Backpacks-hunting/carries rifle...

[Ackley Improved]

I have not bought a backpack as yet. The plan was Eberlestock G4. I am starting to think it maybe on the heavy side at 10lbs.

I got to pack light as I can, for one to offset the weight of the TRG (20" 308W).

I will be out for 3 days and 2 nights trekking/hunting.

I have a tarptent "Contrail", Thermalast Neoair mattress, 1kg sleeping back, jetboil, Etrex Vista hcx gps, 5watt 2way radio, bino's, LRF.. add to that food and water and the weight starts to rise including 13lb of rifle! If I go the G4 route, I will be around the 25kg mark.

So now the question, what do your packs weigh ready for a couple days out including everything, and whats packs are you using to carry this gear including volume. I would like the pack to hold/carry the rifle when the going gets tough, or when I'm plain sick of holding it!

I have thought of buying a dedicated trekking backpack and then have a rifle holder made to attach to the side of the pack. Anyone done this?

Cheers

 

[BirdmanOz]

Re: Backpacks-hunting/carries rifle...

When I hike with the G4 pack with all the gear you quoted and 4 liters of water I run at about 21kg. Thats enough for 2 nights. If you had water source planned then you could drop this back. That's excluding rifle and ammo. Add 5 to 7kg for this.

Is that a lot? I guess it depends on what terrain you are in, how far you are going and what the climate is. In my experience hiking with much more than about 22 to 24 kg becomes what I consider hard work.

Using a modified trek pack would save some weight for sure.

 

[threetrees]

Re: Backpacks-hunting/carries rifle...

if it's just for two nights you should really reconsider whether you need hot water/meals. That may save you alot of weight/volume.

do you really need the radios?

for me, the eberlestock g2 is fine for two days in the mountains (about 2km above sealevel) with little water access (we were melting a bit of snow/ice in the sun) and additional material such as climbing gear for checking some crevices.

while we had a bivouac hut to sleep, a small tarp would have fit into the pack -> i might actually get the exped scout tarp this summor

 

[KM375]

Re: Backpacks-hunting/carries rifle...

Kifaru long hunter has a gun bearer system that you can add on to the pack. This was my Elk hunting set up in Colorado.


https://www.kifaru.net/longhunter.html

 

[lonely_wolf]

Re: Backpacks-hunting/carries rifle...

I picked an Arc'teryx Silo up:

http://www.arcteryx.com/Product.aspx?EN/Mens/Packs/Silo-40

Like you, I prefer lightweight gear and am running with similar stuff. The short (37L @ 1.6 kg / 56 oz) has enough room for three days of gear and sixty rounds of ammo. That's for UKD fun- I don't lug around sixty rounds when hunting. I put a scope and muzzle cover on the rifle and strap it down using the ski straps. I haven't had a problem yet.

It isn't tacticool, but whatever. Its lighter and bombproof.

 

[inter061]

Re: Backpacks-hunting/carries rifle...

This was my Elk hunting set up in Colorado....