stid2677
Well-known member
Great minds,, sitting here updating mine as well.
Sheep Hunting Gear Lists
- Thread starter Alaska_Lanche
- Start date
Mines about the same. I did get some new boots though. Same as the ones I wore out. Lowa Civetta Plastics. I done rounded off the edges of the soles after 7 years of shale. Liners are kind of packed out but the shells are still solid. If I can keep going, I'll be 60 by the time I wear these ones out! 
I'll pick up some B.O.M.B. bags this year and maybe a new OR stuff sack. Otherwise I'm good. Oh, maybe a new huntin shirt.
I'll pick up some B.O.M.B. bags this year and maybe a new OR stuff sack. Otherwise I'm good. Oh, maybe a new huntin shirt.
Kaboku, A veteran sheephunter like yourself , and your not packing a camera? .....pictures are priceless on a sheephunting experience.
Arctic Sapper
New member
I have seen some of you talk about crampons but do you think they are necessary for every mountain range in August? I didn't see a lot of snow/ice where I went in the Brooks last year. Do you think I should bring some just in case the conditions changed this year?
BIGAKSTUFF
Active member
- Joined
- Jul 25, 2009
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..........YES!
mtnclimber
New member
Most guys won't take the extra weight unless they know the area they are going into is glacier infested or they will be spending a lot of their time on the glacier.
Depending on what crampons your using, its a lot of extra weight for a 'maybe'.
pipercub
Well-known member
Are you crossing glaciers? I've mostly hunted in areas where you aren't crossing glaciers or ice. I don't carry an ice ax or crampons. I would hope you would know the terrain you were getting yourself into well enough to know if you will need them....
LuJon
Moderator
I wouldn't do kodiak without them and they seem like common sense for glacial travel. I do think they would be good insurance on any steep grassy slope but I haven't "needed" them in two trips to the Brooks. If I was going back this year I probably wouldn't pack them unless I was trying a new spot where I expected glacier travel.
Yellowknife
New member
I have mostly migrated to a fairly generic gear list that works for most backpack type trips. It looks pretty similar to most lists I've seen, I just took the brand/model out of it. I rarely take more than 1 or 2 items of the "optional" part, and my packs are consistently <50 lbs for 7+ day trips.
For specific items, I currently figure I will be using the following this year:
Boots - Kennetrek Mt Guides
Pack - Stone Glacier 7100
Tent - Brooks Range Foray (one person) or Nallow 3 (two person)
Sleeping Bag -
For specific items, I currently figure I will be using the following this year:
Boots - Kennetrek Mt Guides
Pack - Stone Glacier 7100
Tent - Brooks Range Foray (one person) or Nallow 3 (two person)
Sleeping Bag -
Yellowknife
New member
Whoops, only got half the post in that last one. Trying again.
For specific items, I currently figure I will be using the following this year (skipping the smaller items):
Pack - Glacier 7100
Tent - Brooks Range Foray (one person) or Nallo 3 (two person)
Bag - MH Ultralamina 15
Pad - Neoair Xlite
Zeiss - Conquest 8x30
Spotter - Leica 62 APO
Tripod - Slik Mini Sprint II w/ Manfrotto Head
Camera - Sony RX100
Rifle - Tikka 30-06 w/ Zeiss Conquest 3-9x40 RZ600
Knife - Havlon + pocket knife
Game - Bags TAG Medium
Stove - SOTO OD-1R
Cup - REI Ti
Pot - 1.3L TOAKS Ti
Water - MRS 4L Dromlite + 1L Nalgene
Treatment - Iodine tablets
Sat Phone Iridium 9555
GPS Garmin 62s
Headlamp BD Storm
Jacket - MH Compressor
Raingear - Sitka Dewpoint
Base Layers - Ibex Merino
Pants - REI softshell
Shirt - Cablas Microtex
Gaiters - OR Crocs
Boots - Kennetrek Mt Guides
Most of this stuff I've used for 1-5 years for both hunting and non-hunting trips and it's all been proven to me. I usually don't replace stuff until it fails or I wear it out. The pack bag is about the newest thing, but I've put quite a few days and miles on it this year, and used the frame quite a bit last year, so I'm comfortable with it.
Yk
For specific items, I currently figure I will be using the following this year (skipping the smaller items):
Pack - Glacier 7100
Tent - Brooks Range Foray (one person) or Nallo 3 (two person)
Bag - MH Ultralamina 15
Pad - Neoair Xlite
Zeiss - Conquest 8x30
Spotter - Leica 62 APO
Tripod - Slik Mini Sprint II w/ Manfrotto Head
Camera - Sony RX100
Rifle - Tikka 30-06 w/ Zeiss Conquest 3-9x40 RZ600
Knife - Havlon + pocket knife
Game - Bags TAG Medium
Stove - SOTO OD-1R
Cup - REI Ti
Pot - 1.3L TOAKS Ti
Water - MRS 4L Dromlite + 1L Nalgene
Treatment - Iodine tablets
Sat Phone Iridium 9555
GPS Garmin 62s
Headlamp BD Storm
Jacket - MH Compressor
Raingear - Sitka Dewpoint
Base Layers - Ibex Merino
Pants - REI softshell
Shirt - Cablas Microtex
Gaiters - OR Crocs
Boots - Kennetrek Mt Guides
Most of this stuff I've used for 1-5 years for both hunting and non-hunting trips and it's all been proven to me. I usually don't replace stuff until it fails or I wear it out. The pack bag is about the newest thing, but I've put quite a few days and miles on it this year, and used the frame quite a bit last year, so I'm comfortable with it.
