Sheep Hunt Backpack Set-up

[Broomed Ram]

Curious what everyone considers the latest, greatest and lightest gear out there for a 10-12 day backpack hunt.
Backpack:
Tent:
Sleeping Bag:
Stove:
Binoculars:
Hope everyone has a safe and successful hunting season this year and always.
Thanks.

[Weatherby Fan]

[QUOTE=Broomed Ram;1322794]Curious what everyone considers the latest, greatest and lightest gear out there for a 10-12 day backpack hunt.

Not sure what the latest and greatest is but this is what I use,There are more hard core experienced Sheep hunters or hunters period on this site that can be a great source of info.

Backpack:- I have 2 MR Nice frames,one with a 6500bag and one with a 4500wolf,they certainly not the lightest,but comfortable and well built,you may need a Nice frame and a 7500bag,there are other and lighter options out there,KUIU(lighter) ,Eberlestock,Barneys

Tent: - I use a MH Skyledge 2.1, 2 man 3 season tent with a waterproof footprint,about 5lbs,it has 2 doors for easy in and out,not the best tent but not the worst either,you can also just use the footprint and fly to cut the weight in half if needed.

Sleeping Bag: I use a Valandre shocking blue,3lbs and extremely warm,packs very small,expensive but one of the best bags made.

Stove:I use a Jetboil sol,has worked just fine in -10 for me

Binoculars: you should get a 10x42,I use an older Leica 10x42 and are great,but the best binocular for the money right now is the Zeiss Conquest HD 10x42 I was blown away at their clarity, I had a good look at the Vortex Viper HD 10x42 great glass for the price also.....just still a little leary of that company.....when it comes to Binoculars I'm a little biased for the euro glass,other binos u might look at for a fair price,Minox HG,Meopta B1 HD or Cabelas Euro HD which is the same,Kahles, and of course Leica & Swarovski good but pricey !

WF

You should have asked whats the best caliber rifle for sheep hunting also...........just to keep things interesting :wink:

[Trekker]

MR 6500
MSR hubba hubba
Montbell super spiral
Jetboil
zeiss conquest hd

[drivintrucks_shootinbucks]

When i was looking for new binoculars i couldn't afford to buy swarovskis and the other expensive brands so i bought s pair of scorpions. So far i love them. They are relatively inexpensive and very clear. Good investment if you ask me. Www.scorpionoptics.ca

[Ramshot]

When i was looking for new binoculars i couldn't afford to buy swarovskis and the other expensive brands so i bought s pair of scorpions. So far i love them. They are relatively inexpensive and very clear. Good investment if you ask me. Www.scorpionoptics.ca (http://Www.scorpionoptics.ca)

When I started sheep hunting I couldn't afford high end gear either. London Drugs in the optic section for a pair of Nikon 10x50 bino's $150 a used 15-60x60 Bausch & Lomb Discover (heavy SOB) $150 at Guncraft, and a Freighter frame and moose bag pack from Surplus Herbies $99. My heavy old Sako walnut stocked 7mm Rem mag and I was off to the races. Was 19 years old and running around MU 3-17 looking for a full curl Rocky. 3rd day of my hunt I got one. Get what you can afford and get out there. Just because you can't drop $2000 for binoculars and the same for a spotter and ultra-light weight rifle doesn't mean you can't get a ram. Upgrade as you go along. That's what I did. Good hunting. <Ramshot

[vip_ruger]

Pack kuiu icon 7000
bag monte bell super spiral
stove pocket rocket
tent big anges uls 2 or 3
bino 10x42 Swarovski el range finders
ziess spotter
kuiu camo
meidel from Germany glockners boots
havalon knife
Therms rest mat yellow light weight

[decker9]

The only thing I can really coment on as for light weight is a pack, ordered a kifaru DT1 last summer, it is like night and day compared to my other mid level packs Iv owned. Had to sell my wolf rug to aford it, but is well with the trade off. I find that 50lb in any of my other packs, feels like 30-40lb in my new one. I found that with a good pack, a couple extra pounds isent to noticeable. But that's just me, happy huntin!

