Sample Kit List
Chest Rig/Bino Harness
The goal of your chest rig is to contain everything you need at an absolute minimum, to make a final approach and send a shot, and make your way back out to a cached pack or truck.
Binoculars*
10x42 to 12x50 in size. Binoculars should be mounted in the center of your chest, in a harness or chest rig, that does not have any magnetic connections, as these will distort a bearing provided by a compass. Recommended models for entry level hunters are Burris Signature HD, Vortex Diamondback, higher end models from Maven, and top end models from Leica and Swarovski. You should have a mount for your binos to attach to a tripod.
Rangefinder*
I only personally have experience using Leica range finders, as I have not had need to look else where. There may be better value, or better quality, but the Leica is my personal favorite for reliability and simplicity.
Headlamp*
Having used many brands with many functions, offerings from Petzel are preferred, although a couple black diamond options have worked well. Your head lamp MUST be capable of emitting red light, for reasons we will discus on course. I prefer a headlamp that has the same removable batteries as my GPS unit so if they die they can be borrowed back and forth.
Cordage
A simple 25 foot length of cordage. 550 paracord is often overkill. Used to make improvised tarp shelters, pull an animals leg in a direction while skinning, tying a brush together to make a rifle rest….
Bic Lighter*
Pretty handy spot to keep a Bic lighter or zippo for fires and starting stoves.
Ammo*
3-5 rounds of ammo, just in case your magazine detaches from a rifle while stalking, or chaos ensues and more ammunition is needed. Ask me about “Does and Wolves”.
Havalon*
Easily the lightest and most compact skinning blade on the market. I keep and old blade and sharpen it for common every day use, and have 3 or 4 spare blades in the bottom of the pouch.
Bearspray
Absolutely necessary. Do not go without. You can only roll that die so many times. You can spray a bear on a stalk and not blow a hunt and avoid dealing with enforcement and the inevitable investigation. You can’t wield a rifle or shotgun when your a turtle on its back with a 110lbs pack. 99% of the time, bearspray is the best solution.
Calls
For whatever species you are hunting. For Elk you will want several diaphragm calls and a bugle tube, moose you will want a tube and your voice. Deer… I’m not much for calling or rattling but there are plenty of folks that are.
Water Tablets
They weigh nothing, and when you end up farther than expected or forget something somewhere else, these will keep you making smart choices.
Inreach
Keep this on your person always, don’t leave it on your pack. You drop your pack lots to do other things, you keep your chest rig on for the most part.
RUCKSACK/PACK
Contents will vary based on the duration of time away from resupply, and the type of terrain. Below is a general midseasonish list to start from, and add to. We start at 70 liters and go up.
BushcrAFT kNIVE/Axe/Bowsaw
Your party size, and sleep system will dictate. Ultralite users in early season will opt for just the knife. Mid season users should find use in an axe (an axe for this purpose should have a light head and a long handle, not a hatchet). Those using a wood stove will want a bowsaw, minimum 26 inches in length, we use a 36-42 because of the time and effort savings.
Water Bottle*
Attached to the waist belt, around 1L (40oz) volume. I prefer metal bottle as I often pour boiling water inside to keep my feet warm at night in an underrated sleeping bag. There are plenty of advantages for a typical Nalgene bottle also.
Water Bladder (3-5 liter capacity)**
Carried empty usually. I will fill this up when I know I will be away from water for an extended time. There is no reason to carry around 3 liters of water when you are regularly crossing streams or operating in snowy conditons.
Spotting Scope**
We presently use Vortex Razor 15-45 for most mountain operations. More powerful options may be preferable to your hunting style or area. Kowa and Maven also provide an incredible amount of value in a product.
Tripod**
I want one tall enough I can stand in the willows of a drainage, and be able to glass over top, without having to constantly cut/trim/move brush. Avoid any tripod that uses plastic in any connection. Saddles that can be placed on tripods to hold weapons allow for exponentially more freedom and ability to take shots.
Game Bags
There are some new anti-microbial options out there. We have always used Alaskan Quarter Bags, but in the yukon we used pillow cases.
Garbage Bag
Keeps liquid contamination to a minimum (water, blood)
Cordage
An additional 50 feet of cordage. 550 is often overkill. Baler twine is excellent for larger camps with poles and frames.
Battery Pack/Charging Cables*
Do the math for each battery pack to see how many amp hours of charge you will need. Most battery packs use several “18650 Lithium Ion cells” that can be disassembled and rewired, placed in series, providing the correct voltage to boost an ATV or power other 12v accessories in a pinch.
