Preparing For Extended Stays Away From The Vehicle and Base Camp

Have you ever wanted to hunt away from the road?  Go a little farther from the pickup or main camp?  Growing up in South Dakota I never really got to experience this very thing.  I would generally go out with friends and family and spent a lot of time in the pickup or walking draws, and getting picked up at the other end.

It wasn't until I moved to Montana I got to experience  hunting from a camp.  My first experience was finally in 2008 when I drew a very coveted rifle elk tag on the Custer National Forest.  I was lucky enough to score on a great bull the first morning out.  I also had camped out of a small tent a couple of times with my brothers if we ventured a long ways from home, but elk camp was the first time in a large canvas tent.

In 2010 it would be my first trip to the mountains of Montana, when my Brother Todd drew a mountain goat tag.  This was also where I figured out when you think you are in decent shape, try going after mountain goats and you will find out what kind of shape you are actually in.  It will be a trip I will remember for the rest of my life.  Although it wasn't my hunt it was still very special to me getting to share time on the mountain with my brothers as Kirk came as well.  We backpacked in around 8 miles.  After hiking in we set up camp.  This is where I got my first true taste of a camp away from any amenities.  After this trip I began to collect gear that would be vital to make camping like this just that much more comfortable.

In 2012 Todd and I went elk hunting and did the same sort of set up camping away from the pickup and trail head.  I scoured the internet looking for sources for backpacking, and found a great source at www.kenetrek.com.  They have an equipment list on there that assisted me greatly as I began the process of getting ready for the fall hunt.  Some items I had and some I did not.  I will list the things I take along for a hunt that can sustain you for approximately 5 to 7 days.

My list consists of the following:

GENERAL:

• Backpack-Rocky Mountain Kodiak and Alaska II Frame Pack (invest in a good pack frame as it can make a huge difference in making the hunt enjoyable and not wear you out before you even hunt)
  
• Knife - Havalon Piranta, and other multiple knives and sharpener
  
• Multi-Tool - Cabelas small pocket multi-tool great for removing Havalon blades
• GPS - Garmin E-Trex Legend and extra batteries and public land chip
  

CAMP GEAR:

• Sleeping Bag
• Therm-a-rest sleeping pad - a must for extended stay makes sleeping more comfortable which makes the hunt more enjoyable
• Tent - small 2 man tent, weight is key when backpack hunting so be wise in your choice.  A simple tarp works well too during early season
• Stove - Primus Micor Ti and extra bottles x2, use for boiling drinking water as well
  
• Cooking - small pot and enamel coffee cup
• Cooking clean up - small bottle of dish soap
• Extra water bottles and water bladder
• Water tablets for purification
• Matches and lighter
• Fire starter
  
• Headlamp x2 and extra batteries
• Camera
  
• Para cord 50 to 100 ft. - Multiple uses
• Electrical tape
• 1st Aid kit
• Bear Spray if hunting in known bear location
  

CLOTHING:

• Socks 1 pair every 2 days
• Underwear 1 pair every 2 days
• Long underwear later season
• Pants - Comfortable hiking pair and Sitka Mountain Pants
  
• Cap and Sitka Traverse Beanie
• Jacket - Sitka 90% and Sitka Jetstream Vest
• Bandana mainly for wiping down sweat during hot days
  
• Boots - Kenetrek Mountain 400's lucky my feet don't sweat

PERSONAL GEAR

• Toothbrush - wisps cheap and lightweight
• Small bottle of liquid body soap - Dead Down Wind
• Toilet Paper - one roll and bio wipes
• Chap stick
• Small towel for cleaning up and body moist towels
• Scentless Deodorant
• Sun Glasses
• Pain Reliever
  
• Mole Skin best use for blisters for me personally
• Fingernail clippers
• Sunscreen
• Hand Sanitizer  
• Stuff Sacks for Garbage and used items helps keep camp organized
  

HUNTING ITEMS:

• Bow - Hoyt AlphaMax 32
• Arrows - Easton STExcel
• Broadheads - Muzzy MX3 and extra blades
• Wrenches and Tools for fine tuning or repairs
• String Wax - Bohning silicon wax
• Binoculars - Burris Landmark 10x32
• Rangefinder - Bushnell 800
• Camo Clothing - Sitka Traverse Beanie, Glove, Zip-T, Balaclava, Jetstream Vest, 90% Jacket, Core Zip-T, Mountain Pant, and Shooter Glove
• Wind checker -  Dead Down Wind
• Game Calls
• Montana Decoy Decoys
• Game Bags

FOOD:

• Cliff Bars
• Trail Mix
• Oat Meal
• Freeze Dried Meals - Mountain House (1 to 2 per day) Breakfast, Dinner, and Desert
  
• Instant Coffee
• Sugar
• Cream
• Propel Drink Mix (2 small boxes)
  

This pretty much sums up what I will pack for an extended stay.  It may seem like a lot, but it isn't bad when you get everything packed up.  It also helps if you are hunting with other people as you avoid doubling up on items and you can split the weight.  With everything in my pack it weighs roughly 45 to 50 lbs. 

I hope this will help anyone who has ever wanted to hunt a little farther from the road.  I'm not an expert at backpack hunting, but enjoy doing it and gain more experience each year.  One of the biggest keys to hunting away from the road and main camp is to find water.  If you can't find water your hunt will be over before it gets started.  Here are some pictures of my empty pack and equipment and then what it looks like fully loaded.