How to carry (backpacking) a rifle into basecamp?

[Macchina]

I am hunting an island later this year and will have a 6 mile hike into basecamp before we set out for day-hunts. Any good way to carry a rifle into the camp? We can bring 2-wheeled carts, however they get bashed around pretty good during the haul.

Last time we went, it was really wet so a waterproof solution would be great.

 

[Gunnerboy]

A man has two hands for a reason..They were meant to carry a rifle.

 

[RetiredUSNChief]

Whatever became of the rifle sling?

 

[AirForceShooter]

And a condom over the muzzle

AFS

 

[Macchina]

I should have been more clear: the trail is very rugged and we have to pack in supplies for a week of hunting. This is like a normal backpacking trip (or usual tents, food, sleeping equipment, etc.) however even you add rifles and a few pairs of hunting clothes to the trip we end up bringing a lot of gear. It's usually either snowing or raining. This usually means wearing a 40 pound pack (the sling option is out) and having to help the cats over blowdowns every couple hundred of yards.

I guess I'm looking for a waterproof option that can be strapped to a backpack or maybe to the cart. I've looked at horse scabbards, bit they never seem to cover the entire rifle.

 

[Taurus 617 CCW]

You could just fold it in half and stick it in your pack.

Seriously though you could get a Browning lever action takedown rifle that will do just that. Not the cheapest option out there but there is one. Otherwise you could find

The other option is a pack that has the ability to accept a full size rifle with its own compartment covering the muzzle.

http://www.opticsplanet.com/eberles...utm_term={keyword}&utm_campaign={OrderItemID}

 

[jmr40]

The OP needs both hands free to carry other gear for a 6 mile hike. He isn't hunting at this point. If you are using a cart you could just leave the rifle in a hard case and lash it to the cart for the trip. Probably the least expensive method.

They make backpacks with a sleeve to carry the rifle hands free in rugged terrain, but that could be costly. If you are already in need of another pack I'd consider one. Depending on the design of your current pack it might be possible to lash it to the exterior.

 

[ironworkerwill]

What about a soft case treated with aerosol fabric waterproofing and lash the case to the back of your rucksack.

 

[RetiredUSNChief]

You know...they make these really cool things called "plastic bags" which would work great for keeping water off the gun. Slip the gun in a gun bag, slip a plastic bag over it.

Me...I don't worry about that at all. The gun is already clean and oiled before I go out in the field. I just make sure to keep water out of the barrel.

If it's raining or such, at the end of the day I'll simply wipe it down again with another thin coat of oil.

When the camping trip is over, give the gun a good cleaning and oiling and put it away.

It's served me well.

 

[H&Hhunter]

I've tied many a rifle to the exterior of a pack. Just make sure the rifle is EMPTY. The bolt is locked down, the muzzle is covered and your scope lenses are covered. You can accomplish the same by doing the above mentioned with a soft gun slip.

I however have solved this little dilemma by purchasing an "Eberlestock J-34 Just One" pack with a built in scabbard and a rain cover. We've made some serious miles in the most god awful back country with the rifle neatly carried and protected. I HIGHLY recommend that pack for the long distance, rough country, pack in, kind of hunter.

This one;
http://www.eberlestock.com/J34 Just One.htm

This is not a cheap pack and completely worth the money. This is a serious piece of hunting and back country gear.

 

[OYE]

Been quite a while since we did any strictly backpack hunting. Used horses a long time. Used to carry it on top crossways on external frame Diamond packs.
Often tied to an upper extender bar. And under the top flap. We just used a lightweight waterproof poncho over gun and pack when needed (one that was really waterproof) or a plastic tarp wrapped over it, as there was always plenty of use for either one around camp. Never carried it that way in grizzly country though. Always carried it ready in grizzly country.

The only question I would have with the Eberlestock pack is what happens when you sit down hard with the pack when loaded heavy. It looks like the gun barrel is sticking down well below the pack. How does that work when your feet slide out from under and you sit down hard ? OYE

 

[buck460XVR]

If you are using a cart you could just leave the rifle in a hard case and lash it to the cart for the trip. Probably the least expensive method.

Also probably the simplest and most effective. Hard to imagine anything else giving the gun more shock protection. As for the rain and snow on the hike in, I doubt if it's any different than the rain and snow during the hunt, unless one doesn't hunt in rain and snow.

 

[H&Hhunter]

How does that work when your feet slide out from under and you sit down hard ? OYE

I guess it's possible that you could fall in a way which causes the barrel to strike the ground. But every time I've fallen on my "butt" the geometry of the pack is such that I hit the outside base edge of the pack first and have never hit the covered muzzle. I've never had the slightest issue with hitting or bumping the rifle while it was in it's scabbard inside the pack. Between the pack and the scabbard this about the most secure and safest method of wilderness transport I've ever used. And the nicest thing is that it keeps your hands free which is a god send in really rugged country.

