Sheep Size and Weight of Pack

[Bullelkklr]

O boy - my pack is going to be heavy coming out if I get lucky. Without my rifle or water my pack is 74 pounds, of which 22 is food. 65+80+20 = 165 as I have been expecting. Sounds like it is going to be a fun challenge!

 

[Snyd]

O boy - my pack is going to be heavy coming out if I get lucky. Without my rifle or water my pack is 74 pounds, of which 22 is food. 65+80+20 = 165 as I have been expecting. Sounds like it is going to be a fun challenge!

52lbs of gear in addition to your rifle? So like 60+lbs of gear? Are you packing cast iron, canvas and wool?! Or maybe a packraft?

If I went solo and packed my 8lb 13oz tent (which I wouldn't), I'd be at 43lbs of gear including rifle. 2 man hunt with shared gear I'm at about 35lbs of gear including rifle. And that includes the above mentioned tent and a "siwash" shelter if we need it.

 

[Yellowknife]

O boy - my pack is going to be heavy coming out if I get lucky. Without my rifle or water my pack is 74 pounds, of which 22 is food. 65+80+20 = 165 as I have been expecting. Sounds like it is going to be a fun challenge!

52lbs of gear in addition to your rifle? So like 60+lbs of gear? Are you packing cast iron, canvas and wool?! Or maybe a packraft?

Shoot. I'm not sure I even own 60 lbs of camping gear!

My pack is even lighter than Snyds by several lbs. Food+gear+rifle+water is usually +/- 50 lbs when I leave the strip. I can't imagine starting off with 80+.

You better figure on two tripping every step of the way out if that's what you are packing.

For what's it's worth, we weighed a boned out Chugach ram at 80 lbs, but two smaller Alaska Range rams (that were from the same general area) came in at around 65 lbs of meat each (with a few lbs lost to bloodshot).

Yk

 

[Snyd]

Shoot. I'm not sure I even own 60 lbs of camping gear!

My pack is even lighter than Snyds by several lbs. Food+gear+rifle+water is usually +/- 50 lbs when I leave the strip. I can't imagine starting off with 80+.

You better figure on two tripping every step of the way out if that's what you are packing.

For what's it's worth, we weighed a boned out Chugach ram at 80 lbs, but two smaller Alaska Range rams (that were from the same general area) came in at around 65 lbs of meat each (with a few lbs lost to bloodshot).

Yk

Ya, oofta. I pack a "heavy" tent by a lot of guys standards which puts me up there. MSR Reactor also, which is a 2 man stove so that's probably 4-5lbs over what most sole guys are packin. I can't figure 60+ lbs of gear alone goin in solo. My final weight is based on every item weighed individually. I count all of it except my boots, trekking poles, pants and hiking shirt.

Bullelkklr, can you drop any weight in some areas without spending a bunch of $$? Like say, 10-15lbs?

 

[outdsman]

I've alwaysed hung my meat at home for a day or two. You can tell a difference in weight as the meat dries out. Im thinking this year if successful I may hang out in camp and enjoy the moment while we lose some water weight.

 

[Bullelkklr]

I am using an SL2 and a nest that come in at 3.2 pounds. That is what it weighs - and my scale is pretty good. That did have my gators, light pants, and 1 pair socks that I will have in it. All of the little stuff adds up. I'm using a pocket rocket. Changed to a sawyer mini filter. I have 15 shells besides what is on the gun. 4 small lite gamebags. small med kit, 4 razor blades, caping knife, piece of plastic, garbage bag, 0 deg kelty bag, 2 extra sox, 1 extra underwear, puffy coat, rivers west rain pants, impertech guide coat, ....maybe the wife snuck some rocks in there for me??

Ah heck - I have an excel spreadsheet with weights that I will pdf and post tonight. The fact is that it is loaded in the front seat of my truck and I am leaving tomorrow. I'll carry it up and shuttle trips if I find a legal one to catch.

 

[Brian M]

The fact is that it is loaded in the front seat of my truck and I am leaving tomorrow. I'll carry it up and shuttle trips if I find a legal one to catch.

There may be places to shed some weight if you really wanted to (I'd lose one set of socks and get a lighter rain jacket), but I like your attitude. My packs are consistently heavier than a number of the guys on here, and when I shot my first sheep I carried in some canned food and all sorts of other heavy crap. I had to shuttle loads as well, but that's not what I remember. Heavy as it might have been, it was pure bliss. Good luck to you, sir! Go get it done, then come back and share the story!

 

[hoose35]

I think guys exaggerate the weight of their packs, just like horsepower of their car, size of their fish, weight of their rifle etc.

