I currently have three different packs. I typically use a Tenzing Hangtime Lumbar Pack during bow season and a Tenzing Voyager for rifle season. The hangtime allows me to wear the pack and pack my climbing stand at the same time. I'm rarely in a climber during rifle season so I use the Voyager then. I've run various Tenzing packs for several years now and I have yet to be disappointed in any of them.

I recently received a Eberlestock Bandit. So far, I've only used it at a couple of TAC events and for day scouting trips this past offseason but I absolutely love this pack.

 

Currently using a Tenzing Cinch fanny pack. It's new and I've only used it a couple times so far. My initial thought is that it is a little on the small size.

 

what type of hunting do you do? The packs mentioned so far would be miserable to use for a rocky mountain hunt where you need to carry pieces of meat off of a mountain.

 

Good call. I made the assumption that OP was looking for a whitetail hunting pack.

 

Mystery Ranch packs are my go to.

I like that on about all of them the torso length is adjustable (distance between waist belt and shoulder straps) so that you can dial in the perfect size to distribute the weight just how is best for you.

The dedicated hunting packs from them are more expensive and heavier than the hiking packs. So, I use a hiking pack from them. My major mod is cutting off the metal zipper pulls and taking the cord pull tabs that were on the metal pulls and move those cord pull tabs to the actual zipper. This quiets them down.

This is my pack and I'm super happy with it. I carry my climbing method and midlayer inside the pack, so I went a bit bigger than many. There's various sizes in their packs though.

Scree 33 Pack | MYSTERY RANCH Backpacks

Your next wilderness destination awaits, and so does the pack that’s going to get you there. Streamlined for hauling only the most essential gear, the SCREE 33 stands ready to get you all the way to the top…and back again.

www.mysteryranch.com

 

I have several badlands packs and they fit my needs perfectly. I also use on for traveling on planes. They have proven to be pretty tough packs for me.
I like packs with allot of pockets to keep stuff organized. Zippers are super tough and oversized, easy to grab and zip. Material is very quiet.

 

Haven't used it yet but I picked up an Eberlestock Bandit. Looks to be a very solid day pack. I like to self film my whitetail hunts so I only need enough for small camera and some snacks if I decide to sit all day. Quality built from what I can tell

 

Kelty Redwing 44. Plenty of space, pockets/pouches for all my hunting needs I haul into the woods for whitetail hunting in the Midwest.

 

I think it ultimately depends on how you're getting your harvest back to the vehicle. You can get away with just about any backpack if you can drive to your harvest or only drag it a short distance. If you need to carry it off a mountain or are backpacking in to somewhere, then a bigger pack is going to be necessary with weight carrying ability.

I'm using a Seek Outside 5400 pack that I ordered custom last year. I can cinch it down for a day hunt, or load it up and backpack in to an area. I can also separate the bag to carry meat between the bag and frame. Or, I can ditch the bag entirely and just use it to haul meat.

 

Packs are like knives and boots and camo.....once you get into it there is a use for different types. I used to use a fanny type pack with shoulder straps for whitetail treestand hunting, but found I tend to haul too much "stuff" with a decent sized pack. The old "what if" syndrome in action and then I was hauling gear around I rarely if ever used. Even when I am still-hunting larger tracts of public land, I want to carry less and stop being a pack mule. So a couple years ago I bought an Alps bino harness with a box call pouch, which I turned into a whitetail pack for using my climber. I added a second pouch for my rangefinder and then pared down everything I was going to take as minimalistic as possible. Last fall I found myself using it a lot more for every type of bowhunt becaue it doesn't weigh much, I can shoot with it, climb with it and it stashes easily on stand. I added a small rechargeable flashlight and folding guthook knife on one of the side straps, but the whole unit is very compact and easy to use with any type of layering.

On the flip side, I bought a used ebike this past spring to scout, check trail cams and potentially hunt. Ebike users are in constant search of the best manner to haul a bow and arrows, being somewhat divided between a pack and some form of bike-mounted unit. I looked at the bike mounts and went the direction of a backpack bow carrier with an Alps Pursuit pack from the AT classifieds.

