Best pack to also pack out meat?

[bbarron]

What is a good pack you can pull up in the tree that you can also pack out a kill? I see people recommended framed packed, but not sure it would be a good saddle pack. I have a tide we, and barely have enough room with snacks and a drink.

 

[BuckTown]

Following. Will be interested to see others thoughts on this as well. Been eyeing the Full Curl Lite system and thought about leaving the frame at the tree and just pulling up the pack.

 

[Camelcluch]

Full Curl is decent and packs weight okay. Stone Glacier, Exo, Kifaru, Seek Outside and Kuiu will all work. It’s more of a matter of fit and bag design.

 

[GCTerpfan]

Thread '"The official saddle hunting backpack thread"'
https://saddlehunter.com/community/...fficial-saddle-hunting-backpack-thread.22868/

 

[colin.704]

 

[woodsdog2]

Looks like the EXO K4 is living up to everything all the claims have been about. Performing at or near the top in all categories.

 

[ckprax]

I use a Mystery Ranch Pop Up 38. Carries sticks and a platform easily, the lid holds my essentials and plenty of room in the pack for layers and whatever else you need for the day.

 

[Empostarr]

I have a Badlands Vario and I like that it's modular. If I'm not going far and it's warm, I can just use the day pack (it can be used without the frame) and leave the frame in the car and come back to get it to give the deer time. Or if I'm going far I can throw the day pack on the frame and pack everything and the deer back to my car. In the winter I can change out to the larger pack on the frame and carry my cold gear more comfortably. If I end up springing for the biggest pack, then I can utilize it for western hunts too.

And the warranty is great.

 

[LAKY]

The JX3 Hybrid.

 

[thedutchtouch]

I have a k4, 5000 is a bit big for the deer woods but it cinches down nicely and they sell smaller verdions. I used it on an Alaska trip last month, sadly didn't pack out an animal but it packs camp great.

I also have a popup 38. Works well, not as comfortable to me as the k4, sadly have also not packed an animal out, I keep using my giant game cart lol.

The popup is a nice blend of can be smaller but can still pack, the exo is definitely bigger but more capable. (I have the 5000 version so the 2200 would likely be more streamlined in the tree). Have had the popup in a tree a bunch of times, haven't had the exo off the ground yet. I think almost any pack can be made to work in the tree, I just hang mine a bit lower off my weak side and it never has gotten in the way.

If it's a day pack only I'd go popup. Any mixed use, overnighting, longer hikes etc, k4 clear winner. (Haven't had my hands on the newer generation of popup packs but they look nice as well)

 

[phorizt]

I use a Mystery Ranch Pop Up 38. Carries sticks and a platform easily, the lid holds my essentials and plenty of room in the pack for layers and whatever else you need for the day.

I also have the same pack which I've used for a few years and have packed out a quartered Nilgai antelope with it. I really like the pack. It's not perfect for hauling saddle gear and probably a little overkill but definitely will get the job done. I initially got it bc I could carry my XOP hang on stand between the frame and bag and also carry sticks on the side. I've also carried a ghost blind w a chair in it, a custom hunting stand I made out of a collapsible aluminum ladder and some other setups as I'm always experimenting w dif ways of doing things. It is a very versatile pack. I did not like how loud it was and it was hard for me to keep it organized without much in the way of small pouches or anything like that. I just got the new Cruzr Escape which will be my new every day saddle hunting pack but when I'm hunting an area where a packout is required I'll still be using the Popup.

 

[Maverick1]

IME a hunting pack for deer is different than a meat hauling pack. (There are exceptions, obviously.). But, over the course of any given season, I carry my hunting backpack into the woods every single time. I only have a need to use a meat hauling pack for deer maybe once or twice per season, if I am fortunate enough to release an arrow. Most / all of the dual purpose backpacks I’ve tried are a compromise in one way or another for the other purpose. Trying to use one backpack for everything ends up being a compromise. Where I ended up for deer hunting is to use a hunting pack for hunting and a meat hauling backpack for hauling meat. That may require an additional trip back to the vehicle to retrieve the meat hauling backpack, but I actually prefer it that way as it allows me to pack up all my hunting gear and return it to the vehicle, clean and blood free. Then take out the meat hauling pack to the animal and pack it out.

 

[sconnieVLP]

I really like my MR Popup 38. It has the load shelf for hauling meat, but that shelf also serves the dual purpose of carrying my platform or lock-on stand. Sticks get strapped to the front of the pack.

I think it compresses pretty well for early season where I’m not carrying a bunch of clothes into the woods but has the space to pack more layers or gear in if it’s a long or colder sit.

 

[dalton916]

I’ve settled on an Alps Elite 1800. I also bought the 3800 bag for it (uses the same frame). I’ve packed out several deer with it and love it.

The Alps packs never get mentioned and that’s a shame. It’s a great pack.

This is the 1800 bag on a spot and stalk hunt. My spotting stool fits perfectly.

Packing out a doe.

Early season non filming load.

 

[Crawdaddy4]

I’ve settled on an Alps Elite 1800. I also bought the 3800 bag for it (uses the same frame). I’ve packed out several deer with it and love it.

The Alps packs never get mentioned and that’s a shame. It’s a great pack.

This is the 1800 bag on a spot and stalk hunt. My spotting stool fits perfectly.

Packing out a doe.

Early season non filming load.

I also think the Alps packs are underrated. I have the Commander + Pack (external frame)

Commander + Pack Bag

Complete external frame system for the backcountry

alpsoutdoorz.com

and the Alps Extreme Hybrid (Internal Frame)

Hybrid X

Multi-use meat-hauling day pack

alpsoutdoorz.com

I think the Hybrid sets up really well for saddle hunting if you want a modular pack that has the ability to pack out meat as well. It’s very easy to strap your platform and sticks to this pack.