Hunters looking to venture into the backcountry by backpack are sometimes lost when it comes to knowing what to pack, and what to leave at home. Thankfully there are plenty of BHA members with experience hunting by backpack - members like Chris McCotter of Arizona, who prepared the backpack packing list below for his 2013 archery mule deer hunt in Colorado's Wimenuche Wilderness.
This packing list is good guide for eight days of hard-core big game wilderness hunting. We hope this will help you on your next backcountry backpack hunting adventure.
| Take | Ounces | Weights | |
| Badlands 4500 | X | 125 | 125 |
| Trekking Poles | x | 24.6 | 24.6 |
| Head lamp 1 | X | 4.6 | 4.6 |
| Head lamp 2 | X | 2.5 | 2.5 |
| GPS w/cover | X | 7.5 | 7.5 |
| FRS radio | X | 6.8 | 6.8 |
| Video Camera Canon | 15.3 | ||
| Dig. Camera Olympus | X | 17.7 | 17.7 |
| Range Finder Nikon | X | 8.3 | |
| Leupold Binos w/harness | 26.7 | ||
| Swarovski 15x56 w/mount | 54.9 | ||
| Swarovski 10x42 w/harness | X | 28 | |
| Slik Pro Mini tripod w/mount | X | 37 | 37 |
| Slik Pro tripod 300D | 56 | ||
| fleece Ski Cap | X | 1.3 | 1.3 |
| fleece head band | 1 | ||
| UA cold gear gloves | X | 1.5 | |
| leather gloves | 4.9 | ||
| wool gloves | X | 2.8 | 2.8 |
| Bandana | X | 1 | 1 |
| Under Armor Cold Gear Pants | 7.8 | ||
| Under Armor Cold Gear Shirt | 9.4 | ||
| Socks 2-liner 1-hiking | X | 6.4 | 6.4 |
| DuoFold Long Slv Shirt | 7.6 | ||
| Long Sleeve Kings camo poly | 10.6 | ||
| Spare Jockeys | X | 2.4 | 2.4 |
| DryPlus Rain jacket | X | 16.2 | 16.2 |
| Hardwoods Camo Rain Jacket | 31 | ||
| Green fleece Sportsmans jacket | 21.8 | ||
| Max 1 Rain Jacket | 27 | ||
| Max 1 Rain pants | 15.9 | ||
| UA cold gear 1/4 zip | X | 16.3 | 16.3 |
| UA cold gear vest | X | 11.2 | 11.2 |
| Dry Plus parka Packable | 8.4 | ||
| Dry Plus rain pants packabe | X | 6.6 | 6.6 |
| Sitka 90% jacket | X | 21.6 | 21.6 |
| UA Cold Gear Jacket | 29.6 | ||
| Bivy Sack | 30.9 | ||
| Aarongs tent only | X | 40.4 | 40.4 |
| Aarons tent pole only weight | X | 14.2 | 14.2 |
| Kelty Tent 2-man | 48.3 | ||
| Tent poles/spikes | 20.8 | ||
| Slumber Jack Sleeping bag | 51.3 | ||
| Mtn Hardware sleeping bag | X | 50.7 | 50.7 |
| Sleeping pad - air | X | 22 | 22 |
| Sleeping pad - Z-lite | 15.7 | ||
| stove/cookware | 18.4 | ||
| fuel 1 can | 11.8 | ||
| Titanium spoon | X | 1 | 1 |
| Stove only | 6.8 | ||
| Bowl metal | 3.1 | ||
| Bowl plastic - yellow | X | 1.3 | 1.3 |
| Pot/Lid | 7.6 | ||
| Blue cup | X | 1.8 | 1.8 |
| Coleman Propane | 16.4 | ||
| Misc bag *see below for contents | X | 16.1 | 16.1 |
| Baby wipes - non scent | X | 1 | 1 |
| Gatorade bottle full, Small size | X | 16 | 16 |
| water 100oz blatter | X | 100 | 100 |
| Spare water blatter 70oz | X | 3.4 | 3.4 |
| Water purify drops | X | ||
| game bags -cheese cloth | X | 1 | 1 |
| bungee cords | X | 1 | 1 |
| Sun Glasses | X | 1 | |
| predator calls | 3.7 | ||
| Total Ounces Before food : | 583.9 | Ounces | |
| Total Ounces of food : | 235.6 | Ounces | |
| Pack weight W/ food: | 819.5 | Ounces | |
| Pack Weight in Lbs : | 51.2 | LBS |
About Caitlin Thompson