My wife is epic, I've been blessed with a Colorado elk/mule deer hunt this fall. We are going to be hunting GMU 12 or 23. We have a few people out there that will be our "guides." One is a elk/deer hunting wildlife biologist, and the others have been elk hunting in Colorado for quite a while. I put in for a cow elk and a mule deer buck tag yesterday(good for either of the units we are going to hunt), so I'm committed.
Now I'm taping that receipt next to the bed so I wake up early to hike the 5 miles to work, on the fridge so I don't drink that beer I don't really need, and next to my desk at work so I'm motivated to lift weights.
Gear to figure out:
backpack - the kuiu ultra 6000 is very interesting since it's just under 4lbs, $400 makes it less interesting, but it will get double duty doing backpacking trips with the wife.
Sleeping bag - need a zero degree down bag, looking to be under 3lbs. It will be late October, could be snow, and I freeze my a$$ off when I sleep. Saw something about a top quilt that bungees to an insulated sleeping pad, not sure about how practical that is?
tent - I have a 5.5lb "3 person" backpacking tent, but think I'm going to try to sew up a floorless tipi tent for this trip, should save me a few lbs.
hunting clothing - First Lite gives military a huge discount, so I think I'm going to go this route. Sticking with merino whenever possible.
hiking poles - not decided on which ones to get
boots - not decided, trying to figure out the balance between lightweight and sole stiffness for a heavy pack and uneven ground.
spotting scope - not sure if I need one? maybe if I was worried about how big of an elk/deer I was going to try to shoot? Probably just stick with some 10 X 42 binos.
Let me know if you have any suggestions or inputs.