 

[sockeye1]

I agree with hoose35 and Brian, my first real sheep pack going in was like 63lbs. my buddies was heavier and we both took nice rams from Friday creek well before it went to draw. We shuttled loads all the way to the bottom of the Knik, and all I remember thinking was "****, we both got rams!!!" I haven't packed in since with less than 45-50lbs., and I've spent a fair amount on at least decent gear. I've taken several sheep, and I've found that being in great shape trumped pack weight x10!! I hiked Lazy Mountain today, trying to stay in shape for moose hunting and maybe late season Sheep/Goat, as my job doesn't allow me to be in the mountains on the 10th. As I came down the mountain I thought "should I trade my Vortex in for a Swarovski? Should I trade my Barney's in for a Stone Glacier? Should I use my teeth to flesh a cape instead of packing in a knife?..." I love light, expensive gear, but nothing can substitute old fashioned hard work and being in shape.

Best of luck to those of you lucky enough to be headed to sheep country soon.

 

[0321Tony]

Last year on my solo hunt on a scale my pack including water, my heavy 10lb gun and extra food I was at 56lbs. I even had a tarp and neo over shoe hip waders. I need a lighter rifle for sure

 

[Snyd]

I am using an SL2 and a nest that come in at 3.2 pounds. That is what it weighs - and my scale is pretty good. That did have my gators, light pants, and 1 pair socks that I will have in it. All of the little stuff adds up. I'm using a pocket rocket. Changed to a sawyer mini filter. I have 15 shells besides what is on the gun. 4 small lite gamebags. small med kit, 4 razor blades, caping knife, piece of plastic, garbage bag, 0 deg kelty bag, 2 extra sox, 1 extra underwear, puffy coat, rivers west rain pants, impertech guide coat, ....maybe the wife snuck some rocks in there for me??

Ah heck - I have an excel spreadsheet with weights that I will pdf and post tonight. The fact is that it is loaded in the front seat of my truck and I am leaving tomorrow. I'll carry it up and shuttle trips if I find a legal one to catch.

Good luck to you! I just put together my food, leaving thursday. probably 18-20lbs worth for 10 day, add some water and I'll be 60-65 goin in. I usually am. It seems that at the last minute I always throw in some extra food.

The times that we've doubled up on rams we've done 2 trips gettin out. Hopefully we'll be doin it again next week!

peace

 

[Snyd]

.....I've found that being in great shape trumped pack weight x10!! ......nothing can substitute old fashioned hard work and being in shape.

BINGO!! That's what I say, and especially at 53 years old!

 

[Bullelkklr]

I did not get to pdf'ing my list. I'll try to do it when I get back. I went through my list and found maybe a pound or two that I could take out, but decided to leave it. Good luck to everyone.

 

[Alaska_Lanche]

All but one sheep hunt have I been sub 60 pounds all up going in. Granted I hunt nearly exclusively with my wife so I carry roughy 60% of the weight to her 40% going in but still. Only one time did I get under 40 pounds going in on a sheep hunt. But that was hunting with a buddy so the weight was split 50/50, we were sharing a rifle, and going pretty much as light as we could. But being in shape and having mental toughness for me is for more important than an extra 5 to even 15 pounds on my back when I head out for sheep.

 

[wasilla]

Pack is loaded in the truck. Its sitting at 66 lbs with gun and water, I'll probably add a couple more lbs by the time I hit the gas station and throw in a few more candy bars and my extra go pro batteries. I know I went a little heavy on food at 23 lbs but oh well, Ill toss it on the way out if I need to. I have a scale with me so if Im lucky enough to connect Ill try to weigh on my way out. Heading to the DCUA in the morning, super excited! Planning on 8-10 days if needed. Good luck everyone and be safe out there sheep hunting!

 

[Brian M]

Packs ready to be loaded in the morning as well, didn't bother weighing them. We have an easy initial access this time, but if we spike out we'll drop some weight. Looking like a pretty comfortable base camp for sheep hunt #1 this year. Sheep hunt #2 in September might be a bit more spartan. Dreaming of white dots and full curls!

 

[colem8806]

I leave on the 15th for my first sheep hunt. My buddy both have 50 pound packs (rifle included which are sharing) We are going to mainly eat mountain house for breakfast and dinner, then just little snacks through out the day. I can't wait to get in the mountains!

 

[SkinnyD]

The time is nigh. Wishing you heavy packs.

 

[t-storm]

That's one sheep, in the bag, nothing else but a knife,game bags, and one very empty water bottle. I don't know what it weighed, but I was 210lbs. and in great shape at 43 yrs old, and it was all I could carry. at least 115 lbs. with whole head and cape. Felt like more. Not an option to do 12 miles out in one load solo. Those crappy game saws don't cut horns off worth a crap!

 

[kilo Sierra]

nicely done...