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Packless setup

Weisman125

Member
Joined
Oct 15, 2019
Messages
55
Location
Nebraska
I'm seeing a lot of posts about backpacks people use and setups for carrying sticks and whatnot, but what about any guys that run no pack? The largest property I hunt is 300 acres and everything is pre-set sticks or screw-ins. I used to be a carpenter so I'm used to having the fully loaded tool belt on.

I have a guidos but looking to buy a Mantis, Kestrel flex, or H2 and have visions of carrying everything I need in pouches. Since I don't have the saddle yet I'm not sure what will fit. Thinking 2 sys hauler es type pouches on each hip. Ropes, hys strap, and biners in 1 and my homemade ozonics, battery, grunt tube, and headlamp in the other. Then a small horizontal pouch for kill kit/extra batteries/etc. Also a retractable gear hoist of some kind. Extra coat could be slung over my shoulder tied with 550 cord. Cargo pockets take any excess. Bow would be carried. Platform would be carried? Gear tie to attach to saddle?

Is there room for all this? As I type this out I can't help but think "just carry a backpack". Is it just a pipe dream to think having everything on my hips is going to be better than a smaller pack? Interested to hear what you guys do when you're just going in for a 3-4 hr sit on a smaller parcel.
 
I used a only a fanny pack on all but two hunts this year. I love not having to take a backpack. Bolts, drill, squirrel steps, LB, tether, nipper, and milkweed go on saddle. Tag, pen, light, call, battery pack, phone, and folding saw go in fanny pack. I think I could fit everything on my saddle if I wasn't worried about climbing method or platform, or run another dump pouch.
 
This is what I used this year. I can slide it around to the back while climbing. Keeps my saddle from having so much on it. Also if you load your saddle up I fight getting into the back pouches.
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I like hunting with a fanny pack when I can get away with it. It’s less bulk in the tree to get in the way of a shot, and it forces me to pack only the necessities. However, I hunt mostly public and use my backpack to pack in my sticks/platform.
For 2020, I am planning to downsize to Cranford rope steps and predator platform,. My goal is to downsize into this bag...placing the things I need in reverse order into the bag.
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I’d place my tether and HYS strap in bottom, then my rolled up steps (and predator down the side of it if it’ll fit) and then my linemans belt on top of steps. In the side pouches I’ll put a pull-up rope, milkweed holder, and rangefinder. The nice thing is, I can walk right up to tree, attach pull-up rope, and start climbing. Not having to unpack sticks and dangle them off my saddle should offset the extra time it takes to use individual steps.
Anybody else run a similar setup?


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I look at the backpack thread and can’t believe how much some people feel they need to carry with them. But then again I don’t use sticks and I do not require snacks or reading material while hunting. I have a fanny pack to carry my climbing system (4 wild edge steps & 5 step aider). But other than that I can get everything I NEED in my sys Es hauler (range finder, drag strap/emergency step, milkweed, havalon, rite in the rain pen, tiny ptec headlamp, EZ kut pruners) and sys hauler holds my tether, lineman belt. Bino’s stay on my chest and my perch clips on my caritool at my hip and fastened to my thigh with bungee cord. When it gets cold I have a Kuiu stalker 500 which is tiny. Its supposed to be used as a hydration pack, but its just enough to strap clothes to. I think if you already have presets there should be no reason to have a backpack. Good luck! part of the fun is tuning in your system.

also have danOs Doyle’s hoist pouch in the centered on the back of my saddle
 
I think it’s all personal preference. I used a fanny pack for my steps and sys haulers for everything else. Worked well. Then I put everything in a small back pack and it was much more comfortable walking in to the land I was hunting. If I had presets and was down to very minimal equipment, probably would use the fanny pack more.


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The battle belt has me interested though!! It’s just that I have already spent SOOOO much $$$$..lol


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Do you even need a kill kit on a small parcel? how small is small? and do you really need a retractable hoist vs just some paracord? If you wanna ditch the pack you need to streamline.

Basically this is easy with a ring of squirrelsteps in one pouch on top of gear strap, ropes in a second pouch. Small headlamp, grunt tube, rangefinder in a pocket. Ozonics hang from a kydex j hook on back of saddle (no idea size of yours) if some flopping is ok.

Set your pull cord. Climb the tree. Set your ros. Climb up. Grab your gear strap and install it. hang ozonics from another kydex jhook preinstalled on your strap.Pull your bow up, hang it and hunt. Works well if you add bolts for fully mobile hunting too.

If you're hauling a platform i don't see any point in trying to avoid a small daypack.
 
View attachment 22347
Yes you can, mantis with battlebelt mod, I have everything I need on my waist.
I like this idea.

Do you even need a kill kit on a small parcel? how small is small? and do you really need a retractable hoist vs just some paracord? If you wanna ditch the pack you need to streamline.

Basically this is easy with a ring of squirrelsteps in one pouch on top of gear strap, ropes in a second pouch. Small headlamp, grunt tube, rangefinder in a pocket. Ozonics hang from a kydex j hook on back of saddle (no idea size of yours) if some flopping is ok.

