Thread: Hunting Gear List - Need suggestions to lighten

Looks pretty well dialed man. That saw is pretty heavy, would prob ditch that.

I'd consider dropping: bivvy bag, saw, hipflask, bipod, kindle. I'd also consider dropping one of your thermal tops and your packed shorts, if you are taking pants, although I'd also just skip those as well and use the spare thermal longs as campsite clothing.

What are you eating with? some sort of spork? Any spare batteries being taken for your head torch or is it re-chargeable? Do you carry any any extra rope (for hanging meat, just in case pack ties, laces, etc)?

No extra weight calculated for your packed pants btw.

Just glancing at the list, ditch the kindle, saw and hip flask and ask if yourself if you need the battery bank. You shouldn't for one night trips. Food could be simplified. I "like" OSM because of high calorie content and no preparation required. I just take OSM and dehydrated meals for short trips. It's no fun, but does the job. There's no right answer, just a question of food preference vs weight. No need for vitamins over the time periods you are likely to be hunting. I only carry 500ml water unless I know there won't be water available. I'd also consider ditching the bipod and gun cleaning stuff unless you really need them. No need for binos where I hunt in Northland bush, but might be different where you are. As for clothes, I generally carry just two sets. Wet/dirty stuff for hunting and dry/cleanish stuff for camp.

Easy and cheap weight saving in there if your a bush hunter, get a decent fly/tarp. Versatile and heaps more room than a tent and your carrying a bivy anyway. Thats a kg right there. Once you get used to the fly they are an awesome way to camp.

Ditch some of the spare clothing. You need a basic dry set. Puffer, thermal top and bottom sleeping socks spare undies, your waterproof jacket, and whatever you are wearing

Ditch the bipod, no needed in the bush plenty of makeshift rests.

Personally I don't bother with saws etc unless in for a few days as I usually am hunting from dark to dark and can't be arsed faffing around with a fire. If stuck in a pinch you can scrounge up enough wood without a saw anyway

Better off with a gym membership and running shoes. Get fitter and the pack will be lighter

I always pack on a "what if" basis: what if I have an immobilising injury- how to: summon help/ cater for an extra 2 days till I'm found? So, implications there for communications and extra food. What if my gear gets soaked: so everything goes into a waterproof liner, etc. Forty five years as a search and rescue ranger taught me the things that people wished they had with them while they were waiting for rescue during a long, wet, cold, hungry, thirsty wait period. Some of those were hunters.

@Vandros

Did you see this thread?
Some good info in here

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Originally Posted by Russian 22.

Better off with a gym membership and running shoes. Get fitter and the pack will be lighter

Too sensible! If we all took that advice, we'd be much better off.

If I left behind things I didn't use after 3 trips I might have to leave my rifle at home

Different tent and rifle/scope would be areas of significant saving but they are not unreasonable.

About the same as I take and similar weight.
I just load pack.
Scales with and with pack and rifle etc.
Not weighing individually.
There are a few articles on going too light interesting reading.
If you want a fire take a saw.
If you want a tipple take some spirits.
A good tent takes some beating.
Have a margin of safety with tucker and some gear.

My philosophy when I was travelling was to buy a smaller pack and what didn't fit didn't go.

My gear list for an overnighter or multi day trip

Pack and waterproof liner
Sleeping bag
Sleeping mat
Fly light weight
Woollen socks beanie and polyprops puffer jacket amd jandals for camp ( all stays dry no matter what )

Hunting gear ~ rifle full mag plus 3 rounds knife and sharpener poly cord epirb binos cleaning cloth for lenses , bug repellent , compass , phone lighter- all fits in bum bag.

Swazi tahr lightweight for rain coat. Pillowcase for meat.

Toilet bag. Soap toothbrush contact lenses micro fibre towel ( sometimes flag this for an overnight trip )
Bog roll.

Cooking - one billy. One cup. One spoon. Small cooker and can of gas. Try to cook on open fire.

Apart from the clothes I wear that’s really it. The only variation is food. I can get by on 800 gms a day but prefer more. Eat a bit of venison while I’m out.

If your going for longer take more food.

Plus a head torch.

You left out a small AM radio receiver. You can get a tiny one running off one AAA with earbuds. Good replacement for the kindle and you get weather reports (and occasionally other news to really piss you off, like the odd Cahill soundbite.)