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What do I do with my backpack?

aclawrence

aclawrence

Well-Known Member
Joined
Oct 1, 2018
Messages
291
This year I have made the plunge into saddle hunting and am really enjoying it so far. I'm getting ready to do some pretty deep hunts in a local national forrest and I want to use my Kifaru to carry everything. I've been carrying my saddle in a cheap walmart pack and using a padded strap for my hawk helium sticks over the shoulder and bow in hand. This works nice for shorter walks but I don't want to do this for a mile hike and I will also need cold weather clothes at this point. My kifaru will make packing everything in a breeze but I'm not sure what to do with it at the tree. I left it at the base of the tree a couple times last year but I feel like that was a bad idea as far as ground scent goes. I was thinking of trying to toss a rope over an overhead branch and just hoisting it up out of the way a little bit. I haven't actually tried hanging it by me in the tree yet while in the saddle so it may be a little more convenient than it was last year hunting out of a lone wolf hang on. What do you guys that use a more substantial pack do with it?
 
I have a kifaru and a MR pop up 28.....both packs I attach the end of my rappel rope to the strap on top of the pack frame. As i single stick up the tree, I use my rappel rope as my the tether but I connect it with the petzel triangle in case I have to move around a branch (after connecting my second tether). Continue up the tree and at height I move my rappel rope as high as I can reach...set my gear hangers and bow hanger. Pull my bow up (doyles hoist) and finally grab tag end of my rappel rope and bring my pack up. Hang it from the gear hanger and put the end of my rappel rope in the pack where it stays until I"m done. Also in my pack is my cold weather tops that I can put one without unbuckling anything.
 
I've actually been using my pack, hung right in front of me at knee level, to store excess rope from my tree tether, and as a cushion to kneel against. It's especially comfy when I have my First Lite Sanctuary jacket in there. Wayyyy better than knee pads. Also, it doesn't interfere with movement around the tree because you either just stand up and lean to shoot, or you pivot around the tree and it's where you used to be.

Try it out, works pretty well. Not sure how well it'd work with a bulky pack though. The pack I'm using is a Spec Ops Assault Pack I bought back in the day to carry stuff while I was flying. It's about the size of a kid's book bag if that helps.
 
Pull it up with my 36’ tether that I use with a triangle.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
I hang my pack between my legs about croch level. This way I can sit down and wrap my legs around it vs the tree. I have found this makes for super comfortable sitting. With the recliner back band I can either lean back or forward and rest on my bridge. Placing the pack there has helped reduce my movement in the saddle a ton. Plus it’s out of the way for any shots I need to take.
 
I went out for my first saddle sit this Saturday and ran into the same problem. I have a Kifaru 22Mag, and love it. I use it to haul all my filming stuff. When I went to pull it off the ground it was a JOB pulling it up with just some paracord. I was wondering if there is a solution. I don't want to make to trips down the tree like I use to with hang and hunts.
 
Couple of options outside the box.

Stash your frame pack a couple hundred yards from your set on your way in. Stop there and cool off, layer up, get ready for your climb.

Or, stash it 40 yards downwind. Haha, if a deer sees/smells your pack, you're toast anyway.

I have a Kifaru with the woodsman and reckoning bags. I couldn't imagine having that in the tree with me - if I used either of those for whitetail hunting, I'd be stashing it on my entrance route.
 
Dietter700 said:
When I went to pull it off the ground it was a JOB pulling it up with just some paracord. I was wondering if there is a solution.
Click to expand...
Slightly heavier rope helps and doesn’t add much to total kit weight, and knots in the rope maybe every 18 inches or so make any rope easier to lift gear with.
 
I use a Doyle's gear hoist, flat nylon strap style:

Huntin' Hoist : Doyle's Deer Gear, Inc. - Products

Huntin'Hoist...the Self Retracting Hunter's Rope!
www.huntinhoist.com www.huntinhoist.com

It has a breaking strength of 200lbs so you should be able to hoist up your bag with no problem.

I then use Tethrd's HYS strap:

tethrdnation.com

HYS Strap - Tethrd

All other Straps bow down.
tethrdnation.com tethrdnation.com

And put a heavy-duty carabiner at the bottom of the tail-end of the strap and hang my bag from there. Here's a pic for reference:

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Image 2019-11-18 at 6.20.06 PM

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solo_archer said:
I use a Doyle's gear hoist, flat nylon strap style:

Huntin' Hoist : Doyle's Deer Gear, Inc. - Products

Huntin'Hoist...the Self Retracting Hunter's Rope!
www.huntinhoist.com www.huntinhoist.com

It has a breaking strength of 200lbs so you should be able to hoist up your bag with no problem.

I then use Tethrd's HYS strap:

tethrdnation.com

HYS Strap - Tethrd

All other Straps bow down.
tethrdnation.com tethrdnation.com

And put a heavy-duty carabiner at the bottom of the tail-end of the strap and hang my bag from there. Here's a pic for reference:

share.getcloudapp.com

Image 2019-11-18 at 6.20.06 PM

Shared with Zight
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Click to expand...

I am asking for one of these for christmas! haha I will give this a try as well.
 
Dietter700 said:
Not a bad idea, what size rope would be best and lightest do you think?
Click to expand...

Sorry I have rope that I like but I bought it several years ago and can’t even tell you what it is, I’d say it’s about 25% larger diameter. I still use paracord for one rope but I’m going to replace it, flexible cord like that tangles so easy, wanna try something stiffer.
 
neonomad said:
Slightly heavier rope helps and doesn’t add much to total kit weight, and knots in the rope maybe every 18 inches or so make any rope easier to lift gear with.
Click to expand...
If you want to e.g. rappel, you could use that. and many of the devices some people use for assisted braking or ascenders could also provide progress capture lifting your bag. I'll assume you're not going ultralight...if upsizing from paracord may as well go with something multiuse capable. and decide if hauling it up is in fact what you want to do.
 
Newhunter1 said:
I count 6 different ropes...that's a lot of ropes.
Click to expand...
Color coded. :grinning: Only one is a gear hanger with white and red stripes like the picture from Lowes. Care to guess which one?

Orange = main climbing rope
Black = backup tether
Olive drab = paracord pull down cord
White with red stripe = gear hanger
Red = bungee cord to keep gear hanger tight
Green = prusik loop to adjust backup tether.
That's 6. There is also a strap for my foot loop for standup climbing.
 
Last edited:
I leave the pack on the ground behind the tree from expected deer travel and kick some leaves on top. I do make sure the wind is in my favor. I’ve done this for years and haven’t been busted yet due to the pack.
 
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