Best Day pack on a budget

concordprof said:

Sorry guys for being all over the place and lack of information.

Minnesota Hunter...I couldn't get the link to work, but I have written down the name of the pack.

I will be doing an outfitted hunt in SW Montana this fall. The outfitter will assist us in the packout with either ATVs or horses. Being an eastern white-tailed deer hunter, my pack is currently a Cabelas fanny pack with shoulder straps. Don't really need to haul a bunch of gear and the WT deer are taken out whole (no meat hauling needed).

With all of the gear recommended (optics, boots, etc.) to hunt, I have to pick and choose where I invest the money. I have given thought to something along the lines of the Sitka Bivy 30 because I feel like I could carry it on the airplane (??) and use it to haul gear.

The more I plan, study western big game hunting, and read this site I feel like it will be something I try to DIY down the road. However, with work and family responsibilities, down the road may be 10-15 years from now. I'm not treating this as a once-in-a-lifetime hunt, but a once-in-a-longtime one.

My goal on this hunt is to learn firsthand about the animals, the country, etc. I'm already driving my wife crazy listening to Elk Talk live constantly.

Everyone's been great in the multiple threads I have started. I greatly appreciate your patience and willingness to provide advice.

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Brian in Montana said:

So here goes...

Why on earth would you want to spend $200 on a pack you're just going to carry a days worth of food and a spare jacket? Just get something at Wal-Mart. I have a cheap Fieldline pack that is very comfortable, holds a lot of stuff and only cost maybe $30. I've had it for years, I even hauled about 30lbs of deer meat off the mountain in it once, that wasn't real pleasant but on a simple "day trip" I don't need anything more.

I also have a Mystery Ranch Metcalf and a Cabelas Alaska Outfitter for the heavy lifting and meat hauling.

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silasd said:

Curious to know if you ever tried to take in on a plane? I have the same pack. Seems like it might be just a tad over the carryon dimensions in terms of length...

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