This way I can carry my bow and quiver (fits on either side), plus take a vest or jacket along in the larger main pouch. Once at my stand, I can hang it from a Third Hand utility belt, screw-in bow holder or set it on the seat next to me in a ladder stand.

 

I only hunt in the midwest, and I'm not hiking miles into wilderness, so personally I prefer a fanny pack. While I'm stalking it allows me to draw back a lot easier and makes for a smaller profile all around.
License, knife, paracord, a light, milkweed, water, and a snack bar.

 

What's the milkweed for? Sorry I'm new.

 

Wind checker. Those little suckers find and follow the slightest thermal. And they're visible for a longer distance unlike "smoke in a bottle" type stuff.

 

Oregon Pack Works. Modular system. For saddle hunting I am using at as the "Rogue" pack with a lumbar, hydration, and meat hauler. For longer hunts I can add two more bags to the top portion to make it an "Orion" pack. It isn't a full frame pack, but has aluminum stays that keep it rigid and allows you to pack 100+ pounds. It is the most comfortable pack I've used. They also have a larger bag that can be added on to make it a "Greengate" pack for multi-day trips. American Made.

If I'm not walking in far or don't need to carry much I have a Huntworth backpack my wife got me. Functional, but doesn't carry weight well.

 

picked up a thompson center pack dirt cheap at a local flea market, nice metal frame, water bladder, place to strap your bow/gun. all kinds of storage room.

 

Kifaru Stryker XL with Camp bag and other accessory pouches/Sherman Pack.
The last pack system I'll own.

Transforms from day pack to hauling 7 days of gear and in the end a meat hauler.

 

I'm currently running a Mountainsmith tour for early season Missouri whitetail hunts. I also like to run it during turkey season for running and gunning purposes without weighing myself down. I use a lonewolf climber for mobile hunting public lands and it really streamlines my setup by being able to strap it directly to my stand while walking in without much added bulk and weight. Personally, running a lumbar pack helps me by not overpacking (which I tend to do) by limiting the space to essential gear/items only. Once I'm settled in the tree, I also have access to everything since I can rotate the pack to the front or just buckle the pack around the tree. When it comes to mid-late season hunts, I run the ALPS Crossfire x. I can pack extra clothes, strap a gun or bow to it, and have everything I need for really cold days. I recently just bought a T&K hunting gear bino harness which has got to be one of the nicest/well made pieces that I own. 100% American made too. I have my binos and rangefinder both tethered to the harness so I can let them dangle in case I need to take a quick shot without fumbling around trying to get them back in their pouch. I'll upload some pics later to show my setup.

 

Lwcg wolf pack or a cabelas archery vest is what I use. Love them both!

 

I like any framed pack so you can throw anything in and it maintains its shape. If you know they’ll be into it, I would start with a smaller mystery ranch or any framed pack. That way if you need bigger, you can just get a new bag to put on the frame. Also depends on the type of hunting. For tree stand and blind I just use my marsupial gear Bino harness with the water bag attachment.

 

Tensing 1140 sling pack.

 

Sitka tool bucket for in stand and day trips. Kuiu 6000 for extended trips.

 

Horn hunter g2, incredible pack!

 

Here’s the horn hunter g2 in action.

 

77 Y/O & have not packed meat in about 15 years, usually back up with 4 wheeler & load
& even elk. For white tail use military back pack for extra jackets & any thing else.

 

Alps Big Bear X has been a great pack for me, replacing an older Cabelas Fanny Pack. Love the option to have it either a backpack or fanny pack.

 

It really probably depends on your intended use.

I'm using an Eberlestock X2 and I absolutely love it. I couldn't imagine a better pack for saddle and whitetail hunting.

Carries all my gear neatly with enough room to pack deer out on the long hikes in.

 

Alps Pathfinder, can fold it to a fanny pack or full blown pack. Have hauled a quater elk out or while turkey hunting carry the blind and ll my gear and carry the bow.

 

I really like my bow bat it’s a bow holder and pack all in one and a backrest when strapped around the tree