Go buy some gas, and scout a new property.
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Saddle hunters support thread.
- Thread starter MattMan81
- Start date
Are you kids getting old enough to start hanging?
At the risk of being too much of a k4 fanboy- why does the Velcro matter? If I'm at the point of strapping meat to the shelf, I'm not really being stealthy any more.
What was the biggest thing that you disliked about last hunting season? If the answer is not enough dead deer, then it is time to start scouting, practicing shooting and climbing. If you can point to "X" as being a problem then it seems like it's time to fix said problem
Good advice. Not intended for me, but I'm going to use it anyway!
Lots of people use load shelves for platform, sticks, heavy layers. Velcro does not belong in the woods.
I can ALWAYS pick at points on gear and streamline/fine-tune for efficiency. All that being said, while playing with gear does make me a more effective hunter, the only truly direct correlation to my success percentage is the physical time spent in the actual field (both pre-season and during the season).
- Joined
- Mar 8, 2022
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- 3,098
Yeah but no interest, unfortunately. My daughter kind of shows interest in archery sometimes but big no on hunting.
Gotcha, makes sense. I've been thinking of the k4 as a ground hunting/mountain climbing pack (because that's my intended primary use) rather than a saddle/tree stand pack, youre right though, particularly when they release their smaller pack that fits the frame, my popup be fully retired then.
I should take my own advice and go scout this weekend.....
Concept understood! All that aside, everyone has a different approach/technique/need. I've never used the load shelf on any of my packs except for physical conditioning or hauling game out.
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I often use the meat shelf to pack gear in. Stand, platform, outerwear, sticks, etc. Depends on the setup. I then have to access that gear to hunt.
Like I said, the velcro isn't the end of the world. Beyond the velcro, other systems just work slightly better for my setups.
I like the Stryker XL with my climbing platform and outerwear or with a saddleplatform, sticks and outerwear. It's sling style shelf is easy to load and access. Bag is a good size and it sits lower than the K4 bags, which is fine for my eastern deer hunting needs.
I like the MR Popup 28 with my .5 and sticks. I slide the .5 seat between the lower webbing straps, beneath the bag, and then it's just straps and buckles. My new favorite with the .5 is the Seek Outside Revolution, which I think offers the most load management versatility of all the packs I've tried. With ample loops and ladder lock straps, it's highly configurable. I'm primarily using the Merlin bag which is just enough for day hunts. The Revolution is also a surprisingly darn comfortable frame, albeit I doubt it matches the Duplex Lite for ventilaion.
Again, nothing against the K4 as a frame. I think Steve Speck was really thoughtful about improvements over the K3. I just don't see it pairing as well with my stuff as other options.
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- Sep 14, 2020
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I only said it's not ideal for my setups and that you should consider if it is for yours. Sounds like you're going to have an awesome frame pack for your purposes in the K4.
But, in the spirit of the support thread, had I no inclination to hunt out west and didn't need a meat shelf except to haul game out, a lesser frame (or good internal frame) pack could probably cut the mustard.
I only said it's not ideal for my setups and that you should consider if it is for yours. Sounds like you're going to have an awesome frame pack for your purposes in the K4.
But, in the spirit of the support thread, had I no inclination to hunt out west and didn't need a meat shelf except to haul game out, a lesser frame (or good internal frame) pack could probably cut the mustard.
Not bringing that point up disrespectfully! I hunt Northeast PA and I actually do need to use my meat shelf typically once or twice a year, based off of hunting depth/location. I usually don't pack in heavy, but layers can be bulky and I may prefer an external frame pack for the instance of a harvest (and separation of gear/meat)! All that aside, I do have plans for western hunting, but not really the tipping point for my pack selection either (I'd definitely need the bigger bag) lol. I love my MR Sawtooth 45, but the K4 has got to be better, right?! HAHAHA!
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I hunt in NE PA too, and hunt pretty deep.
I prefer an external frame pack as well, but I use the heck out of my load shelf for transporting my gear. I know of a few internal frame packs that would cut the mustard otherwise.
A Popup28 will get the job done and has the advantage of being small in the tree. But the K4 will be lighter and better for the heavier loads, if that’s the priority.
Went the "get me by" route for a while but the more I started packing deer and esp after getting into western hunting it became obvious that pack selection should be about bag layout/function and maximum load stability and function. The trap is "most of the time I'm not going to be packin a critter". Never hear anyone say they didnt bother taking a weapon hunting because most of the time they arent going to shoot something. Find the pack that fits your body best and meets your maximum load criteria and you will be happier about your selection when it gets put to its intended use.
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I certainly consider the pack out aspect. But, it's often tossed about that at a certain weight all packs suck, it's just some suck more than others. lol.
I've been through Kifaru, Kuiu, MR, & Seek Outside. The only fit issue I ever had was with the Popup belt and it was easily resolved by swapping belts. Would I prefer to carry heavy weight on one frame over the others, yep. But I'll haul a deer out with any of them. Period.
So, to me, it's the ones that are a better fit for my hunting systems that stay in circulation. Thats where I find splitting hairs makes sense.
There's lots of ways to cut the pie as I see it.
If I didn't need a load shelf for my gear, I'm confident some of the nicer internal frame options would offer advantages over the external frame packs. They are less strappy and simpler. There are several internal frame packs with suspensions equal to premium external frame models or nearly so, typically with an overall weight savings. Actually, many western hunters find it easier to load meat in the bag rather than on a shelf, and more stable. They just strap layers and gear to the pack for separation, or in some cases use built in stuff pockets for this as well.
Were I to 2TC and use a ROS or hunt off a tiny one stick platform, I might be tempted to go the route of a two and three quarter pound Seek Outside internal frame pack. Or something like a 14r or 357 mag. or the like. I see the upside there in general performance, even if they perform somewhat worse specifically when packing out game.
But I like the external frame packs for how they accommodate my bulkier gear selections in and out on every hunt, as well as managing hauling deer during the successful ones.
Plus, I'm still stubborn enough to drag one out if I have to, lol.
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I believe he qualified his response with using it to haul gear in and setting up. Then you most likely do not want velcro but I wondered that myself actually.
@Plebe agree pretty much across the board with that post. Before switching to my current setup(StrykerXL + sherman pocket on a duplex frame) I was using a Kuiu Venture 1800 and for a deer hunting pack it worked exceptionally well for me and would handle up to 75-80# for a couple miles before it started to get a little uncomfortable. But I also had a Seek 4800 for western hunting. Current setup is where I landed for a one pack to do everything setup. Everything to make a deer hunt stays in the pack and if I need to back pack in somewhere I can add a gear bag on the load shelf with camp setup and roll on. I am only dragging if I can see the boat, truck or wheeler. Got no use for the guts and bones. Feel sorry for the folks that cant pack critters out. Completely moronic rule in my opinion.