Trioxohexane tablets
Butane lighter
AAA batteries-(Headlamp)
AA batteries –(GPS)
Maglite Solitare (1-AAA battery in backwards) attached to micra leatherman
Mini Swiss army knife with corkscrew
Iodine drops and neutralizer
Basic first aid kit
Bandaids,aspirin/ibuprofen, Immodium, pepto bismol tabs, benydryl, wet nap, alcohol wipes, gauze roll 2”x6 yds. 2 -2×2 gauze pads

Hydration bladder pocket
32 oz camelback bladder
MSR Miniworks EX Water filter
Lower straps
Thermarest z-Lite pad, Reg

Attached is my gear list on excel, it covers everything for various hunts including bivy hunts. I weigh everything and then once I check the take box it adds the weight to my pack I check the box off once I have packed the item. Hope it works for everyone it's in office 2007 so you might need to download a reader if you have office 2003 or eariler. Enjoy.

Deryder there is a lot of good resources out there, check out Cameron Hanes book Backcountry Bowhunting or David Long's Public Land Mulies... Also a good check list is on the Huntin' Fool web page article by Bryan Martin. Also a lot of good gear reviews on Hardcore Outdoors.com... One more note, get ideas from everyone on gear but use what works for you... I've wore out a lot of shoes and if you're hiking in the late season for elk make it a good choice... Don't be cheap, big difference between a cheap pair of boots than a good quality boot...If you use horses, then that changes a lot of your gear choices... Backpacker magazine has a lot of good info in it also... So you are gonna jump straight into a 7 -10 day hunt? Are you going alone?

If I were to recommend one thing for back country elk it would be boots and socks. Dont go cheap and get what feels good and has good reviews. Without your feet in the bc your nothin. Been there, done that, wont happen again

Thanks to those time-consuming, in-depth answers - extremely helpful. That is why I like Bowcast more than other archery websites. Thanks again fellow bowhunters, dv