Thread: Backpacks

Good afternoon.

I've got a few successful hunts under my belt and I'm looking at upgrading some of the cheap (in some cases free) gear I got initially to get underway. First up is my backpack.

I'm currently running an army pack a buddy lent me. I like the simple layout (main compartment, two full length side pockets and a smallish bottom compartment) and the top loading drawstring opening.

The two biggest drawbacks are the absence of a frame and the canvas material. Although it can easily fit a whole boned-out red deer, it's bloody impossible to carry the weight. Each time I've tipped over a deer I've walked it out in two trips. It's not impossible that this is more an issue of my strength and fitness as opposed to the pack, but I'd like to have a pack with a frame. Weight is not overly important.

The second drawback is the canvas. It's loud and raspy in the bush, and the bush is where I do my mahi. The longest shot I've taken so far is 45 metres, so the quieter I can be the better.

So, there are three packs I've 'settled on' but none of the outdoor shops around have these packs so I haven't had a chance to check them out. I'm looking for some feedback and opinions on these packs from the forum's collective experience. These are the Tatonka Stealth Hunter 35l + 10l, the Eberlestock RMEF Team Elk 40l and the dark horse, the Hunter's Element Arete 45l.

The Tatonka has an internal frame and is made from the silent fleece fabric.
The Eberlestock has a frame which has a 90 degree bend at the bottom forming a meat shelf. I assume this helps with hauling out weight, which would give it an edge over the Tatonka. It is also made from what sounds like a quiet - though not as quiet as the Tatonka - fabric, so I suppose the Tatonka gets the point on that score.
The Hunter's Element Arete has a frame and what looks like a fabric meat shelf, so is possibly the middle option of the three in terms of the frame? It is also modular so you can detach the pack from the frame, which could be useful or a needless gimmick. It also seems to have the quiet but not silent fabric, putting it equal with the Eberlestock on that front.

Are my assumptions correct? Thanks in advance for any insights or experience you're willing to share.

Personally I hate bush hunting with a pack and only use a Pikau, (swazi stag bag). Anything bigger just gets caught up on crap and makes noise. No problem carrying out a boned out deer in it.

Best thing is get home throw it in the washing and job done.

It would appear Swazi don't do them any more, at least not on their website

Originally Posted by Happy Jack

It would appear Swazi don't do them any more, at least not on their website

Yer forgot about that but any pikau will do the job. Huntech comes to mind.

https://huntechoutdoors.com/product/pikau-bags/

Unless noise in the bush is an issue why look at any hunting brand? I don't as I don't like paying the hunting brand tariffs. So many better brands out there!

Originally Posted by Bobba

Yer forgot about that but any pikau will do the job. Huntech comes to mind.

https://huntechoutdoors.com/product/pikau-bags/

yes agree with most on here I still have my swazi pikau - avoid the pikaus that rely on being tied at top - knot can come undone and everything drops out - the ones with proper shoulder straps anchored to pack much more robust

You fellas must have spines of iron. I have a Huntech Pikau that I use for pack lunches when I take the kids to the park. No frame, seat belt straps for a harness. I can get 20 odd kgs plus of meat off a red. That kind of weight in a Pikau would kill me.

35/40 kg basic (weka style) macpac, cheap and can carry enough for overnight.
fit boned out deer no problem.

Originally Posted by iambatman

You fellas must have spines of iron. I have a Huntech Pikau that I use for pack lunches when I take the kids to the park. No frame, seat belt straps for a harness. I can get 20 odd kgs plus of meat off a red. That kind of weight in a Pikau would kill me.

I'm with you there bro, 20kg is OK, easy to have 30 plus with gear etc though. Smashes the shoulders walking that out a couple hours. I do the old hind legs backpack and backstraps/shoulders in the pikau if hunting with it. Only use it on walk in camping trips though.

Those tatonkas look alright. Only for day hunts I assume?

I use a cactus huntaway with a fleece top over it. Semi frame, carries weight well.

Ha ha, I read Eberlastock REMF, which a few on here might get.

