Outfitted Hunter's Checklist

Embarking on an outfitted hunt can be the adventure of a lifetime. For guides and outfitters, the most common questions from clients revolve around what to bring on the hunt.

In my experience, hunters’ packs are always heaviest on the first day of the hunt. Bright-eyed, bushy-tailed, hunters overload their day packs on that first morning with all kinds of things they don’t need. By the second day, the pack is a little lighter. And after that, it has been reduced to only what’s absolutely necessary.

When hunting in rough country, wearing a heavy pack throughout the day will wear a hunter down quickly. Being thoughtful and careful about what you pack is important.

It’s important to note that required items will vary from place to place. But in most guided situations, the guide will carry all the necessary game bags and field dressing equipment. In many fully guided situations, there’s no need for hunters to duplicate these things and carry the extra weight. Other items like water filtration and food may also be handled by the guide. Be sure to ask what’s necessary to bring and what isn’t. Most importantly, listen to your guide. If he recommends not bringing it, then don’t!

Of course a specific packing list will vary by location, time of year and species. But to get started, here’s a quick checklist that will cover the gamut of many western, outfitted hunts. Use it as a starting point, and build your own checklist from there.