Set your pull cord. Climb the tree. Set your ros. Climb up. Grab your gear strap and install it. hang ozonics from another kydex jhook preinstalled on your strap.Pull your bow up, hang it and hunt. Works well if you add bolts for fully mobile hunting too.

If you're hauling a platform i don't see any point in trying to avoid a small daypack.

Kill kit not 100% necessary on 300 acres but why walk to the truck across a river and slough just to get a knife, gloves, and pelvic saw. This small "kill kit" is very minimal space. Totally understand your point tho. Paracord in figure 8 works but also kind of a pain. May still stick with it. Will prob just hang a haul line in my pre-set trees. So far I've been fine just carrying the platform, and my DIY for this year is the steel seat from a Big Game boss stand so it's not light. Hasn't been bad since I'm usually a 1/4 mi or less from the buggy. Still playing with that.

My DIY "Ozonics" is almost the same size as the HR300 if not a hair smaller and is my main reason for probably carrying a small pack of some sort. I went with a thin external battery pack that will run for around 12hrs on a charge and I can charge my phone from it too if need be. Problem is, I have a cord that plugs from the battery to the unit so I'd have to have a removable pouch of sort or connect the battery to the unit since the cord will be an issue on my hip, thus probably ends my no pack option unless I can figure a good DIY solution.

My problem that I have to work through is to streamline like you mentioned. If I have extra room in a pack, I've always filled it with something, even though I probably don't need 3 knives in my pack when I also have one on my hip. I was taught to always have a backup of everything so it's a tough habitat to crack. Using the saddle game to hopefully reprogram the way I do just about everything. Appreciate the feedback.
 
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Kill kit not 100% necessary on 300 acres but why walk to the truck across a river and slough just to get a knife, gloves, and pelvic saw. This small "kill kit" is very minimal space. Totally understand your point tho.
Understood - some people carry more, some carry less. Easy enough to pocket or put in some small pouch. could maybe ditch the saw if slimming down.
Paracord in figure 8 works but also kind of a pain. May still stick with it. Will prob just hang a haul line in my pre-set trees.
Agreed - But other than a Doyle's I'm not sure what's a real improvement. And if you'e hanging everything from your saddle that extra pound starts to add up.
So far I've been fine just carrying the platform, and my DIY for this year is the steel seat from a Big Game boss stand so it's not light. Hasn't been bad since I'm usually a 1/4 mi or less from the buggy. Still playing with that.
If that works for you then this should be easy. The platform is the only thing taking up any space really, and if you're not using a pack to carry it, you don't have much use for a pack.
My DIY "Ozonics" is almost the same size as the HR300 if not a hair smaller and is my main reason for probably carrying a small pack of some sort. I went with a thin external battery pack that will run for around 12hrs on a charge and I can charge my phone from it too if need be. Problem is, I have a cord that plugs from the battery to the unit so I'd have to have a removable pouch of sort or connect the battery to the unit since the cord will be an issue on my hip, thus probably ends my no pack option unless I can figure a good DIY solution.
Just hang the battery too?
My problem that I have to work through is to streamline like you mentioned. If I have extra room in a pack, I've always filled it with something, even though I probably don't need 3 knives in my pack when I also have one on my hip. I was taught to always have a backup of everything so it's a tough habitat to crack. Using the saddle game to hopefully reprogram the way I do just about everything. Appreciate the feedback.
I sometimes carry ozonics on small parcel hunts where I might overhunt a given stand. My saddle has:
1) Fleece pouch https://doublesteps.com/product/fleece-rope-pouch/ with 9mm htp tether on the bottom, and 9mm htp LMB (permanently tied to saddle) on top. Biners are https://doublesteps.com/product/grivel-plume-twin-gate-carabiner/ attached to each rope with a distel hitch using the beal cord (but I will probably switch to the TRC for my tether) using the mini-kong ( https://doublesteps.com/product/kong-ottino-mini-figure-8/ ) as a tender. You could downsize this further with an 8mm rope like oplux, but the 9mm HTP packs sufficiently well.
2) Saddlecloth pouch https://doublesteps.com/product/fleece-rope-pouch/ - the bottom of this pouch is my gear hanger (https://www.amazon.com/KIKIGOAL-Climbing-Adjustable-Pilates-Stretching/dp/B072Z8WJXJ ). I have 2 kydex j-hooks mounted on it (https://doublesteps.com/product/kydex-molle-j-hook/) and use these (in this case) to hang an ozonics and my quiver when in the tree. Basically ahys strap. I hang my bow (mathews) by its quiver holder inserted in a loop (no need for a hook for it). On top of the holder, I pack my ring of 6 squirrelsteps. You could probably reshuffle this if you just carry your platform, and have a bunch more space to handle battery, your ozonics, etc.
3) I have 3 j-hooks on my saddle (middle rear, also on each hip, but those are for other climbing methods and are not used in this case). I walk in with my ozonics hanging from the middle one for short walks.

