Minimalist set ups.

[milunchbox]

Does anyone else try and run the bare bones to get the job done?

It seems like I will always start the season carrying out everything I own, then as the season goes on I take what I need. This year I made a list and it is short and light. I'm not a weight watcher, but I hate having so much crap that I don't know what I am looking for.

Let see some of those bare bones set ups.

 

[Kurt]

I have a big pack that lets me take way more than I need. I also have a simple, cheap fleece pack that holds just what I need. If I go all day, big pack. If I'm going 4 hrs or less fleece pack. For me it's more about how long I'll be out, and less to do with how far I'm going.

 

[iamcorey]

Basically this pack minus the predator these days.

Saddle has two pouches. 1 for tether/LB and the other for knaider swaider and some climbing/rappel gear.

Bag has a sack of 10 squirrel steps. 5 to climb and 5 on a ROS. 35’ rappel rope is under that. Front inside Mesh pocket has a range finder and a grunt tube. Small mesh has license and stuff I never touch unless emergency. Hydration bladder area has knee pads which I’ve never used (they are on the chopping block for space) and my Leafy ASAT if I want to hunt on the ground.

Oh I keep a Doyle’s hoist on back of my saddle.


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[NYSFreezerMeat]

I feel like I'm constantly in the same struggle. The problem is that as the season goes on & I start to remove items from the pack I just replace them with extra cold weather clothing. I'll always prefer the extra weight on my back to stay in the woods longer over having to leave, or move too much to stay warm.

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[ThePennsylvanian]

I really have grown to despise clutter when hunting. I've been searching for the simplest lightweight setup, I think I've really nailed it this season with my current saddle setup. I use a miltec assault pack small, in it I have the following:
- 4 or 5 WE steps
- knife (swiss forester gutting and limb trim)
- range finder
- water bottle
- milk weed in a pill bottle
- can call
- grunt call
- TP
On my saddle I have the following:
- 33' of 550 cord
- WE perch w/ step always attached
- Pouch w/ bridge/tether, bow hangar & single step aider.
My length of sit doesn't change what I bring except that I'll maybe pack a few snacks. I still have a ton of room to take more even though this particular pack is incredibly small.

 

[elk yinzer]

It's amazing that my bare bones weighs about 35 pounds when I pack in enough clothes to hunt all day in the cold. That's what amazes me about the youtubers, then adding camera gear on top of all that. There's no choice, there is no way where I hunt I can walk in wearing heavy clothes. I pray all year for cold weather in the rut, but this was the coldest season I can ever remember. I was starting to get tired of it.

 

[ericabbott]

I've scaled down significantly this year. I was carrying a Badlands Ultra Day pack on every hunt with all kinds of crap in it, along with saddle, Stepps, bow etc... I can now go out with the following at a minimum:
- AH Kite with ropes, Doyle's, and ROS (4 squirrel steps on sewn OCB) ~3.5 lbs
- Kathy Kelly fleece fannie pack with bare essentials (license, compass, range finder, Amsteel gear hanger, bow release) ~1 lb
- 5 WE Stepps + 4 step aider in a 5 Stepp bag ~5.5lbs
- Bow
- Outer wear depending on temps

For longer hunts I throw on a backpack with some food and water, extra clothes, and also carry my Predator hooked to the back of my saddle with some J clips.

 

[Wirrex]

The badlands reactor is too small really but it keeps me honest. There’s barely enough room for a water bottle. Late season I change over to this larger platform. Usually I use my klemz.

 

[Nutterbuster]

Yep. My bare bones saddle rig is 4.5lbs or a little under. Add a Doyle's hoist, knife, compass, and headlamp and I'm hunting.

Cold weather I just shiver.

I have been playing with the jx3 and the ambush platform. Been playing with too much stuff really...I'm starting to get frazzled. Breaking my routine. But it's fun, and I'm really starting to dig the jx3 in particular. Might be going from a 4.5lb rig to a 16lb rig. The horror!

And the comfort!

 

[Bigterp]

It's amazing that my bare bones weighs about 35 pounds when I pack in enough clothes to hunt all day in the cold. That's what amazes me about the youtubers, then adding camera gear on top of all that. There's no choice, there is no way where I hunt I can walk in wearing heavy clothes. I pray all year for cold weather in the rut, but this was the coldest season I can ever remember. I was starting to get tired of it.

But at least it paid off!

