Hunting in the Rocky Mountains is the best thing ever. If you ever wanted to feel what wilderness feels like, go on an elk hunt. Idaho provides fantastic public land opportunities and great population numbers for an elk hunt.
If it’s your first time, or you just want to see another perspective, here is my list of items I take with me on a solo elk hunt. I will give you the list and then a more detailed explanation below.
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Idaho Elk Hunting Pack List
In Your Pack
- A Good Pack
- Game Bags
- Bone Saw
- 2 Knives
- 550 Chord
- First Aid Kit
- 2 Lighters
- Ground Mat
- Food
- Light Propane Stove
- Water
- Water Pump
- Plastic Spork
- Orange Marking Tape
- Extra pair of socks
- Head Lamp
On Your Body
- Water Proof Pants
- Water Proof Boots
- Wool Socks
- Long Johns
- Tight Fitting Under Shirt
- Longsleeve Shirt or Pullover
- Water Resistant Coat
- Hat
- Gloves
- Belt
In Your Truck
- Cooler
- Ice
- Water
- Sports Drink
- Change of Clothes
- Tire Chains (Snow)
- Printed map and intended area of hunting in the glove box
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Let’s Look At The Details
On your person
Before I get started, I want to say that these are items outside of your two most important tools for hunting elk which are your firearm and optics of choice.
There are different situations and seasons that will affect the packing list based on what type of terrain or weather I anticipate. But to be honest, whether I am in the desert mountains in southern Idaho or the white-capped mountains in the middle of the state, I want to be prepared for ever-changing weather conditions.
I also want to be able to process the downed animal as soon as possible. So let’s dig into what I will bring.
Bring a good pack. Your hunting pack should serve two purposes. You want to be able to carry gear with you in compartments, and also be able to strap quarters to it. There are multiple options out there, but you can take a look at this ALPS OutdoorZ Commander + Pack Bag to get an idea.
Something like this will allow you to pack items for your day in the field and also be able to detach the main compartment from the pack frame and allow you to load a quarter of an elk to it when you get one down.
If you don’t want to go with a combination pack like the one mentioned above, you can always cheaply create one. Go to an army surplus store or look on Facebook marketplace or Craigslist for anyone selling an old backpacking pack. It will get dirty and bloody, but just make it your dedicated hunting pack.
Game Bags: I would say five bags should cover you. You will want a game bag to put the main four quarters in and one bag to put miscellaneous meat into such as the ribcage meat, neck, and organs. You can always bring more based on your specific style of butchering elk.
Bone Saw: A handy bone saw is a must when dealing with a downed animal. I would suggest a lightweight bone saw such as the Cabela’s T-Handle Saw or the Gerber Vital Pack Saw.
What I like about these saws is the ability to have a handle grip on your saw rather than a saw that folds out straight. When you start cutting the elk open your hands will start getting wet, and you don’t want your hands to slip when trying to cut through bone.
2 Knives: I say bring two knives. Ensure they are well-sharpened before heading out. When butchering an animal as big as an elk, you may end up dulling a blade and will want to have the extra knife around. Also, you’ll have one in case your hunting partner forgot theirs.
There is no right and no wrong when it comes to knives for field dressing. Whatever cuts will get the job done. That being said I tend to prefer a knife similar to this Cold Steel Ultimate Hunter.
What I like about the knife is the large handle and short blade. This allows you to have maximum directional control over the blade. The blade is only 3.5 inches long which is perfect. This means it is long enough to get through the hide and not long enough to make a mistake and puncture an organ.
550 Chord: 550 chord or twine is handy in the butchering process. Especially if you are alone, you can get get the animal to stay spread open and on its back by tying off the legs to nearby trees.
The chord is also handy if you need to hang some quarters and come back for them. Additionally, the chord is there to help you fasten meat to the pack if needed.
First Aid Kit: The first aid kit goes hand in hand with field dressing. Although I hope you take your time and use extreme care when cutting up your elk, you may end up getting a cut on your hand.
A basic lightweight first aid kit seems always to be needed on many hunts.
2 lighters: You’ll always want to have a means of making fire when you leave your vehicle. If you get an animal at sundown and have to stay the night, you will want to make a good fire. And of course, having a contingency in case one lighter doesn’t work is always good as well.
Ground Mat: Attach a ground pad/mat to your pack when you head out. You can use it for sitting on when glassing or if you need to stay the night, it will be your only friend out there.
Food: You will be burning a lot of calories in elk country. So pack enough food to keep you fueled up. There are different approaches to this. I have always packed cold, ready-to-eat food such as cliff bars and trail mix. But the more I watch what other hunters doing now, with freeze-dried food, I think I will start packing a portable stove with me.
There are some great options for “real” food now. Some backpacking food makers such as Mountain House would be a good option. To heat the water to be added to the meals, use your backpacking stove.