I have beat the living crud out of rifles over the years when they were strapped to the outside of pack. Including a busted ocular lens once after taking a slide/tumble down some loose scree. And I've sure as heck dinged up a rifle carrying it unprotected on a sling over my shoulder. Falling backwards with a slung ring rifle has more damage potential than having it encased between a pack and your body. In nut shell any time you carry a rifle in any manner there is some risk for damage. That's the price you pay when hunting I simply don't worry about it. Stuff happens in the field. My rifles, all of my rifles earn their keep and have character marks to prove it.

 

[basinman]

A Pelican or similar case should work fine when strapped to a cart.

 

[H&Hhunter]

A Pelican or similar case should work fine when strapped to a cart.

Man oh man! You guys are willing to carry more weight and bulk into the back country than I am. If you are able to take a cart, your definition of "rugged" back country and mine are not the same.

 

[wankerjake]

This one;
http://www.eberlestock.com/J34 Just One.htm

This is not a cheap pack and completely worth the money. This is a serious piece of hunting and back country gear.

I agree, I bought one this year and I love it. I love it like I love a rifle. The scabbard is comfortable, you can pull the rifle out reasonably quickly, and it is secure.

 

[OYE]

Eberlestock pack

I'm glad you guys all like that pack. The gun scabbard sticking below the pack
would definitely be a deal breaker for me. I'd rather not have the extra scabbard weight at all. From what I can see I don't care much for the design of the rest of the pack either. The price does not seem out of reason at all.
I'm a hard sell.

The country up this way is powder puff compared to what you guys are used to.
We are all pretty wimpy up here. OYE

 

[strambo]

I would just wrap it in a plastic bag and lash it to the pack. That said, for perspective, as an infantryman, I've covered rougher terrain, at night, with more gear, and a 23lb machine gun slung in front so there really isn't a reason why you couldn't just carry it on a 2pt sling...there just isn't a reason you'd need, or perhaps even want, to either.

 

[ApacheCoTodd]

Gotta ask these:

What rifle?

What type of "back-pack"?

I really don't like the cart option aside from a possible need for a "game-cart" anyhow.

Todd.

 

[jim in Anchorage]

I don't get the cart thing. I picture something like you'd put golf clubs in. And you have to haul that through blow downs and maybe mud?

 

[buck460XVR]

From what I gather, the OP is taking a cart, plus wearing a pack to get all his stuff in, before he starts the hunt. While that $325 Eberlestock may work well once he gets to camp and starts hunting, it seems it would not be advantageous when pushing/pulling a cart and not actively hunting. Again, any decent hard case would work just fine strapped securely to the cart and a compact backpack, without a gun sticking out a foot above and below, would seem a better option. Everybody's idea of "roughing it" is different, as in everyone's needs. The cart may well be meant to haul game out more so than to haul stuff in. Either way, the cart needs to be taken in anyway, so why not use it to it's potential.

 

[brainwake]

I would look into these storage bags for rifles.

http://www.amazon.com/ZCORR-Corrosion-Velcro-Shotgun-Rifle/dp/B00A2SMVAC

you could put your rifle in this, then put them both into a soft case.

I think the Pelican case wins the battle of the elements...but it is pretty bulky and heavy...and expensive.

 

[jmr40]

The OP does not give a lot of specifics, but does say he is hunting on an island. Never hunted there, but have visited some here in GA, specifically Cumberland Island. The only access is by boat. The camp sites can vary from just a few hundred yards up to a few miles from the dock. Most of the campers don't backpack in the traditional sense, but use fat tired carts provided to shuttle their gear to the camp sites. The terrain is level with wide paths, but the soft sand can be challenging. I'd imagine this is similar to what he is attempting. Not a true back pack experience, but an attempt to set up a well equipped base camp several miles from the dock.

There are several islands here where hunting is allowed if you are chosen in a lottery. The facilities there are similar to the ones on Cumberland island. No hunting on Cumberland, but it is allowed on Sapelo and Ossabaw

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cumberland_Island
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ossabaw_Island
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sapelo_Island

 

[Macchina]

OP here, sorry I was gone for a while. The island is North Manitou in Northern Michigan. The last time we were there it hovered around 30 degrees and rained/snowed the whole week. Nights can get down into the teens so we end up packing our winter bags and will bring a lot more food this time... The way the trip works is a ferry drops everyone off on the VERY primitive island and picks then up in a week or so, weather permitting. It's complete wilderness aside from the boat pier and a few buildings for the island's DNR. The carts are highly recommended because you have to bring back your deer whole in order for them to age and weigh them. It's also nice because we end up bringing a lot more gear than a standard backpacking trip. I backpack often and the island is great fun to hike the loop during the summer. I currently backpack with a Gregory Palisade pack. I wouldn't be adverse to buying the Eberlestock as that looks like a great solution. I definitely won't be carrying a hard case Pelican, those things are heavy! I'm not an ultralight hiker, but if I don't wear underwear when I hike: I'm certainly not carrying a 15 pound case!

 

[OYE]

because you have to bring back your deer whole in order for them to age and weigh them.

I've heard there are several states with those rules. I've never been able to figure that out. A tremendous amount of extra work for no real reason. One things for sure, out here if deer and elk had to be brought out whole, license sales would plummet through the floor. OYE