Yk
In all my years of hunting, I don't think I've ever once stepped on a scale before I went out on a hunt. That was probably a wise choice. I'm loaded up for my Delta hunt, and unfortunately I weighed my pack. With rifle, ammo, and water I'm sitting at 71 pounds. OUCH! Granted, I have a lot of water at 4 liters, but I'm not willing to go light there. I could lose a small bit of weight (perhaps a bit redundant carrying a SPOT and a Sat phone, not to mention the phone's hard case), but since I'm going in really deep and going solo, I feel that more safety gear is justified. Guess I'll just have to suck it up and move slowly...and take multiple trips if I'm fortunate enough to connect.
I must say, though, this is making me think hard about adding a lighter pack to my stable next year.
I must say, though, this is making me think hard about adding a lighter pack to my stable next year.
What is the weight of just your gear? If you are embarking on a 10 day hunt and that weight includes being full of water at 8.3lbs, you've gotta be packing about 30ish lbs of food and water which puts your gear at 40ish. Not too bad really. You could spend 1000 bucks or more and loose 5lbs.... big whoop. 5lbs won't make or break you.
Go kill a nice ram and bring us back a great story!!
Yellowknife
New member
I'm not going to claim to be an super experienced sheep hunter, but if you don't mind a couple comments from a guy that lives out of his pack for 50+ days a year for a variety of other reasons.
1. The Alaska Range is wet this year. Soggy actually. I was just there for several days, and water was NOT an issue. You could certainly start off with less, and only tank up if needed. I also had 4L of storage, but never needed it.
2. I've packed a sat phone for hundreds of days in the field and burned thousands of minutes working and hunting from SE to the Arctic Ocean. Never once carried a hard case. Don't even know where it is anymore. Drop it in a sock and put it in your clothing or sleeping dry bag. Wouldn't carry the SPOT either, but that's your choice
70 lbs is going to put a lot of strain on your body and throw off off your balance in steep stuff, both of which are risks when your are by yourself, so it's a little more than just going slow IMO. When going solo I really do cut gear to the bone and rely on solid gear, decision making and field craft over redundancy. You aren't a rookie in the field by any stretch Brian, so I know your skills and gear are good. Without seeing your gear pile, I suspect you might not be mentally giving yourself enough credit and could probably pull a pound or two of redundancy out of the stack and never miss it. Just my guess though.
Anyway, should be a great trip at any pack weight. I'm envious.
Since we are on the subject, I'll leave with a couple of my favorite quotes from the legendary Horace Kephart, circa 1906:
"A pairs of scales is a good thing to have on hand when one is making up his packs.... He will note how the little unconsidered trifles mount up; how every bag and tin adds weight"
And likely my favorite gear quote:
"An old campaigner is known by the simplicity and fitness of his equipment. He carries few impediments, but every article has been well tested and is the best that his purse can afford"
Yk
I'll be carrying five days of food up the hill, though I may stretch that by another day before I start walking. I'm riding an ATV in to the base of the mountain, so will have more food at the machine if I need to resupply. I figure I've got a good four days of hunting in the first spot, and have a backup spot if no legal rams are around so that I can reposition and try, try, try again.
Well said, Yk. I'll probably drop the hard case, at least. It's a jointly owned phone between my brother, father, and I, so I tend to be a bit more careful with it since it's not mine alone. Still, your point is a solid one - there's other ways to ensure its protection. I've already dropped all kinds of other redundant items, and feel like I'm actually fairly well honed in on what I need. I could drop my heavier knife and rely on the havelon alone, but I've never actually quartered an animal with such a blade, and would certainly have to use a bit more finesse so as to not break every blade I have. I'll have to think on that one. I'm also carrying a paratarp for the first time this go-round, but that's another non-negotiable, as I want to be able to sleep with the sheep if need be.
Honestly, it doesn't feel much heavier than past hunts - I'm used to hunting with my wife, and I usually end up carrying more than my share of the gear since she is very small framed.
Honestly, it doesn't feel much heavier than past hunts - I'm used to hunting with my wife, and I usually end up carrying more than my share of the gear since she is very small framed.
kingfisherktn
Moderator
Brian, keep going up the mtns with those weights and you'll be joining me soon in wheel chair races up the hills. :lol:
Ha! Well...I know there are safety issues to carrying too much weight, but there's also safety issues regarding exposure to weather at altitude in September. If I have to hunker down in a storm or call for rescue, I want to be prepared. If I need to take two trips into the high country, so be it. And if I have to race you in a wheelchair, I'll get to work on my arm strength.
kingfisherktn
Moderator
Ha! Well...I know there are safety issues to carrying too much weight, but there's also safety issues regarding exposure to weather at altitude in September. If I have to hunker down in a storm or call for rescue, I want to be prepared. If I need to take two trips into the high country, so be it. And if I have to race you in a wheelchair, I'll get to work on my arm strength.
After thinking about it some more, I'll let you push me up.
roud:
