If you Don't Carry Gamebags, I'm not Hunting with You

By Zach Bowhay

When it comes to what to carry in your elk hunting pack, many things can vary from person to person. This is because we all hunt in different areas with different climates, terrain, and access. It can also vary because some folks hunt miles from the road, living out of their packs for days, while others hunt short distances from a road. I am not advocating for or against either because my hunting tactics often vary depending on where and with whom I may be hunting.

With over thirty years of dedicated elk hunting, I have developed a sense of the essential items that should accompany every hunt, regardless of the specific circumstances or conditions. While your pack's contents may vary, particular categories should be thoroughly researched and acquired before venturing into the woods for an elk hunt.

If You Don’t Carry Game Bags, I’m Not Hunting with You

Walking into the woods without a quality set of game bags is a significant oversight. While most individuals will have at least a knife or two, the importance of game bags cannot be overstated. It's surprising how many hunters overlook this essential item in the field. Having game bags in your pack is not just a good idea; it's a crucial part of being a responsible and prepared hunter.

When an elk is down, especially in the earlier season when temperatures are still high, and bugs are a concern, time is crucial. Breaking down the bull, preserving the meat in game bags, and hanging it in the shade should be a top priority. Not having game bags in your pack is not just irresponsible; it's a disservice to the animal.

I am a big proponent of quality bags from companies like Argali, VIAM, Kuiu, Caribou Gear, and more. These companies make great products, and the investment should last many years if cared for properly. At the very least, buy some cheap one-time-use bags. But remember, investing in quality game bags is an investment in your hunting success and the respect you show to the animals you hunt.

Some Game Bags to Consider

Argali Large Game M.O.B Pack Game Bag Set | argalioutdoors.com

Lightweight & Reusable Game Bags | VIAM Outdoors

"The Wapiti" Best Game Bags for Elk – Caribou Gear Outdoor Equipment Company

Quarter Game Bag - Hunting Meat Bags | KUIU

Meat Bags - Born And Raised Outdoors

Get Down with Your Bad Self

For years, I never carried a down jacket. I generally had a soft-shell jacket and a rain jacket. That was until around a decade ago when I got my first down jacket, a gray packable down jacket made by Marmot. Since then, I have tested and used many down jackets from most of the big names in the hunting industry. And let me tell you, a good down jacket can make all the difference in the field, providing warmth and comfort when you need it most.

I don’t need to discuss brands that much because I don’t care what brand you use. I suggest buying a well-made down jacket from a reputable company. Yes, down jackets are warm when spending a day on a windy ridge glassing for bucks or bulls, but I see them more as an emergency essential. The weather, especially in the mountains, can be very unpredictable, and what started as a beautiful warm day can turn into a blizzard in moments.

If you somehow end up stuck in the woods, unable to return to the safety of your camp or vehicle, warmth can be of the utmost importance. Down jackets are light and compact to nearly nothing. You likely will use them sparingly or even need to remember they're in your pack. However, if the time ever comes that they're needed, I assure you that you will be glad they're nestled in your pack.

Beat the Drum

Like the down jacket, I am always blown away by how many hunters I talk to who aren’t prepared for when things go wrong. Most of us, in our day-to-day experiences, live mundane, boring, and safe lives. Hunting can put us in some of the most unpredictable, dangerous, and compromising positions we will ever find ourselves in. Of course, there are “scary things” like bear attacks or falling off cliffs, but they are probably the least likely to cause us harm.

We need to prepare for knife wounds, slipping and falling while crossing a log, and exposure to extreme cold or hot conditions, among other things. We can carry everything we need to handle most threats with a small pouch.

I know I have beat this drum, but it's worth repeating the need for a good emergency kit. It has a good first aid kit, an extra flashlight or headlamp, a fire starter, a way to filter water, and a satellite messenger. I like to carry a bottle that I can scoop from the stream and filter water, but I also have some Potable Aqua or another form of water purification tablets in my first aid kit, just in case. You can live without a lot, but safe water is a must. These tablets don’t make the best-tasting water, but they can save your bacon, and I have used them more than once.

A Pack Capable of Real Work

Carrying a small pack with just a few essentials can be tempting. I see the appeal of this. Honestly, I wish I didn’t have to take a pack. Walking with little or no weight on your back and no straps impeding your movement is nice. This may be true, but I refuse to hunt elk without a pack to carry all my essentials and do actual work when a bull hits the ground.

Elk hunting is challenging and can lead you miles from the road, often in steep, unforgiving terrain. Maybe I am getting old and lazy, but I don’t like making long, strenuous hikes during a hunt for no reason. So, I want a pack I can hunt with but also comfortably carry large loads of meat off the mountain after a kill.

I prefer to have a pack that can carry a quarter between the frame and bag of the pack. This allows me to keep the heavy load close to my body to handle the weight better and keep my gear clean while stowed away in my bag on the outside of the load, away from the meat. This year, I am using an Initial Ascent IA3K pack. IA3K Pack System - Initial Ascent I am not saying this is the only pack out there that works. This pack just checks the boxes for me. Plenty of companies out there accomplish this task, and by all means, buy what works for you. I am just saying that having a pack that is a good day pack but can comfortably handle heavy loads of elk meat is a personal “must-have.”

Broken In, Before You Are at the Trailhead

I know this gets talked about a lot, but if you are going on your first elk hunt, you must hear it until you get it right. There are plenty of challenging hunts, but my feet never seem quite as tired as on an elk hunt. Elk tend to move, sometimes a lot, which means you have to move too.

Luckily, I have never had an issue with blisters, but I have witnessed firsthand their effects and how they can bring a man to his knees. So, I don’t care if your boots are new or ten years old; they need to be proven comfortable, broken in, and ready. Anything less can mean the premature end of a hunt, regardless of how tough one thinks they may be.

Beyond blisters, sore and tired feet can hinder a hunt as well. It might not end your hunt, but it can make it miserable. In an earlier article, I mentioned that you don’t need the most expensive boot, just the boot that works for you. However, the right boot for you might be the most expensive one if it’s the one that keeps your feet ready for the next day's hunt. Like I said, I don’t care what it is, but we are less than two months away from September, so you need to figure it out soon.

The Not-So-Glamorous Stuff

When researching and buying new gear, glossing over the not-so-glamorous stuff like safety equipment and game bags is easy. Cool items like boots, packs, and the like are fun to research, but we aren’t always looking at what suits us and our hunting styles—we tend to lean toward what looks cool or trendy. Picking the right gear for you is precisely what it sounds like a personal decision based on what you need to be safe and effective on your hunts. It’s not about keeping up with the Joneses but about what you need, even if it’s the same pair of boots you've been rocking for the past three seasons.