Backpack size for sheep hunt

[jac]

Hi there

I have bought a mystery ranch 80L terra frame for 10 day fly in sheep hunt. The back pack is 80L plus a overload shelf. It’s a really nice bag I’m just worried now that it might be to small. Do any of the members here run a similar size bag for mountain hunts? I’m buying all new gear so most of the items will be small and light weight. Obviously I would like to keep my pack below 50lbs but we will see. Thanks for your help.

[Wild Images]

If it just packs in what you need

How do you pack out what you get ?

Just a thought... I run the biggest Barney I could get

[Useyourfeet]

If you can get all your gear in the bag and save the load shelf for meat if successful you’re good to go.

[Citori54]

I have a Stone Glacier 6900 cubic inch (113 litre) pack that I bought for a 10-14 day pack in hunt. Bought the lightest weight gear I could find and even at that the pack ended up at 56 lbs with light weight rifle. It is a nice big, well organized pack but it was pretty well full.

[jac]

I guess my thinking was most of the food would be gone, also If we get something the meat would go on the overload shelf

[PressurePoint]

I have a kuiu 7000 and it’s perfect. I think around the 60 to 80L is fine. Just have to get cautious with the larger bags not to over fill them.

[Avalanche123]

I have a kuiu 7000 and it’s perfect. I think around the 60 to 80L is fine. Just have to get cautious with the larger bags not to over fill them.

I agree....max 80l is sufficient otherwise you get inclined to bring too much.

[ryanb]

On a 10 day hunt with 80L you will probably have to strap some stuff on the outside such as sleeping mat, tent, tripod etc. It's fine and I did it for years with no issue before I bought a bigger pack (110l now). The bigger packs let you get everything inside, but both can work without too much issue.

[BCbuckhunter]

I use a Kifaru Reckoning with pockets and lid its around 7600 Ci (125L) with gear and food the bag is only 2/3 full sitting at 58Lbs with rifle and full frame camera. I don't like using load shelves as it puts the main bag with gear out from your back. On day hunts its not a bad thing as your not carrying much. I wouldn't want to have a smaller bag then that. It can be done but its easier to have more room and not need it then not enough and need it.

[Steelpulse]

I took eberlestock dragon fly on 10 day hunt no problem. 70L last couple days left of food and a goat. Packed nicely

[Chrispryn]

80l is lots in my opinion. As stated above, more room =more room for unneeded things. Use the load shelf to carry your food, unless you get your sheep on day 1 you will have eaten some room for meat to sit in

Chris

[LuckyIfYouGetOne]

80 liters is more than enough...packing out all your gear with meat, cape, and horns will take two trips so having a bigger bag will not do much, you still have to be able to haul the weight out safely, scaling a mountain with more than a 100-120 pounds is not safe (my experience), all your gear meat cape and horns will be more than this, easier to make two trips than injure or kill yourself

i am assuming your going solo, with a partner everything should be able to come out in one trip unless you both shoot a sheep

[jac]

It will be my friend, brother and myself so 3 total

[Tron]

Bigger the better. 80l to small in my opinion . A 6500ci pack is about 106l. 7500ci is 122l. 80l being 4800ci is not enough.

[Avalanche123]

80 liters is more than enough...packing out all your gear with meat, cape, and horns will take two trips so having a bigger bag will not do much, you still have to be able to haul the weight out safely, scaling a mountain with more than a 100-120 pounds is not safe (my experience), all your gear meat cape and horns will be more than this, easier to make two trips than injure or kill yourself

i am assuming your going solo, with a partner everything should be able to come out in one trip unless you both shoot a sheep

I agree....don't kid yourself if you think you will be able to pack 100lbs plus....the wear and tear and risk of injury isn't worth it. Go load your pack up with an honest 100lbs and try it out....

[Rhyno]

I had my MR 6500, which as mentioned is over 100cubic inches and it was as small as I would go.

[jac]

Does the 6500 have a overload shelf also? I called mystery ranch today they sell a 40L bag they goes on the overload shelf which then will make the bag around 7200CI that seems pretty huge. I will haul the food in that bag and leave at camp. At that point if we are lucky enough haul meat on the shelf. That should work I think.

[Timberjack]

I’ve run an arcteryx bora85 for years. Longest trip was 7 days and it was maxed out. Anything shorter and it’s ideal for two guys packing 1 animal out. Give er a go and see what works for u.

