thebearslayer
Member
- Joined
- Aug 1, 2019
- Messages
- 15
Experience is the best teacher. Read as much as you can but at some point you have to just give it your best shot. I wish I didn't wait so long to go out and try it. Your first time doing anything can be a total flop, but one attempt at the wilderness will teach you more than any message board ever could. That said, here's the gear-list I use (roughly) attached below. This is for a later season hunt. I was perfectly warm the entire time even with temperatures around 0 in the mornings. I've been accumulating stuff for years (it's the American way) and I'm primarily a whitetail hunter so not all of the gear I have is perfectly suited for the mountains but it'd cost a man a fortune to run out and buy everything all at once. Very few people I know have budgets for that, especially for such specialty gear. If I lived up there, I think I could justify spending a bit more on mountain-specific gear but I don't live there so when I visit I get by with what I have, which is often a little less than perfect but not too bad. Spend your money on boots and a sleeping bag. You can bargain shop in other areas. Almost everything I buy is on some sale of 50% off or more which helps a lot... the eddie bauer down jacket I wear retails for around $300 I think and I got one on sale for $70. Super warm and comfortable. It's bright red but so what... I never wear it as an outer layer because I always put my shell on. The tent I have I bought for summer backpacking trips with my family. It's a 4 man, three season tent that's relatively big and heavy for one or two guys, but it's what I have and I make it work wherever I go. And it is a glorious and spacious place to call home once it's set up so there's that benefit to a big tent as well. I got my spotting scope a few years ago for around 50% off when Cabela's was discontinuing them. My backpack is not very high quality but it hasn't broke on me yet and I gave like $60 for it almost 10 years ago. I'd say I got my money's worth even if I trash it now. I inspect the stitching on the straps before I go anywhere with it and then it is what it is. When a new pack is in my budget I'll get a nice one. Just use your coconut and when you see something on sale, even if it's in May, jump on it. But at the end of the day, the most important piece of gear you bring is what's between your ears. Have the right mindset and the right attitude and go for it if your heart is telling you to. Be safe, have fun, and manage your expectations because this is not an easy hunt where you should expect results right away.
| Gear | Weight Per (oz) |
| Backpack, Jansport Big Bear 88 | 67 |
| SLEEPING | |
| tent, Kelty TN4 | 77 |
| sleeping bag, The North Face Inferno -20 | 37 |
| sleeping pad, Nemo Cosmo Insulated w/ pump | 36 |
| NAVIGATING | |
| map | 4 |
| compass | 2 |
| whistle, Fox 40 | 1 |
| HUNTING | |
| rifle & ammo, Remington 700, Leupold VXII 3-9X scope, .270 win | 152 |
| range finder | 16 |
| spotting scope, Cabela's Krotos | 72 |
| tripod | 40 |
| game bags, Cabelas | 21 |
| camera (iphone) | 32 |
| knife (schrade folding knife) | 12.5 |
| Hunting License | |
| Hunter Ed Card | |
| CLOTHES | |
| boots (la sportiva nepal EVO GTX) | ESTIMATE |
| wool socks (3x), smart wool calf height | ESTIMATE |
| base layer, pants, Under Armour Men's 4.0 Ski & Snowboard Base Leggings 1281110 - Black - Size Large | ESTIMATE |
| base layer, shirt, Under Armour Long Sleeve spandex t-shirt | ESTIMATE |
| mid layer, pants, Kuiu Guide Pants | ESTIMATE |
| mid layer jacket, light, The North Face Glacier Alpine Full-Zip Fleee Jacket - Men's | ESTIMATE |
| mid layer jacket, heavy, Columbia Mountain Side Heavyweight Fleece Jacket | ESTIMATE |
| insulation layer, jacket, eddie bauer, mens downlight hooded jacket, red | ESTIMATE |
| rain/ outer layer, jacket, Browning Rain Jacket | ESTIMATE |
| rain/ outer layer, pants, Scentlock | |
| winter hat light, Fleece hat | ESTIMATE |
| winter hat heavy, Cabelas Trapper hat | |
| Fleece Neck Gaiter | |
| Mittens, Cabela's Men's Stand Hunter Mittens with Liner Gloves | ESTIMATE |
| hunter orange vest | ESTIMATE |
| Sun Glasses | ESTIMATE |
| FOOD/ PREP | |
| water bottle, Hydro Flask Wide-Mouth Vacuum Water Bottle - 40 fl. oz. | 60 |
| camp fork/spoon | 4 |
| trash bag | 2 |
| camp stove, MSR WindBurner Stove System | 12 |
| camp fuel 2x | 16 |
| lighters | 2 |
| Food, Mountain House Breakfasts and dinners | 5 |
| Snacks, Snickers, Pistachios, EPIC Bison Bars | |
| TOILETRIES | |
| toilet paper (bring lots) | 6 |
| toothbrush | 2 |
| toothpaste | 2 |
| FIRST AID | |
1 | |
| bandaids (large) | 1 |
| medical tape | 4 |
| gauze patches (4x4) | 2 |
| splint, sam splint | 4.5 |
| triangle bandages | 1 |
| tourniquet, NAR Combat Application Tourniquet | 4 |
| MISCELLANEOUS | |
| phone | 6 |
| headlamp | 6 |
| sidearm, Glock 23 | 48 |
| hatchet, gransfors small forest axe | 32 |
| paracord | 6 |
| trekking poles, Black Diamond Trail Ergo | 18 |
| carabiners | 4 |
| Total Weight | 990 |
61.875 |
