Elk Hunting CheckList

As I’m scrambling to get packed for our annual elk hunting trip I thought folks might benefit from a packing/gear list.  Coincidentally  there happens to be a great one in the book Public Land Elk Hunting, 🙂 so I borrowed an excerpt and posted it here.  See something I’m missing?  Leave a comment and I’ll get it added.

Shelter

• Tent
• Sleeping bag
• Bivy bag
• Tarp
• Sleeping pad (inflatable or closed celled)
• Cot
• Pillow

Weapon

• Gun
• Ammunition
• Rifle cleaning kit
• Bow
• Arrows
• Release
• Miscellaneous tools (Allen wrenches, spare string, d-loop, serving)
• Portable bow press

General Camp

• Tarps or Easy Up shelter
• Stove (Coleman or Jetboil)
• Cookware
• Utensils (fork and spoon)
• Fuel (propane or isobutane)
• Lantern
• Folding table
• Camp chairs
• Shovel
• Saw
• Insect repellant

Meat Care

• Cooler, 200-quart
• Game Bags
• Rope or cord, fifty feet

Food

• Evening meals (Mountain House, MREs, or precooked)
• Jerky
• Granola or Clif bars
• Dehydrated fruit
• Candy bars (minis)
• Tortillas
• Bagels
• Tuna packets
• Peanut butter
• Bacon
• Flavorings (onion, jalapeno, spices, etc.)
• Cooking oil
  

Hydration

• Water containers (5-gallon)
• Hydration bladder
• Day use container (Nalgene 32- or 20-ounce)
• Water filtration (chemical, mechanical, or gravity)
• Coffee (Folgers Singles or Starbucks Via)
• Recovery drink (Wilderness Athlete, Gatorade, Emergen-C, Propel)

Navigation

• Map
• Compass
• GPS

Optics

• Binoculars
• Spotting scope
• Tripod

Communication

• Cell phone
• Cell phone charger
• Two-way radio
• Satellite phone
• SPOT messenger
• Extra batteries for all electronics (cell phone, headlamp, GPS, etc.)
• Solar charger

Miscellaneous

• Knives
• Leatherman
• Alarm clock
• Headlamp
• Flashlight
• Lighter
• Rangefinder
• Bugle tube
• Diaphragm calls
• Elk decoys
• Notepad
• Pen
• Hunting License
• * Duct tape
• * Surveyor’s tape
• Ibuprofen or other painkiller/anti-inflammatory
• Camera
• Video camera
• SD card

Clothing

• Pants (Sitka Ascent and Mountain)
• Belt
• Base layer shirt (Merino wool 190, camo)
• Base layer pants (Merino wool 190)
• Insulated jacket (Kuiu)
• Shell jacket (Sitka 90 percent)
• Ball cap, beanie, or stocking cap
• Underwear
• Gloves
• Wool socks (Smartwool)
• Raingear
• Boots
• Camp shoes (Crocs, tennis shoes, sandals)
• Gaiters

Hygiene

• Toilet paper
• Toothbrush and toothpaste
• Soap
• Deodorant
• Wet wipes
• Lip balm
• Sunscreen
• Solar shower
• Small towel
• Cotton swabs

Emergency

• Possibles Bag (See Bivy Gear list)