Day package for spot and stalk:
Most hunters underestimate the importance of having the right pack for their game. No package fits the needs of every hunt. So if you’re like me and can’t afford to buy 5 different day packs and 5 different weekend packs, it’s important to find that one pack that fits most of your needs for most of your hunting situations. Start by using your most difficult day pack situation. And use this as a model to choose a package that is good in all aspects. For me, the most demanding hunting situation in a daypack is the stalking and stalking situation, and mostly moose stalking because of the amount of stuff you have to carry and the distances you have to cover in a day. Once you’ve figured out which situation requires the most packs, it should often be enough to cover most of your other hunting situations. Then start designing your gear that you need to carry so that it’s effective, safe, and you won’t kill yourself wearing it.
Contents of my daily pack for moose:
1) survival kit: I make my own: athletic tape, bandage, antiseptic packets, thread and needle
2) igniter and/or spark tool
3) Letherman and/or small tool kit
4) zip ties and a piece of wire
5) large knife, small knife, latex gloves, 30′ of 50-80 lb cable, trash bag
6) head lamp, pack light and small LED flash light
7) garmin rhino 120
8) extra batteries
9) Packs of hand warmers/finger warmers
10) compass, topographic map, route markers
11) toilet paper
12) Rangefinder
13) Backup Release
14) Wind Checker
15) Harper’s Essentials “ultimate survival guide” and/or hawk guide “wildlife first aid”
16) Additional sight tube
17) Small bottle of spray to cover the smell.
18) cousins mouth diaphragm elk call, yo hoochie mama
19) elk bugle or my call of electronic game fx 3
20) lunches, snacks, protein bars
21) one small bottle on the side of the pack and one large bottle in the bottle holder on the outside of the bag
22) slik pro gm ultralight compact tripod (depending on terrain)
23) and I need to have plenty of space where I hunt elk. It’s very cold in the morning and it heats up quickly so I need to take my clothes off and have a place to put them.
Once you have figured out what you need to bring start figuring out how accessible each item needs to be, this is critical in choosing a pack, you can choose a pack that has a large capacity but if the items are not accessible it will be a mistake . through your backpack whenever you need something. I like the backpack to have a lot of internal pockets and sections so I can pack my gear in a way that it’s easy for me to get to everything quickly and easily. I always pack my bag the same way, so searching for an item becomes second nature. I need something, boom, it’s right there! Now that you have your spread and visualized what you need and where, write a list of the items in your package. Take your list and start shopping for a package.
Armed with your capacity needs, begin poking through several models and brands. Once you’ve picked out a few candidates, start looking at a build quality: zippers, stitching, and material. Now that you have your final options, start checking for comfort. I like to go take a bunch of heavy items off the shelves and put them in the bag for a more realistic feel – make sure the shoulder straps are comfortable, it has fit adjustments, the chest straps, A good back pad with gussets and a thick, padded waist belt are good things to look for. Remember that the more adjustable the backpack, the more personalized you can make the fit. Take your time, spend some time in the store, spend good money, don’t rush and shop on a whim. I made those mistakes early in my hunting career and now I have a bunch of useless backpacks. After years of trial and error, I finally figured out how to buy packs. And with this knowledge, I found a pack that best suits most of my backpacking hunting needs.
My favorite day pack is the All-Day Transporter Waist Pack with Scent-Lok® and Bow Tie Holder
But don’t take my word for it, go find a package that works best for you.
