Jake Saenz of Atomic Athlete shares the gear he packs for a 20-day elk hunting trip in Colorado. Jake’s setup is different than most; he packs-in and establishes a backcountry basecamp for the 20-day trip, then takes shorter day hunts and overnight bivy trips away from basecamp. Jake uses the Exo Mtn Gear 5500 pack, allowing him to seamlessly transition from a large pack for multiple days to a compressed daypack for quick day trips from basecamp.
Day Pack
- Kill Kit
- Helle Jager Fixed Blade Knife
- 2x Latex Gloves
- 6x zip-ties
- Flagging Tape
- 5x Black Ovis Game Bags
- 1x Extra Game Bag
- Shop Towel
- 6×9 Tyvek Ground Sheet
- Hunting License
- Paracord
- Emergency Kit
- Petzl Bendi
- 3x AAA battery
- Spare Rangefinder Battery
- Safety Whistle
- Windproof Matches
- Duct Tape
- Sleeping Pad Repair Kit
- Emergency Blanket
- Water Kit
- 2 liters of water
- Exo Mtn Gear Slurpy Stalker
- Osprey Hydraulics 3L Bladder
- Sawyer Squeeze + Quick Connect Kit
- 2x 64 oz Dirty Bladder
- 6’’ Aluminum Arrow
- Layering Kit
- Melanzana Wind Pro Hoodie
- Kuiu Ultra Merino Neck Gaiter
- Kuiu Ultra Merino 145 Beanie
- Smartwool Fingerless Gloves
- Rain Kit
- Kuiu Yukon Guide Rain Jacket
- Osprey Pack Cover
- Everyday Kit
- Notebook + Pen
- Headlamp
- Map + Compass
- Shaker Bottle
- Book — The Two Towers
- TP
- Med Kit
- Food for Day
- Black Diamond Trekking Pole
4-Day Bivy Kit
- Exo FTE Dry Bag
- Kammok Kuhli Rain Fly + Stakes
- Kammok Mesa Mat
- Nemo Tensor pad
- Jetboil Minimo / Fuel / Spoon
- Nemo Pillow Stuff Sack
- Spare Socks
- Toothbrush / Paste
- 3x Days Food
Base Camp
- Marmot Limelight 3P
- Nemo Vector Field Pad
- Soap, Sponge, Sanitizer
- Katadyn 10L Base Camp Water Filter + Pre-Filter + 10 liter MSR Dromedary
- Bow Wax
- Posiedon Dark Energy Charging Brick with cables for Suunto, Phone, Garmin
- 5x Sea to Summit Dry bags / 5x Carabiners / 100’ 550 Cord
- 2x Trash Bags
- 3x TP + Wet Wipes + Shovel
- Leatherman Wave
- Back up Calls, Spoon, Release, Batteries
- Food for Trip (2 pounds per day)
- 2x Kuiu Attack Pants
- 2x Wool Shirts
- Mountain Hardware Puffy
- Wool Beanie
- Crocs
- 6x Pairs Wool Socks
- Kryptek Rain pants
- Long Underwear and Shirt for Sleeping
On Person
- Badlands Chest Pouch
- Reel Elk Box Call
- Rangefinder
- iPhone 8
- Pockets
- Hoochie Mama
- Wind Checker
- “Trophy Wife” External Reed Cow Call
- Spyderco Tenacious
- Matthew’s Chill Bow
- Spot Hogg Release
- 6 Arrows with Helix 150 Broadheads
- Bugling Bull “Select a Bull” Bugle
- Suunto Ambit Peak
- Kuiu Attack Pants
- Arcade Belt
- First Lite Long Sleeve Merino Shirt
- Kuiu Tiburon Boonie Hat
- Scarpa Kinesis Boots
- Darn Tough Wool Socks
- Bandana
Weights
- Day Pack + Water: 25lbs
- 4-Day Bivy: 37lbs
- Base Camp: 32lbs
- Remaining Food (16 days): 32lbs
- Total Combined Pack Weight for 20 Day Hunt: 101lbs