This is where I struggle. I have a frame back for hauling out deer too, but I've been doing a lot of scouting and would like to go lighter because I don't know if I'm even gonna set up somewhere.
But then what if I do and I get a deer and now I'm way in the woods? Are you bringing your MR Pop up and just leaving it in the car and walk out to get it if you are successful? I end up just carrying it anyway so I don't have to make 2 additional trips, but I bring my ROS instead of a platform for those pure scouting days.
I’m willing to bet I walk more than most.
I’m built like a sneech. Carrying 15lbs in a pack without a waist belt for more than about 20 minutes is a truly irritating experience for me.
So take those two things into consideration.
I either carried the popup or the hybrid on probably 80-90% of my deer hunts since I purchased both. 300 yards or 15 miles. Didn’t matter. Yes, close hunts where I was hunting for 2 or less hours and had zero stuff with me, I may go with no pack. But if there was any chance of more than a few hundred yards or more than a few hours, I was ready to pack out.
Having to walk twice, and being uncomfortable while I’m walking, make no sense. At least having the option not to makes sense to me.
The thing that is so nice about the popup are the “drawbacks” in some peoples eyes: the narrow frame and narrow belt. These are things that make it small in the woods.
Half my reason for always carrying it was to be able to make one trip. The other half is being comfortable all day carrying a pack.
If you hunt less than half a mile from access on relatively flat ground, or don’t spend hours on your feet most days during the season, frame packs don’t make much sense anywhere but the bed of the truck. Then again, neither do saddles and 1lb climbing sticks and what not.