Suggested Gear List for Backcountry Mule Deer or Elk Hunt
The following list of gear is a suggested place to start to make sure you remember the essentials.
Clothing
- Light Rain Gear – You will absolutely need a lightweight rain coat, and pants. Most high end brands have two levels of heaviness. I suggest the lightest they have.
- Base layers – 5 days worth, so at least three shirts and two pants… these will get dirty and stinky.
- Mid Layer – at least two pants, one coat, and a vest. Sept hunts they should be “unlined” and light and for Oct the pants should be one that is lightly lined and the other that is unlined.
- “Puffy Coat” – a lightweight down (or synthetic) coat is absolutely necessary for storing core warmth.
- Boots – Please be sure to have a good, sturdy, well-built, and quality boot. Make sure the boots have undergone a period of “breaking in”. Your feet are going to carry you and your gear for multiple days in the backcountry. Enough said.
- 3 to 5 pairs of NON-COTTON socks – poly will stink but will wick moisture, wool will provide warmth with less odor. Consider at least using a poly liner sock in the colder temps, they’ll wick sweat and provide cushion and warmth too.
- Light Gloves – 2 pairs please….also consider a lightweight glove liner
- Beanie
- Hat – something with a brim for shading your eyes, like a ball cap.
- Camp Shoes – Crocs or similar, maybe a down booty with a burly sole, anything light and comfortable to give your feet a break at camp.
General Gear
- Gun – 270 cal or better and extra bullets or Bow with extra arrows in their own case for safety
- at least 6 broadheads (remember in Idaho they require fixed blades… NO EXPANDABLES)
- 1500 cubic inch minimum back pack or larger. Nothing over 4500 is necessary.
- Great Binos 10 x 42 min
- Ultra light tripod to glass from on muley hunts no tripod necessary on archery elk hunts.
- Toiletries (small pack of wet wipes for your backpack)
- Lip Balm
- Blister kit (mole skin)
- 2 headlamps and extra batteries
- Range finder
- Ibuprofen or Aleive
- Hunting license and tag
- Extra casual clothing for traveling
- Batteries for gadgets (headlamp)
- charging battery for your phone or inreach (don’t plan on having signal cause you most likely will not have any.
- Wind checker VERY IMPORTANT to have (bottle of white powder to check wind direction)
- DOWN sleeping bag, 15 degree to 0 degree (if you get cold, get the zero, if you sleep warm a 15 will be great but it MUST BE DOWN for warmth and quality)
- Sleeping pad – pads are rated like sleeping bags for thickness and warmth – do not skimp here, your sleep is important! (If you are coming on one of my personally guided hunts you will not need a bed pad, I will provide you one)
- If you ever struggle to sleep, it will be even harder at elevation. Bring 5mg melatonin to take to help you to sleep.
- Bring synthetic game bags big enough for your critter. Caribou Bags, Tag Bags are the best two. These are required!