Sheep Hunting Gear-the good, bad and ugly

thegunman · #1 02-18-2013, 08:26 PM

Just wondering what you guys had tried and liked, or thought was crap and wished you would have left at home

. And what else your thinking of trying this year.
Anybody have any expierence with tenzing packs?

Tundra Monkey · #2 02-18-2013, 08:44 PM

Some items that make my final cut:

TiGoat Vertex Tent
Marmot Helium
Lowa boots
Havalon knife + a real one
Iridium Sat Phone
Kifaru EMR
Swaro Optics
MSR Expedition Stove
Wyoming Saw
Helly Hansen Impertech

A partner who can "almost" keep up and never quits

bdub · #3 02-18-2013, 09:23 PM

I have been at it for a bit now. Pretty much have my list figured out but the fine tuning is never ending. This year got a havalon knife and another lighter down bag for the early season. I will need to buy another 2 man tent before to long as well as a silitarp this year(the dog chewed up my last one). Would love to spend the bucks and buy a really light weight sheep specific gun but will see. Always spend good money and buy Handwags for boots, merino wool for underwear, got some mountain hardwear for rain gear this year and love it. Old stuff that I have used for years and will stick with are my msr whisperlite stove, swaros, 3/4 thermarest. New stuff this year to try out will be a new Kiui backpack.

bdub · #4 02-18-2013, 09:49 PM

Wife also got me a SPOT that I don't leave home without anymore. Titanium cook pot, amazingly light. Started packing a small ipod for solo hunting in the last couple years. I put it in my pot which works as a speaker to increase the volume. Helps to pass the time at night. Not sure if the coyotes appreciate the singing haha.

thegunman · #5 02-18-2013, 10:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bdub

Wife also got me a SPOT that I don't leave home without anymore. Titanium cook pot, amazingly light. Started packing a small ipod for solo hunting in the last couple years. I put it in my pot which works as a speaker to increase the volume. Helps to pass the time at night. Not sure if the coyotes appreciate the singing haha.

HAHA. I was wondering how many guys did that!!

thegunman · #6 02-20-2013, 05:19 PM

I also forgot to ask : do any of you sheephunters carry bear back up of any sort (from a bowhunters point)?

mad mountain mike · #7 02-20-2013, 05:28 PM

[QUOTE=bdub;1854920]Wife also got me a SPOT that I don't leave home without anymore.
I've used a spot on solo hunts for a few years now but I am thinking of trying the Delorne Inreach this year. I think the two way texting would be nice at night or weather days when stuck in the tent.

BackPackHunter · #8 02-20-2013, 06:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thegunman

I also forgot to ask : do any of you sheephunters carry bear back up of any sort (from a bowhunters point)?

if i was chasing sheep in Griz country with a bow...
dam right i would have a gun for back up, or the very least bear spray

i wouldn't be to worried about it in till i was packing out the ram tho

bdub · #9 02-20-2013, 06:12 PM

[QUOTE=mad mountain mike;1857787]

Quote:

Originally Posted by bdub

Wife also got me a SPOT that I don't leave home without anymore.
I've used a spot on solo hunts for a few years now but I am thinking of trying the Delorne Inreach this year. I think the two way texting would be nice at night or weather days when stuck in the tent.

I've never really looked at them or how they work. It does sound nice to be able to send and receive text if that's how they work. I would love to hear of your thoughts on them or if any one else's experience with them.

BackPackHunter · #10 02-20-2013, 06:15 PM

Snow peaks Ti cook wear
Kifaru tarps, and meat bags, n stuff sacks
Swarovski optics
ipod
my little flip camera so when im solo, i can set it up on a tripod flip the screen and see the pics im taking
Mystery Ranch bag
soto stove
wiggy waders , if you r going to use them, pm me for more info... they need to tinkered with to work right
GPS
mountain house food
cliff bars...the best energy bar going
havalon & leatherman
sitka
hanwags
sock liners!!! and good hiking socks
goal zero worked really good, and probably will be coming along again
trekking poles

i dont think ill ever have the perfect set up, theres always something new or lighter... but every year i get better and lighter, and that makes it a lot easier to enjoy the hunt

25-06rem.model700 · #11 02-20-2013, 06:25 PM

Best thing you can have is a stubborn streak and a no quit attitude

BackPackHunter · #12 02-20-2013, 06:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 25-06rem.model700

Best thing you can have is a stubborn streak and a no quit attitude

well said....
you can have the best gear in the world
but the best thing to have is that ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Morpheus32 · #13 02-20-2013, 09:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BackPackHunter

well said....
you can have the best gear in the world
but the best thing to have is that ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

I will agree that attitude is critical but sound planning and preparations are very critical to success. You need to carefully plan what you are going to do, anticipate challenges and have adequate plans to deal with them. You should also carefully rehearse your plans to include practice walks and camps with your ruck. Tweak you equipment, elimiate duplication and seek to reduce weight. It is very difficult to be at your best if your ruck is too heavy. Sometime you can throw money at the problem to reduce weight, sometimes apply some common sense. Plan to succeed.

Tundra Monkey · #14 02-20-2013, 09:19 PM

I agree about the attitude thing. See my "patner that can almost keep up and never quits" comment

That being said....I'm sure a lot more comfortable than I was 15 yrs ago.

Way better gear and a solid 20lbs lighter. It is really an unreal difference when I think about it now.

Never done fine tuning either.......kind of addictive

thegunman · #15 02-20-2013, 09:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tundra Monkey

Never done fine tuning either.......kind of addictive

This is exactly why I want to get into sheep hunting, it for sure seems to be a stand alone avenue. I got all the stubborness a person could probably handle too. lol

Thanks for all the comments guys!!

