There’s no way around it, hunting is a gear intensive hobby. Last article we covered off some of the necessary gear for front country hunting. In addition, we took a look at some other pieces of gear that while not stricly required to get in the field are certainly useful. Today we are going to take a look at what additional equipment we are going to need in order to transition to backcountry hunting.
Backcountry hunting in general places a much higher demand on gear than its front country counterpart. The reason for this is twofold. First of all, spending the night in the wilderness requires additional gear. Secondly, everything you use must be small and light enough that it is man portable. This increases both the cost and the quantity of gear required.
Additional Gear
When spending the night in the backcountry we add to our hunting specific equipment some basic necessities for surviving in the wilderness. Now we need to set up a shelter, sleep system and a plan for food. By breaking this down into seperate systems we can further evaluate our options.
Shelters
When hunting out of a pack, some form of shelter is a requirement. What the best option is will depend a lot on the type of area you usually hunt. However, by and large the most common type of shelter is a tent. Good backpacking tents are small – three person tents or less. In general aluminium tent poles are more durable than their fiberglass brethren. If you plan to camp in the alpine or hunt late season make sure to bring a tent rated for four-seasons.
I had one trip where a mountain storm blew in during the night in -4 degree snow and my aluminium tent pole shattered in the extreme cold and wind. The tent was only rated for three seasons. That frigid pack out via headlamp taught me the importance of a rugged four season tent.
Some other shelter options for the ultralight or solo hunters are bivvy’s and hammocks. Both offer a little less protection from the elements and from bugs, but save some weight on the back. Given the rugged environments I usually hunt in I almost always take a tent, but these options might be right for you depending on your area.
Sleep System
Next, you need some type of sleep system. The base of every sleep system is some way to separate you from the ground. If you are using a hammock this is already done. For most everyone else you are going to need some kind of sleeping pad.
Sleeping Pads
There are a variety of different sleeping pads on the market ranging from ultralight inflatables to cheap foam pads. The key to picking a good sleeping pad is selecting one with a high R value. R value is a measure of how well the pad insulates you from the ground.
If you can find one around four or higher you should be covered for most hunting weather. The next decision is whether or not to get an inflatable ones. The inflatable pads are light and portable, but aren’t as durable as foam pads. Foam pads on the other hand are extremely durable but are more cumbersome. Neither is the wrong choice, however if you decide to go with an inflatable pad I strongly recommend packing a small patch kit in case you accidentally puncture your pad.
Sleeping Bags
The other half of your sleeping system is your sleeping bag. There are a lot of different types of bags on the market but there are a few basic rules for selecting a bag.
First of all, sleeping bags come with comfort ratings and limit ratings. Oftentimes the advertised temperature rating is the limit rating. This is misleading, because the limit rating is the temperature that a person can maintain body heat when curled up in fetal position in the bag. This does not translate to a good sleep in practical terms. Pick a bag with a limit rating 10 degrees or so lower than the temperatures you plan to encounter.
Next, the really cheap bags from Walmart are not a good option for backcountry hunting. They are heavy, take up a lot of space, and utilize cotton which will hold water if they get wet. Quality sleeping bags use either synthetic insulation or down to keep you warm. Both come with advantages and drawbacks.
Synthetic sleeping bags tend to be more affordable than equivalently rated down bags. They also do a much better job of keeping you warm when wet than down bags do. Conversely, down bags compress much better and are lighter for the level of insulation offered. Which one is right for you depends on your budget and how adept you are at keeping your bag dry.
Finally, the less roomy the bag the better it will keep you warm but the less comfortable it is. Mummy bags are best for holding heat, but force the sleeper to lie on their backs with their arms across their stomachs. How big of a deal this is is a matter of personal preference. If you can, borrow a friends and figure out what designs you do and don’t like.
Food Preparation
Finally, one must feed themselves in the backcountry. Food preparation is as spartan or as elaborate as one cares to make it. On one end of the spectrum some sheep hunters will survive off of bars all trip. However, most of us will want some sort of stove be it for freeze dried meals or an instant coffee in the morning.
Stoves
There are a few different options on the market for stoves, with the two big players being MSR and JetBoil. Having used both I am a devoted member of the MSR camp. The JetBoil does boil water a bit faster, but is also larger, more expensive, and has less capacity than the small MSR stoves. This doesn’t give the hunter the ability to cook for a larger group by throwing a small camp pot over the burner. I am partial to the MSR Pocket Rocket and Reactor stoves.
In addition, if you plan to cook for multiple people at once or cook something that isn’t a dehydrated meal you will need a small pot. A small aluminium backpacking pot doesn’t add much weight and greatly increases what you can cook. It is also handy for transporting water if you’re camped a short distance away from a lake or creek.
Closing Thoughts
In conclusion, back country hunting requires some additional gear. The demands on your gear are higher because they must be compact and light but still hold up to the same standards of durability. The demands on the hunter are also greater as you must carry all your shelter, hunting, sleeping, and eating gear on your back. Hopefully, this article gives you a basic overview of some of the extra gear required for your first backcountry hunt.