Over the years, I’ve used a lot of packs and I started out my backpack hunting with just what would be called hippie packs. just backpacks that were used for going backpacking for scenic tours and kinds of stuff. I had one of those picked one up and started elk hunting with it and did really well.

And what I figured out was I could use these straps on the outside of the pack to hold mine. So I could slide it on this side or that side, or even on the back and just wrap the straps around it because most of what you’re doing is covering ground. And when it’s getting into the game, you start to see some sign, take it off and you’re ready to go.

But a lot of guys want to have instant access. I wasn’t so much worried about that because I found that almost any full-size backpack for a backpack hunt will have some way that you can use a rifle. Sliding in, in the outside somewhere to strap it on. Some of ’em will have those external side pockets that have a tent pole slot down them.

Those work really well too.