Everything packs and unpacks naturally, in sequence.

Kill kit, headlamp, grunt etc. I use pockets for. Could easily put your small kill kit on back of the saddle.

Like you, If I have a bag I have an unhealthy tendency to fill it by default. So I work to contain that, put together spreadsheets to show how weight and bulk adds up, etc.
 
Just hang the battery too?

Might be an option. This is the battery I'm using. Maybe I'll just save the bag from my next bottle of Crown.

I sometimes carry ozonics on small parcel hunts where I might overhunt a given stand. My saddle has:
1) Fleece pouch https://doublesteps.com/product/fleece-rope-pouch/ with 9mm htp tether on the bottom, and 9mm htp LMB (permanently tied to saddle) on top. Biners are https://doublesteps.com/product/grivel-plume-twin-gate-carabiner/ attached to each rope with a distel hitch using the beal cord (but I will probably switch to the TRC for my tether) using the mini-kong ( https://doublesteps.com/product/kong-ottino-mini-figure-8/ ) as a tender. You could downsize this further with an 8mm rope like oplux, but the 9mm HTP packs sufficiently well.
2) Saddlecloth pouch https://doublesteps.com/product/fleece-rope-pouch/ - the bottom of this pouch is my gear hanger (https://www.amazon.com/KIKIGOAL-Climbing-Adjustable-Pilates-Stretching/dp/B072Z8WJXJ ). I have 2 kydex j-hooks mounted on it (https://doublesteps.com/product/kydex-molle-j-hook/) and use these (in this case) to hang an ozonics and my quiver when in the tree. Basically ahys strap. I hang my bow (mathews) by its quiver holder inserted in a loop (no need for a hook for it). On top of the holder, I pack my ring of 6 squirrelsteps. You could probably reshuffle this if you just carry your platform, and have a bunch more space to handle battery, your ozonics, etc.
3) I have 3 j-hooks on my saddle (middle rear, also on each hip, but those are for other climbing methods and are not used in this case). I walk in with my ozonics hanging from the middle one for short walks.

Everything packs and unpacks naturally, in sequence.

Kill kit, headlamp, grunt etc. I use pockets for. Could easily put your small kill kit on back of the saddle.

Like you, If I have a bag I have an unhealthy tendency to fill it by default. So I work to contain that, put together spreadsheets to show how weight and bulk adds up, etc.

I've had my eye on those fleece pouches. The predator camo will match the rest of my usual attire. Stick tights will probably become as issue tho. Smaller ropes and tenders are definitely on the list as well. Running HSS rope now for linemans and 11mm sampson predator for tether, both with prusiks. All good info. Thanks.
 
The fleece is a pretty tight weave and collects less than you might expect. 8-9mm rope and a compact biner pack and weigh about 1/2 -2/3 of a setup with predator. When i used predator i put 1 rope in a pouch, with htp I fit 2.
This is my old predator setup from aerohunter next to 9mm htp and the grivel biner. It's a big bulk and weight difference.
20191026_122258~01.jpg
 
I have gone from backpacks to fannypacks, back to backpacks and then to only a chest bingo pack (but not while saddle hunting). I prefer minimalist packing whenever possible, but the one thing that always adds bulk and weight is quality binoculars. Do you guys not carry binoculars? Good 10x42 binoculars are heavy and bulky. But I love having them. Tried small binoculars, but field of view and low light isn’t good. I believe I could get everything on a battle belt type setup, but the binoculars pose a problem, unless I go without them.
 
I have gone from backpacks to fannypacks, back to backpacks and then to only a chest bingo pack (but not while saddle hunting). I prefer minimalist packing whenever possible, but the one thing that always adds bulk and weight is quality binoculars. Do you guys not carry binoculars? Good 10x42 binoculars are heavy and bulky. But I love having them. Tried small binoculars, but field of view and low light isn’t good. I believe I could get everything on a battle belt type setup, but the binoculars pose a problem, unless I go without them.
I carry Scheels Paragon HDs in both 8x and 10x binos on a cheap chest rig. I paid $500 a pieces for them a few years ago. Could fit them in cargo pocket if necessary and they are awesome low light. Good quality glass doesn't have to be heavy or bulky.
 
Hmmm. I’ll check them out. I have Cabelas euro, same as meopta 10x42. They weigh like 31 ounces. I also have Nikon 10x35, Leupold 8x35, and smaller binoculars, but none seem to work well other than the 10x42.
 
It all depends on where you hunt and how you hunt as to whether you need a pack or not. I hunt a few spots where an ATV is the perfect way to get back in a few a few miles. The kicker is I have my pack and my Waldrop pack seat with me. Sort of a no brainer for me.
 
I carry Scheels Paragon HDs in both 8x and 10x binos on a cheap chest rig. I paid $500 a pieces for them a few years ago. Could fit them in cargo pocket if necessary and they are awesome low light. Good quality glass doesn't have to be heavy or bulky.

If you're taking binos, then why not have a small chest rig to hold them and a couple small items?
 
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