Hunting gear and tree stand

[mtnbkr]

How in the heck do you folks get your stuff to your spot in one trip?

I hunt mountainous public land and use a hang-on tree stand. My stand has backpack straps, but I also like to have a pack for my gear. I typically carry water (camelback bladder), food, stuff to make a fire, binoculars, scent, calls, knife, ammo, etc. Currently, I strap my hydration pack containing all this stuff to the back of my stand using the strap-on steps I carry. However, this is tedious to load/unload and doesn't offer any addtional space for extra clothing. Add a gun to this and you're talking about a cumbersome load. Frequently, I try to get my stand to my spot the night before and just haul my hydration pack up in the morning.

How do you guys do it? Are there any packs made for use with a stand, maybe something designed to strap directly to the stand?

Chris

 

[Lennyjoe]

I use a small waist fanny pack with essentials. If your on public land be sure to chain lock your stand in place or it might walk on you if you leave it overnight.

I prefer a climbing stand on public land. I have had one lock on walk on me so now I use a climber. Gives you more mobility and easier to set up. Bass Pro had a nice Strongbuilt on sale for $89 2 weeks ago and Wal-Mart in Missouri had a nice Ameristep stand for the same price. Shop around and you can find a good climber for a decent price. Ebay even has some there for around $100.

Think about going to a climber for public land and save the lock on for private land.

Just my .02 worth.

 

[f4t9r]

You do the same as i did for years. Kill yourself getting to the spot !!
depending on what you take and how much makes a big diff. I cut way back I was taking stuff I did not need or was not using. I found when I stayed with only what I really was going to use it lightened the load. If you have to take your stand with you It gets tuff climbing those hills

We Hunt private land and One thing that was a life saver the last 2 years was a 4 wheeler with a rack and storage bag and it was worth every penny of investment. I had been wanting one for years and if I knew then what I know now it would have come alot sooner.

 

[countertop]

Chris,

You can think about getting a backpack with spaces for outside lashings. The one I had this weekend had plenty of room to hold lots of extra things - plus it had an internal sleeve to hold a camelback hydration bladder. Got it at LL Bean. It would probably have held your tree stand too.

I also have an old Dana Design's Alpine pack which I use for more serious backpacking (which I haven't done in some time). It certainly without a doubt could support your stand and all your stuff (it has a great shovel like pocket on the outside to stuff stuff into).

I've got some others you might want to check out too.

If you want, your more than welcome to check my packs out any time.

 

[mtnbkr]

It's not the weight, but getting it all on my back in a tidy package that's easy to use. In fact, I'd like to carry more stuff so I can be more comfortable or better prepared. I think the stand and all my gear (not counting the rifle) weighs in at 35lbs or so.

Lennyjoe, I only paid $30 for this stand, if it gets stolen, I'm not going to cry. Besides, where I hunt has a low hunter density and I get far enough up the mountain for my stand to be out of reach of casual hunters. I've left it on the tree overnight many times. The forest is thick enough that you're not going to see it until you're on top of it. I've been within 25yds and not been able to find it.

Countertop, that's a good idea about the pack. I have an internal frame pack that might do the trick, but if you have good candidate, I'd like to check it out as well.

Chris

 

[Lennyjoe]

That's cool. Makes lugging it in and out every day a bit easier. $30 is a good price if it's not homemade.

 

[Atticus]

I dunno, let me know when you figure it out. My climber is buried in a pile of brush out in the woods right now.
I don't know if anyone makes such a thing- but I'd like to have a tactical type vest in camo, to stick all my gear in and still have it all readily accessible. Then, I'd have my back and arms free for the stand, bow/gun and whatnot.

 

[countertop]

The forest is thick enough that you're not going to see it until you're on top of it. I've been within 25yds and not been able to find it.

I'll vouch for that.

The forest is thick enough that you're not going to see it until you're on top of it. I've been within 25yds and not been able to find it.

The next time I see you I'll bring a long a bunch of packs for you to try.

 

[Roadkill]

My climbing stand is about 30 lbs, I carry a school sized back pack in one hand and rifle in the other. My problem isn't the rifle stand and equipment but my rifle, stand and equipment plus a 125lb deer. Talk about a work out. Carry the rifle, stand and equipment about twenty five yards, put down, go back to deer, drag to rifle, stand and equipment, pick up same, go twenty five yards, put down, go back to deer, drag, ect.ect.

 

[countertop]

My climbing stand is about 30 lbs, I carry a school sized back pack in one hand and rifle in the other. My problem isn't the rifle stand and equipment but my rifle, stand and equipment plus a 125lb deer. Talk about a work out. Carry the rifle, stand and equipment about twenty five yards, put down, go back to deer, drag to rifle, stand and equipment, pick up same, go twenty five yards, put down, go back to deer, drag, ect.ect.

With the right pack this shouldn't be a problem. I used to do a fair bit of backcountry skiing and before that what most people would classify as Extreme skiing (but this was back in the days of Glen Plake and before the X Games) and soon figured out that carrying skis sucked so I began to only purchase backpacks that had side pockets and compresion straps that allowed me to strap my skis on.

These straps and pockets will easily allow you to slide a rifle (or two) and should remove any problem you have carrying one. With a decent pack there should be a fair number of places to lash a climbing stand on - and the suspension shouldn't strain too much from an extra 30 pounds. That leaves you with only the deer to concentrate on dragging and you've to deal with that on your own, but its a whole lot easier than what your doing.

Anyway, these are my two main packs these days.

The primary large backpacking pack is an older (mid 90s) Dana Designs Arcflex Alpine.



15 years out and its still the best winter/mountaineering pack ever made. The shovel pocket is invaluable and it can handle a couple of hundred pounds no problem. I've lived out of it for a week in the winter backcountry ski camping in Vermont. Its too bad Dana sold out in the late 90s cause the quality suffered and now I don't even now if you can buy one anymore - its all Gregory and Lowe crap (and that horrendous North Face Stuff - NF used to design good equipment, now they just stick their logo on everything and sell it in major suburban shopping malls Yuck!)

I also have this new LL Bean bag - Bigelow Mountain Pack (which just replaced my older (mid 80s) LL Bean Continental Rucksack.



Its a bit smaller - the perfect day pack - and has a decent suspension and side pockets and retention straps. If your looking for a good day pack to take hunting (and hiking, etc), I highly recommend checking it out.

I've had other packs, but these are the two I use now and I wouldn't trade them for the world. Really think they (or something similar) could solve your problem - plus they let you bring a sweater, some maps, extra gloves and ammo, a decent lunch, a book, and lots of water along.

 

[Sheeptex]

A buddy of mine got this one. Says he really likes it.http://www.specialforces.com/store/customer/product.php?productid=27264&cat=488&page=1