Stove, Fuel Bottle
Here is a link on the website that explains the differences in fuel and stove types. If going ultralite, there are 20 dollar pocket stoves from discount sites that do the trick. For mid to late season, or if cooking real meals, a liquid fuel stove with a needle valve for throttling on the stove itself is more economical. The valve on the MSR whisperlite is not for throttling. A traditional camping propane stove in the truck is an asset when bumping around and staying mobile during elk hunts. Over the 2021 season I have been using the Jetboil Minimo extensively and it has fast become one of the favorite items in my pack. The Minimo has a regulator that helps throttle for simmering real food meals, and helps it perform in colder weather better.
Update winter 2023: The Minimo is my favorite general use stove, adapters allowing the use of green propane bottles make it economical and useful to very cold temps.
Potset, Utensil, Cup
There is a page explaining the differences in pot materials on the site (aluminum, steel, titaium). A pot volume of at least 0.8 liter is recommended. You can set enough water to boil at once for you and your buddy to have hot drink/meal, or for yourself to have a hot drink and leftover water to cook a dehydrated meal. The increased bottom surface area of these pots also allows water to be boiled much more efficiently, in addition to providing a metal box to store your stove in.
Hiking Pole*
We get by with the Costco ones. Don’t have any experience with others. We defer to those more informed than us.
Snare Wire
Wire is useful. The single most grateful time I have had it, I snapped a throttle cable on an amphibious ATV, 20km and many creek crossings from the road. I pushed the wire through the outer casing and used the machine like that for 2 weeks until parts arrived. I have also used wire for countless tasks around camp when binding, or repairing. I have actually yet to use it for snares, despite having to restock it every other trip out.
Notepad/Pen*
If you take 10 minutes every night, to write sweet words to your significant other, and compile the dirty, crumpled pages into a gift, presented on a date of significance, you will never have to worry about getting “approval” from the “committee” again. The next ten minutes should be spent writing words about your daily struggles then tucked away for your kids to find when you are too old to be with them.
Lighters*
You will lose or give the lighter in your chest rig to your buddy. I promise.
Baby Wipes
Clean your hands, clean your bottom. Some folks dry them out. Personally, when I need a babywipe, I need one now.
Clothing
Gloves*
Waterproof, suitable for your needs and temperature. I get mine from a work wear store.
Toque*
Sitka Dakota Beanie. No experience with other options, as this one has served me well for 7 years.
Rain Top/bottom*
Sitka Cloudburst or Dewpoint. Insanely packable, breathable. I can not go on enough about this stuff. That said, I have managed to get 5 years of professional use out of mine, and is due for replacement only now. That is 400+ days of use. You will not have a Kuiu product last that long. Work wear stores have some amazing stuff for when you aren’t mobile, or are riding ATVs. I also have some experience with Firstlite products and think they have some spectacular stuff as well.
Hoodie*
Sitka Fanatic for later season, and the First Lite Sawtooth for earlier. Look at those, and use them as comparables.
Puffy Jacket*
Use Sitka Kelvin Hoodie, and Kifaru Lost Park Parka as comparable. Must be synthetic insulation, with windstopping outer material. Only use down if temperatures are not expected to be above -10c.
Thermal Top/Thermal Bottom*
Merino wool preferred. Icebreaker and First Lite are my favorite. Entry level hunters will find great value at costco or workwear stores
Merino Boxers*
The natural antimicrobial and wicking properties of natural fiber goes a long ways when you are away from a shower for weeks on end.
T-shirt*
A spare for you to wear while yours dries at basecamp. Merino in cold, cotton is fine early season.
Hiking Socks*
A spare pair for you to wear. Again heavy on the merino.
SLEEP SYSTEM
Shelter/Frame/Poles/Pegs
Kifaru “Sheep tarp”, then “Sawtooth”, then a canvas wall tent. The para or super tarp may be appropriate, but our system scale goes Sheep tarp, sawtooth, canvas wall tent.
Cordage
Accessory cord is the best for this, a few 8 foot lengths for helping tie down corners or add supports.
Woodstove/Stovepipe
Kifaru box and cylinder stoves for back country shelters. Cylinder airtight heaters for walltents. Knitco also makes some amazing woodstove that last longer than other brands, and hold a fire very well.
Sleeping Bag*
Synthetic insulation unless it is colder than -10c at all times. Compare what you are looking at to the Kifaru Slickbag
Woobie
(not nessessary but highly reccomended)
Having used a lot of different glassing blankets, I can confidently say that the Kifaru Woobie is the one item in my pack, I absolutely will not go without. Ever. If you hunt a high wind area ask them to add the extra quilting stiching.
In The Truck
Tire Chains
Jack
Shovel
Chainsaw/Saw File/Mix Oil/Bar Oil
Come-Along
Racthet Straps
Pull Straps
Socket Set
Wrench Set
Allen Keys
Vise Grips
Hammer
Side Cutters
Jerry Cans
Fix-a-Flat/Air Compressor with Tire Plug
Booster Cables
All Fluids for All Vehicles