Inside your pikau, you could carry some pillowcases? Here's one I prepared earlier... stitched a webbing loop at the bottom corner with a small loop of cord running through it. Bambi leg/s inside. Another loop of cord wrapped round and round the top then through itself, sling off rifle clips in to the loops, over your shoulder and off you trot. Works for me as I don't like walking with rifle slung. Only used once, so will be interesting to see whether the clip fails, or the cord rubs through, but pretty comfy so far.


Sits in my belt pouch like this ^


Ready to receive Bambi ^


Full of Bambi (in this case, full of jacket), ready to sling ^

Edit: should probably clarify - I also hate bashing through bush with a backpack (still learning & already enough shit to go wrong), so this is all in an effort to ditch it. I'm down to bino harness and 3 pouches on my belt (1: food+pillowcases+headtorch, 2: jacket+FAK+hat/gloves+powerbank, 3: emerg. biv, warm kit+pikau). Only weak points so far are water (soon to be reunited with camelback which will solve that) and bush shirt (currently tied around waist). On reflection, doesn't answer your question of a backpack... So +1 Macpac Kestrel, or Pursuit 40 with fleece cover.

Some Tips that might help : The most important factor with carrying out a deer is to get the weight OFF YOUR SHOULDERS and ONTO YOUR HIPS. The only way to do that is with a really good stiff pack harness gut belt that grips over the hips. If the weight is on the hips your centre of gravity is lowered helping balance and no harm is done to the back / spine.
Next learn to use a hill stick correctly for downhills and sidling.
I have external and internal framed packs and a deer carrying pack frame. For hunting I suggest buying a second hand frameless pack that has a really good harness and a pack body /bag that can be swashed and narrowed down and wrapped with electric tape to reduce its size ( and noise) and turn it into a day pack while hunting. Put one of your pillow cases over the pack or a buggered sweatshirt to stop noise.
The best way to get to your feet when carrying a whole deer or heavy pack is to get into the straps then roll over to a press up position facing uphill and get up from there climbing your mustering stick. Like this, carrying a deer or pack of your own bodyweight is not hard

ok...here goes...
30 plus years of doing it in the bush Ive learnt a trick or two...
any old day bag tied onto an old bare pack frame works.
fleece pika works if you bone out front quarters and carry back wheels as a whole unit hips included...bones for the dog when get home.
cavas is noisy unless you put a fleece shirt on the bag,the sleaves over straps keeps it in place nicely,do this with the wee canvas daybag off my K2 Hunter 90ltr pack
being able to bone deer out completely saves a LOT of weight and waste when you get home... this is where a bigger pack really shines,but its bulkier when walking around in thick bush..so SLOW DOWN....a long barrel is the same,only really an issue when your going too fast.
you dont need a $3-4-500 pack to go bush stalking and carry out a deer in relative comfort look at what Brian and Tahr are doing/using and they are carting out more venison than the rest of us combined....or plurry close to it.

For general hunting and bush stuff I use an ordinary 40 litre pack cos I can get a whole boned out deer in it with comfort. Canvas exterior doesn't worry me - the aim of the game is to be avoiding making noise so Im being extra careful anyway. If fleece makes a difference you are being clumsy.

This bloke is great to deal with and its what I use a lot. Similar to the old Macpac Weka. https://bushlifenz.com/collections/b...mmit-backpack®

Not so much room when you get a second one though But you can see that they have a slim profile for in the trees. And the guy that sells them is member on here and is a keen hunter.

Originally Posted by Tahr

For general hunting and bush stuff I use an ordinary 40 litre pack cos I can get a whole boned out deer in it with comfort. Canvas exterior doesn't worry me - the aim of the game is to be avoiding making noise so Im being extra careful anyway. If fleece makes a difference you are being clumsy.

This bloke is great to deal with and its what I use a lot. Similar to the old Macpac Weka. https://bushlifenz.com/collections/b...mmit-backpack®

Yeah 100% with you on that Tahr I don't really see the need for a fleece backpack