sumpnz
Member
With my plan to hike into the William O Douglas Wilderness to hunt elk this year, I was hoping for some pointers on what to bring, and just as importantly, what to leave behind.
I don't know yet if this will be a solo hunt of if I'll have other guys with me to help out, but for now assume I'll be solo. There will be plenty of other hunters around that if I get into trouble I should still be able to get help. Figure up to 5 miles from the truck, and then basically camp in the same place for up to 13 days (11 day season plus a day in and a day out). Plan is to find a good water source to camp close to. Hunting will be anywhere from the camp out perhaps a few miles). Terrain will be 3000-5500' elevation, western slope of the Cascades, close to the crest. Weather likely to be highs in the high 40's to low 50's, maybe freezing overnight but probably not. It is western WA, so rain is likely. Snow is certainly possible but not likely to accumulate much.
Items that I have already, or will buy/borrow before I head out:
Rifle - CZ550 9.3x62mm
Ammo - 15 rounds of handloads (286gr Partitions)
cleaning rod/patches/cleaner
electrical tape (to cover muzzle when raining)
Side Arm - Sig P245 with at least 13 rounds
Hunting License and Tag (elk and including a bear and cougar tag)
ID
Backpack (internal frame hiking pack - might be able to borrow BIL's external frame pack if necessary)
Topo map of the area
GPS (Garmin Rino 120)
Compass (need to buy, recommendations???)
Tent (lightweight backpacking type - will be borrowed from a friend)
Sleeping bag (compact down type rated to 25F IIRC)
pillow
Backpacking stove
small pot
steel mug (but not ceramic coated - about the size of a normal coffee mug)
Leatherman
2x Buck knife (one fixed blade with a gut hook, one folding)
compact binos
4x Alaskan cheese cloth game bags
para cord
string
orange surveyors tape
Camo coveralls
regular camo pants
several pairs of polypropylene thermal underwear
several pairs hiking socks
broken in boots
flannel shirts
wool/poly coat
blaze orange vest
blaze orange baseball cap
blaze orange stocking cap
camo Thinsulate gloves
TP
baby wipes
small shovel (need to buy/borrow)
water filter (to be borrowed from a friend)
lighter/matches
cotton balls with Vaseline
folding chair
headlamp (borrowed from BIL)
Ibuprofen and naproxen
Suggestions on improving the following appreciated:
Food (planning on some jerky/biltong, dried fruit/veggies, some "backpacking" meals that you just add hot water to, instant oatmeal, energy bars, candy bars, gorp)
I'm figuring on leaving some stuff at the truck (like some of the food, maybe some clothes) with the intention of going back to it once or twice during the hunting season to resupply.
I don't know yet if this will be a solo hunt of if I'll have other guys with me to help out, but for now assume I'll be solo. There will be plenty of other hunters around that if I get into trouble I should still be able to get help. Figure up to 5 miles from the truck, and then basically camp in the same place for up to 13 days (11 day season plus a day in and a day out). Plan is to find a good water source to camp close to. Hunting will be anywhere from the camp out perhaps a few miles). Terrain will be 3000-5500' elevation, western slope of the Cascades, close to the crest. Weather likely to be highs in the high 40's to low 50's, maybe freezing overnight but probably not. It is western WA, so rain is likely. Snow is certainly possible but not likely to accumulate much.
Items that I have already, or will buy/borrow before I head out:
Rifle - CZ550 9.3x62mm
Ammo - 15 rounds of handloads (286gr Partitions)
cleaning rod/patches/cleaner
electrical tape (to cover muzzle when raining)
Side Arm - Sig P245 with at least 13 rounds
Hunting License and Tag (elk and including a bear and cougar tag)
ID
Backpack (internal frame hiking pack - might be able to borrow BIL's external frame pack if necessary)
Topo map of the area
GPS (Garmin Rino 120)
Compass (need to buy, recommendations???)
Tent (lightweight backpacking type - will be borrowed from a friend)
Sleeping bag (compact down type rated to 25F IIRC)
pillow
Backpacking stove
small pot
steel mug (but not ceramic coated - about the size of a normal coffee mug)
Leatherman
2x Buck knife (one fixed blade with a gut hook, one folding)
compact binos
4x Alaskan cheese cloth game bags
para cord
string
orange surveyors tape
Camo coveralls
regular camo pants
several pairs of polypropylene thermal underwear
several pairs hiking socks
broken in boots
flannel shirts
wool/poly coat
blaze orange vest
blaze orange baseball cap
blaze orange stocking cap
camo Thinsulate gloves
TP
baby wipes
small shovel (need to buy/borrow)
water filter (to be borrowed from a friend)
lighter/matches
cotton balls with Vaseline
folding chair
headlamp (borrowed from BIL)
Ibuprofen and naproxen
Suggestions on improving the following appreciated:
Food (planning on some jerky/biltong, dried fruit/veggies, some "backpacking" meals that you just add hot water to, instant oatmeal, energy bars, candy bars, gorp)
I'm figuring on leaving some stuff at the truck (like some of the food, maybe some clothes) with the intention of going back to it once or twice during the hunting season to resupply.