Hunting Packs

Overview

A hunting pack has one job: to get your hunting stuff — and any meat you harvest — in and out of the woods. For big game hunting, the most important pack trait to remember is this: can this pack haul meat loads from 50-75 pounds safely and comfortably? Your high school Jansport won’t cut it, sorry. Here are some solid solutions for Oregon big game hunting packs.

Videos

2020 Hunting Pack Review — Huntin’ Fool

Gear We Use to Hunt Elk in the Backcountry — The Hunting Public

How to Choose a Hunting Pack — Randy Newberg

How to Pack and Organize a Hunting Backpack — Brady Miller, GoHunt

What’s In My Elk Hunting Day Pack — Clay Hayes

Articles

• What’s In Your Hunting Pack — Meateater
• How to Pick the Right Hunting Backpack — GoHunt

Where to Buy Packs

Here in Oregon, you have some options for trying on hunting packs in person. Here are the spots to check:

• Small archery shops are good about carrying a few high-end custom packs. Call around and see what they offer.
• National sporting good chains such as Cabela’s and Sportsman’s Warehouse carry low- and mid-tier packs. If you need something to get started with or don’t have time to wait for high-end packs, these are good options. They tend to be heavier, made in other countries (if that’s a factor), and have weaker warranties than high-end pack makers.
• Most hunting pack manufacturers will have a booth at the annual Pacific Northwest Sportsmen’s Shows. Visiting one of these shows is a great time to try on and compare different packs.
• Online forums or auctions sites are good spots to check. For hunting packs, the Rokslide classified section is a solid source for packs. But, don’t just come to shop. Rokslide expects forum members to contribute in other ways — asking questions, answering questions, being a good forum member, etc.

Conclusion

Like with cars, the hunting pack market is flooded with dozens of brands, sizes, prices, accessory options, and cult followings. Most hunters use a combination of packs to handle day hunts, short trips, and long excursions.

Over time, you’ll figure out what works well for you. Don’t be afraid to buy/sell/trade so that you can experiment with pack styles and sizes until you find the pack arsenal that works for your hunting style.