Backpack hunting & meat hauling

[jmckaig]

Its currently deer season in Oregon, and this year I really got into backpack hunting. I have been looking at all sorts of bags, Kirafu, Mystery Ranch, Eberlestock...etc. I haven't decided yet, but wanted to share a pleasant surprise. I have an older snowboard pack that was designed to carry a snowboard sideways. This looked like its design could possibly haul some meat out of the woods, so it got loaded with hunting gear for the season. Well this morning I shot a little meat buck and hauled it out in the pack. Total weight on the pack was 125.6 lbs. I was impressed especially because this pack was not intended to carry even close to that much weight. Obviously not the most comfortable, but definitely doable. Speaks well of DAKINE backpacks although I don't have to much use for snowboard bags any more....priorities kinda change as you age.

O yeah, the bag model is a DAKINE Poacher.....And yes I had a tag and no the deer was not poached.

If anyone has recommendations or experience on a good backpack choice for heavy loads let me know I'm in the market and trying to decide.

 

[HARPERC]

They say the line between genius and insanity is thin! I started thinking that's just nuts, but my curiosity kicked in maybe you've got something there! I alway respect folks working with what they've got, to come up with something new. Congratulations on your deer, and thanks for shifting my brain out of neutral today.

 

[minute of elk]

Brilliant!

I've tried E-stock, Nimrod, Dana, Ultimate, Kelty, and recently Mystery Ranch. The only pack I've tried that beats a Dana for comfort & stability with stupid-heavy loads is the Mystery Ranch.

If you do talk to MR, send them that pic- they have a huge collection of crazy pack pictures- yours deserves to be there.

 

[angus-5024]

I thought that you had wrestled that buck and were holding onto his antlers for an edge in the fight!
Well done on "making it work"!

 

[rtabor]

That's a great picture! I also have packs by Dana Design and Mystery Ranch. I think the Mystery Ranch pack is great. It is set up for hauling a good load. I use the Crew Cab, which also has an open space between the frame and the back bag. I got mine from craigslist for a good deal.

 

[jmckaig]

That's a great picture! I also have packs by Dana Design and Mystery Ranch. I think the Mystery Ranch pack is great. It is set up for hauling a good load. I use the Crew Cab, which also has an open space between the frame and the back bag. I got mine from craigslist for a good deal.

Thanks I've been keeping an eye out for any to pop up on craigalist for a good deal. I might just bite the bullet and buy one soon. How is the weight with the crew cab? Also can it be used for a weekend bag to camp out of?

 

[rtabor]

I think the weight of the crew cab is fine. I've never had a second thought about it. I use it to pack in on 5 day hunts. And then I use it to carry each day while hunting. It's adaptable for both uses, and it compacts down very small for the long hikes. I added the optional load cells after I got the pack to help organize everything, and to be able to pack in all that I needed. It also has the lid, which helps secure tall loads, and adds more storage. Even getting a deal on it, after adding the load cells and lid it was still an investment. But I think it might last twenty years or longer, so it seems to me to be a smart way to go.
I found mine by searching on google "site:Craigslist.org mystery ranch". That searches every city. Then you can see if someone will ship it to you.
Good luck.

 

[Biggs300]

I have two hunting packs that I really like packing out game...my Kifaru G2 Longhunter and my Eberlestock J34. But, looking at your photo, I see what appears to be a road close to where you are packing out your deer. If I were packing out that deer, i'd be using my Toyota Tundra....which is probably my favorite "backpack".

 

[jmckaig]

Yes there is a road close after I already packed out. My Toyota Land cruiser was waiting, with dual lockers it usually can get pretty close.

 

[matt meyer]

That's an awesome picture. Glad it worked for you. Although you might want to consider some kind of blaze orange for around the deer. At 1st glance it looks like a live deer

 

[jmckaig]

That's an awesome picture. Glad it worked for you. Although you might want to consider some kind of blaze orange for around the deer. At 1st glance it looks like a live deer

Yes great advice for sure. What you cant see in the photo is that the back of the bag that holds the deer is bright red. That being said I probably wont carry many out like this more of a meat hauler, this was just an attempt and it worked. Believe me I thought about having more bright colors when I heard a vehicle coming down the road as I approached my vehicle from about 500 yards out!

 

[DirkB]

I like my Stone Glacier backpack ... very versatile with the different options + loads VERY well up to 90 lbs (that's as far as I've loaded her up for now ...) ...

I have the Terminus and the Approach ... and take out both ... the goal is to leave the terminus on Site with all my gear included + do meat hauling with the Approach to the car, and return for the Terminus.

Quality is really good on the backpack and very comfortable ... but that's my opinion so ...

 

[Idaho Sawyer]

I am gonna be a smart *** for a second and say that if you would have spent about 45 min skinning and deboning your pack would have weighed about 70 lbs. instead of 125! with that out of the way, congrats on your buck.
I have an old dana design (now it is MR) that is way better than EB's, I have not tried any others, good luck in your search for a good pack.

 

[jmckaig]

Typically I field dress my game the gutless method. But this day, call me crazy cause everyone else does, I thought it would be a challenge and a test to pack it out as is. It sucked and I felt it for a few days, but it was doable and that made the test of the pack successful. But I do see your smart $%! point....thanks