 

[BuffaloBill]

I have a Horn Hunter G3 pack that is a great pack but it's pretty bulky. I bought a Trophyline pouch to put on my H2 and carry the essentials. But it ended up being so much that it slid down if I wore it in. Some suggested using my lineman's rope as suspenders. May go back to my smaller RedHead pack.

 

[JWP]

I take as little as I can into the stand with me. Platform and saddle with 4-5 sticks strapped to my back. Range finder, bow rope, license and Weapon milk weed. . All day sets I will take a bottle of water and protein bar with me. If I can’t fit it in my pockets I try not to take it.

 

[eyedoc]

The badlands reactor is too small really but it keeps me honest. There’s barely enough room for a water bottle. Late season I change over to this larger platform. Usually I use my klemz.

What platform is this?

 

[eyedoc]

I have a Horn Hunter G3 pack that is a great pack but it's pretty bulky. I bought a Trophyline pouch to put on my H2 and carry the essentials. But it ended up being so much that it slid down if I wore it in. Some suggested using my lineman's rope as suspenders. May go back to my smaller RedHead pack.

I also really like the G3 Hornhunter pack, it is a little bulky, but works so well.

 

[rutjr]

I went thru my Eberlestock X2 the other day. I have a kill kit, knife, zip ties, baggies, license, pen, that's in one small bag. I have a wool hood, gloves, two pairs of wool socks, grunt tube, range finder, a couple small screw in hooks, a gear hanger, head light, 50 ft 550 para cord, 40' 9mm rappelling rope, mad rock safe guard, couple auto blocks, couple carabiners, saddle, LWHC, and tether with Ropeman 1, a wool vest sometimes. I have to say this pack is the best fitting pack that I have ever owned, it fits me like a glove. Oops forgot my Doyle’s hoist and saw.

 

[Tr33_n1nj@]

I also really like the G3 Hornhunter pack, it is a little bulky, but works so well.

I traded a G3 for an Alps Contender X. Think it was a wash, I’m not any happier with it and now I want an Eberlestock.

 

[iamcorey]

I went thru my Eberlestock X2 the other day. I have a kill kit, knife, zip ties, baggies, license, pen, that's in one small bag. I have a wool hood, gloves, two pairs of wool socks, grunt tube, range finder, a couple small screw in hooks, a gear hanger, head light, 50 ft 550 para cord, 40' 9mm rappelling rope, mad rock safe guard, couple auto blocks, couple carabiners, saddle, LWHC, and tether with Ropeman 1, a wool vest sometimes. I have to say this pack is the best fitting pack that I have ever owned, it fits me like a glove. Oops forgot my Doyle’s hoist and saw.

How full does that get your pack? I imagine it carries the LWHC well but it seems like a lot is Pack for the other stuff.

Been trying to decide on a new pack to try. This one on the list but it seems like it built for ALOT of gear.


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[Wirrex]

What platform is this?

It’s a cut down lone wolf. Here’s my thread on it.

Big Boot Late Season Platform

I was struggling with my klemz platform and my big winter boots. It’s finally time to chop up that Lonewolf stand. I poured cup of coffee and got to work this morning. The results aren’t too bad for less than 2 hours of work.

saddlehunter.com

 

[rutjr]

How full does that get your pack? I imagine it carries the LWHC well but it seems like a lot is Pack for the other stuff.

Been trying to decide on a new pack to try. This one on the list but it seems like it built for ALOT of gear.


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I got this pack because although I like the cold, it is the only thing that will chase me out of the woods with my tail between my legs. I bought a pair of Wiggys mukluks and they are big so I can't see myself walking in them so my thought is if it's going to be cold and I'm planning on sitting in a tree I will pack them in and put them on when I get to where I'm going. This pack will carry them easily and they will be easy to get to because of the way the pack is configured. Two vertical snaps open the top and bottom flaps then inside there are two horizontal snaps that open the wings, so you can store clothes in between the wings and snap them shut then you can store whatever on top of that then snap the flaps shut. This is all on the outside of the bag. There is the main compartment plus the wings have a lot of storage. The belt has a small pocket on each side. and there are a couple other pockets also. So you can put a lot in it or if you don't it cinches down pretty flat. I don't have time today but maybe tomorrow I will take some pictures.

 

[mball1684]

There is a lot of like to cut weight by, but now that I film everything it means I have to carry like 10lbs more gear