That said I’ve always thought a 10-15 liter side pocket or two would make for some extra food room, wouldn’t bugger up loading of the pack much, and could remove for shorter 2 night excursions. Anyone got any ideas on who makes such a thing that might fit my needs (and help the OP too!)?

TJ

[twoSevenO]

5900ci Stone glacier here - packs everything for 5 days and still stays in bivy mode .... which is like 65 or 70L. I think 80L would be just fine.

[.264winmag]

I would agree that an 80L will work as a minimum, did two sheep hunts and two goat hunts win an 80L. Three times out heavy with a partner, once solo with the pup. She had 12# and I 110#, pretty comical all the crap hanging off that little 80L bag HA. And as said it just about killed me. Sneak as much meat into your partners bag as you can while he's asleep ;)

[.264winmag]

5900ci Stone glacier here - packs everything for 5 days and still stays in bivy mode .... which is like 65 or 70L. I think 80L would be just fine.
5900ci is close to 100L pack, that's decent. SG Terminus here, 6300ci main bag is just right for keeping everything inside. 2100ci expandable meat shelf brings the grand total to 130L+ capacity, I like it.

[Sakokodiak338]

This is my situation as well, I also have a sky talus andI have very high end and light equipment and I fill the bag when I do a 8-10 day hunt.

[LuckyHorseshoe]

I had a 80L pack for years, finally got a mystery ranch at 110L. It's more room than I would need on average but I would not go back. I don't find I pack any more needless gear, but what I do take is MUCH easier to get in and out of the pack. With an 80L full to the top I always found you have to empty it out to dig one item from it. With the larger pack I just loosen the straps and there's room to dig around. Not more fighting to compress items that don't quite fit.

[Buckster]

I use an eberlestock just one 75 litre expanded without extra bag on going in and bring the expansion pack for ha keeping my pack organized on the way in and I can keep my stuff separate on the way out with a load on this gives me 122 litres should I need it. I pack for 2200 calories a day 10 day food supply 300 ultramag 9 pounds+, 20 rounds ammo Leica rangefinder, sea to summit water proof down bag, 2 man eureka tent for base camp, integra designs bivy for 1-2 day stalks, spot, GPS, 2 litres of water, Jet boil 3 fuel 1 small 2 large, 30 Starbucks coffees knives fork spoon, first aid kit

[Buckster]

Pack is sitting at 59 lbs

[Buckster]

13#s of that is the pack alone
now Every 5#'s costs anouther $1000 though I could drop 5-7 of extras

[jac]

We have been training with weight 35-50lbs in our packs now for a couple weeks. We are training on steep terrain lots of vertical. I can’t believe the difference 15lbs can make, I’m going to save up, research and spend to try and keep my pack at around 50lbs if I can.

[twoSevenO]

13#s of that is the pack alone
now Every 5#'s costs anouther $1000 though I could drop 5-7 of extras

Jeez ... why carry a 13lb pack? What does it offer that makes lugging it worth it? I know that light weight options are very expensive but at 13lb I think I'd rather get a $150 external pack frame from Cabelas and re-pad as necessary for a good fit.

[m5wilson]

Not that I can really add much to this thread. But I just got an EXO 5500. It's a big bag and will definitely be able to fit everything, but I am very surprised at how much room things take up. My thinking was to buy a bigger bag since most will compress down pretty good and weigh essentially the same, but I can see where you need to make sure you are always trying to figure out what is useful and what really isn't.

[rollingrock]

110L pack is almost as tall as me LOL

[Weatherby Fan]

Any of the newer pack designs that separate the bag from the frame for load hauling are perfect, don't go any smaller than 5500 bag, 6000-7500 is better for sure
I use a MR Nice Frame/5500 bag and I have no problem putting 70 lbs worth of gear in it and thats about as much as I would want to carry for any extended periods of time.
At least if you have a bigger bag and the option of putting meat/horns between your back and the bag your all set.

I robbed this picture off the EXO Mountain Gear website for an example
http://i1087.photobucket.com/albums/j466/WeatherbyFan65/sam-davis-5-732x976_zpsw5yghtmi.jpg (http://s1087.photobucket.com/user/WeatherbyFan65/media/sam-davis-5-732x976_zpsw5yghtmi.jpg.html)