[Jim Prawn]

Pack MR 6500 - awesome, heavy duty, comfortable, but heavy
Tent Big Agnes Copper Spur 3 (for 2 guys) extremely light but I have seen pics of one torn up pretty good in a storm
Sleeping Bag North Face Nova -18 waterproof down bag. Went waterproof cause if down gets wet youll be unhappy but guys who sweat a lot say they dont breath very well but works great for me.
Stove MSR Reactor super fast and efficient, stove top and small fuel bottle fit inside pot, heat is well contained; you can put your hand right beside it when on and its not hot so I am comfortable using inside the vestibule in nasty weather. Only good for boiling water
Binoculars Celstron 10x50s ($400 range binoculars) good for the price but could definitely use an upgrade here
Spotting Scope not on your list but you should have one. Leica Apovid 75. Phenomenal optics but not looking forward to packing it in this year!
JP

[Broomed Ram]

Awesome feed back, much appreciated and thanks. One more thing I neglected to ask about was a recommendation for a sturdy lightweight tripod.

[warnniklz]

This year it'll be

Backpack: Timber Ridge daypack
Tent: friend's house
Sleeping Bag: satin sheets
Stove: I think it's a General Electric
Binoculars: Not sure (gotta send mine back to be fixed so we'll see)

Yeah, me and my brother have a spot lined up for some big horns this year where we won't have to camp. We'll see what happens.


If I get a goat draw again this year, I'm cutting back on gear for the early season.

Backpack: Asolo Navigator 70 (I've had this since '05. It was a grad present from the G-Parents. Used it for my goat hunt(s) last year and held up really well)
Tent : Integeral Tactical Sil Tarp
Sleeping Bag: Thermarest Haven
Stove: MSR Pocket Rocket
Binos: see above

[troutseeker]

Barneys Yukon bag
Hilleberg Allak (not the lightest, but bombproof)
Montbell super spiral
Jetboil
Leupold Gold ring 10X42

[Koot]

Kifaru Longhunter
ID mega sola , golite SL3, sil tarp, 8man Tipi (depending on hunt)
ID down bag
sno peak giga power or whisperlite
Buris diamond elite (i think)

[WKCotts]

Backpack: Eberlestock Dragonfly
Tent: Asolo Astro 3
Sleeping Bag: Mountain Hardware Lamina
Stove: JetBoil
Binoculars: Zeiss Victory 10x42
Spotter: Zeiss Diascope FL* 15-56x65
Rifle: Sako .300 w/ Zeiss 3.5-10x44
Gear: Kuiu
Boots: Kenetrek


Put all gear thru the paces last year on a stone sheep hunt. Rain, snow, wind you name it. Everything preformed top notch

[geoskier]

Pack: Arcteryx Echo Pack (part of the LEAF military line)
Tent: MSR hubba hubba
Sleeping Bag: Western Mountaineering
Stove: Jotboil or MSR.
Binoculars: Leopold golden ring

[604redneck]

U can get a ram with any gear you have just make sure you can stay dry first off head to toe since being wet will usually lead to quitting early. Spend a good portion of your budget on optics. I use a badlands 4500 pack that i bough brand new on amazon for around 275$ last year i used an alpz outdoors commander pack and frame for 35 days of guiding 20 days in the mountains goat hunting(2 goats) then 15 days moose (3 bulls) the pack will be my go too pack out pack for stuff within an hour hike, It worked for the 5/6 hour hikes up and down the mountain but i had the money for a new pack this year and the 4500 was in the budget. rain gear i used a big bill camo rain suit(75$ for the whole suit kept me dry but is heavier than i wanted). I have a 50$ coleman sleeping bag(synthetic) and it is next to be replaced but worked, its just large even when compressed. a regular thermarest. Danner pronghorn boots i have the 800gr but will be going too a hanwag or similar boot with atleast half the insulation. Goldbond, and saxx underwear along with merino hiking socks(all very important). Vortex diamondback 10x32 binoculars and leupold sentana vx-1 15-45x60 angled spotting scope on a vortex high country tripod and a vortex ranger 1000 rangefinder. My tent is a kelty gunnison 2.1 pro(if you look at these tents only buy the PRO model as it is made to be used hard and i have the foot print!). i also use a little msr stove. The total for all my gear using the alps commander is around $2000 which is less then some guys spend on there binoculars!

[spear]

Backpack: MR Metcalf w/ripzip
Tent: MSR hubba hubba
Sleeping Bag: MEC merlin
Stove: Jetboil
Binoculars: Vortex Fury's 12.5x42
Rifle: Kimber Montana 300wsm
Boots:Lowa Tibet GTX
Mixed Sitka/Kuiu/Patagonia/Arcteryx Clothing

Biggest thing I plan on packing is 10lbs of extra muscle im working hard on putting on, the majority on my legs so I can hunt farther and harder.