Tundra Monkey · #16 02-20-2013, 10:04 PM

Gearing up this way works well for all types of hunts. Blows me away how much unnecessary crap other guys take with them. I show up with my backpack and have everything I need. Kinda blows some folks away actually.

fast_pass88 · #17 02-20-2013, 11:13 PM

my sheep experience amounts to only 15 days spent in the wilmore last year, but i'll offer what i can from my limited experience.
hanwags -best money spent hands down
trekking poles, my leki cam locks bent on my way out with a sheep but cabelas returned them no troubles,no reciept

my cooking system i got the idea from packhunter, or barren, or stinky coyote, cant really remember who...anyways i use the soto 1 stove which fits nicely inside the GSI halulite mug as well as a small fuel canister, all packed up inside the mug. a really compact system altho i have yet to go on a hike where the small canister is enough. i also don't cook tho, just boil water for food/tea. i used the caniser stove up to mid october in probably 0 degree temps without issue. any later in the season and i think i'd be getting a liquid gas setup

knife sharpener from wholesale, is about the size of a nail file and made out of plastic, with some grit bonded to the bottom 2" of it. basically weighs nothing

outdoor edge flip 'n saw, really compact thin saw.

considering leaving the GPS at home. basically never used it, just used my compass and a good Mytopo custom map. i'm learning its pretty hard to get turned around in the mountains...maybe if it got really socked in for several days a GPS might come in handy.

Underarmour underwear. dries very quickly, especially after seeing fresh grizzly tracks twice as long as your boots!

SPOT to keep the wife happy, but reception is not as reliable as what is claimed

SmokinJoe · #18 02-20-2013, 11:49 PM

Why hasn't anyone recommended investing in good glass? You can be as light weight as you want, but if you can't see them your not gonna shoot them.

An uncle of mine who's quite elderly used to guide sheep hunts way back in the day. Showed me a few pictures, let me tell you the equiptment used in them pics don't measure up to some of the stuff listed above.

Here's three things that are a must have

Good European glass
Good boots
And the right attitude.

BackPackHunter · #19 02-21-2013, 07:42 AM

[QUOTE=BackPackHunter;1857870]

Swarovski optics

??? not good i guess???
its the best

echo · #20 02-21-2013, 08:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 25-06rem.model700

Best thing you can have is a stubborn streak and a no quit attitude

x 2

Roughneck Country · #21 02-21-2013, 10:25 AM

Hanwag boots as listed above
Good backpack, I have tried several now and really like the KUIU packs
Treking Poles a must, dont cheap out on these or you will be sorry!
Spotting scope (Swarovski is my preference with wide angle lens)
synthetic or wool clothing, cotton gets wet and is hard to dry in the bush
smart wool socks are a new addition to me and I wouldnt leave home again without them

Patience to glass for hours on end

Good lightweight back pack tent, & good lightweight synthetic sleeping bag
Head lamp, seems like everytime a guy gets something on the mountain it is dark before you can make it back to camp

There is a lot more on my list but this is the key items for myself

thegunman · #22 02-21-2013, 12:10 PM

I just came across a mystery ranch 7500 pack, at $260 right now. From what I have read mystery ranch seems to be pretty popular, what are your thoughts?

manosteel · #23 02-21-2013, 01:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thegunman

I just came across a mystery ranch 7500 pack, at $260 right now. From what I have read mystery ranch seems to be pretty popular, what are your thoughts?

Great packs but a little on the heavy side compared to others, around 9lbs if I remember correctly.

Marko · #24 02-21-2013, 02:14 PM

Does anybody pack small tarps or coverings? I've been thinkin about packing one this year, just in case of rain/weather

Mtnbowhunter · #25 02-21-2013, 03:14 PM

jump on that MR 7500. They are a $700+ pack! If its in decent shape, you could even flip it and make a couple hundred bucks.

as far as tarps go, I usually pack a sil-nylon tarp when i am alone and hunting out of my bivy. It is nice to be able to get out of the weather at times.

bardfromedson · #26 02-21-2013, 04:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marko

Does anybody pack small tarps or coverings? I've been thinkin about packing one this year, just in case of rain/weather

Everyone recommends the siltarp 2.
Light and can be used for everything. Great way to collect rain water if you don't have a close source. It's on my to buy list.

Ryry4 · #27 02-21-2013, 04:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tundra Monkey

Some items that make my final cut:

A partner who can "almost" keep up and never quits

Oh, I'll be able to keep up.

Ryry4 · #28 02-21-2013, 04:35 PM

-Swaro glass for me. You get what you pay for in optics.
-I use a pack made by the Outdoorsmen's in Phoenix. It's the first pack that I've had that fit me good.
-Kenetrek boots.
-Leica rangefinder.
-Swandri Bush jacket, I love that thing.

These items I won't leave the house without.

BackPackHunter · #29 02-21-2013, 05:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thegunman

I just came across a mystery ranch 7500 pack, at $260 right now. From what I have read mystery ranch seems to be pretty popular, what are your thoughts?

I have a Mystery Ranch 6500 bag, it is a heavier bag (10 lb) but
It's strong; you can move the yoke to make it fit your back perfect
the nice frame works with a lot of different bags, for different trips

i would make sure its a real MR bag for that price, and that the price includes the Nice Frame too...
good deal if it real http://www.mysteryranch.com/hunting/...nice-7500-pack

bdub · #30 02-21-2013, 06:42 PM

Sea to Summit stuff sacks. Awesome stuff sacks to squish your gear down to save space as well as keep stuff dry. Really well made.