Propane: You’ll need the propane canisters for the specific type of stove you bring, but keep weight in mind.
Water/Water Pump: Water is a heavy but necessary factor. That is why I recommend taking one good-sized Nalgene bottle and water pump. With this system, you will always have water on hand.
When you drink all your Nalgene bottle, then you can go to a nearby creek and filter some water from your water pump.
If you are not near a water source, you can always melt snow by firing up your portable stove and putting snow into a lightweight pot. Additionally, if needed, you could start a fire and melt the snow in the pot that way. I recommend always planning a route ahead of time to know how to find water in the country you are elk hunting in.
Plastic Spork: For eating your meals of course.
Orange Marking Tape: The orange marking tape is handy when trying to find your way back to any quarter of meat you had to leave behind.
Extra pair of socks: I always recommend an extra pair of wool socks.
Backpacking Straps: I would find some lightweight straps with a cinching system to secure any elk quarters to the frame of your pack.
Head Lamp: These things are so handy, and they are a must. You need to be able to move and see in the pre-dawn and dusk hours. This is the best hands-free option. I would also carry an extra set of batteries.
Clothes
Water-Proof pants: At a minimum, I would try and find water-resistant pants. First Lite makes top-notch hunting pants as does KUIU. If you don’t have the budget for either of those brands, there are some other good choices at stores like Sportsman’s Warehouse and Cabelas or Bass Pro.
Water-Proof Boots: Again I would recommend water-proof or water-resistant boots for your feet. Being cold is one thing. Being wet is one thing. But being cold and wet is miserable and can actually be dangerous in the woods.
For top-notch boots, you can look at brands like Crispi and Kenetrek. Going to your local sports store such as Cabelas is a great option so you can feel the boots and try them and see what you like as well.
Wool Socks: Wool is the only way to go. It cushions your feet, and it is also the best insulation material for socks. I carry an extra pair to change out whenever I need to. Also when you get back to the truck, another pair is there to change into for the ride home. Happy feet = a happy elk hunter.
Long Johns: I only wear them in the late season or when colder weather is predicted. The main reason for this is that I know that while it may be cold when I step out of the truck in the morning, once I start hiking, I will start sweating. So keep this in mind.
Under Shirt: Another way to say this is “base layer”. I am referring to the first piece of clothing you will be putting on for your layering system to keep you warm on your elk hunt. Then build your layers on top of that.
Long-Sleeve Shirt: For your next layer, I would wear a long sleeve shirt or a pullover of some sort. This is to keep the heat in under your coat.
Waterproof Coat: I would make sure the final layer for your upper body is a soft, waterproof coat. It should be soft to muffle the sound when you are walking through pine trees and brush.
Hat/Gloves/Belt: For your hat, it depends on the weather. A good baseball-style hat will do just fine in many circumstances to keep the sun off your face and also to keep ticks off your head. For colder weather, I would carry a beanie type of hat.
For your gloves, I would keep with the waterproof theme I have been laying down. You will appreciate it when it is cold and miserable out in the woods.
Truck/Camp Site
Cooler: You will want a cooler or multiple coolers depending on your situation. Keep water, sports drinks, and edible meats for eating in here along with ice.
You might think the cooler is for meat, but almost always, in the Idaho wilderness, you will be able to find a cool place to hang your meat and keep it cool enough. When you are ready for transport, throw the quarters in the back of your truck and make a B-line to your nearest butcher.
Change Of Clothes: It’s not essential, but after sweating all day, it sure is nice to get into comfortable dry clothes for the drive home or back to camp.
Tire Chains: Depending on the time of year, you will want to invest in some tire chains. Over-night snow can get you into a hairy situation where your vehicle will get stuck. Chains can really give you an edge.
Printed Map: A good practice would be to print out a map with likely areas of hunting, circled in your glove box or face down on the dash. You never know when you will be the one to get hurt or lost in the woods. The map is for rescuers to find, and locate you as soon as possible.
Final Thoughts
Your gear list is going to change for you as you go out more and experience more situations. I recommend if possible that you go with someone who is a seasoned elk hunter.
If you don’t know anyone, then you can look at guiding options. Check out this article for more on that topic.
If you are a novice hunter, and want to go solo on your first hunt, another great resource is calling the Idaho Fish and Game and talking with a biologist. They can point you in the right direction to find some animals, and also give you great advice.
I’m excited for you as you get ready for your Idaho elk hunt. This list will also help many other elk hunters throughout the western United States. Go get em!
If you enjoyed this article, here are some more helpful articles from Pinetrees And Solitude.
- What You Need For An Idaho Mule Deer Hunt
- Catch Mule Deer While They Are Active
- Hunting Elk In Timber: Tactics To Even The Odds
(This article was originally published on Pintreesandsolitude.com. If it is now published on any other site, it was done without permission from the copyright owner.)