Jason's 2014 Gear List for DIY Backcountry Hunting

Like Steve, I'm always getting phone calls and messages asking for opinions on backpacking and hunting gear. Most of the time my recommendations for people lean towards what I use personally; which is constantly evolving. The following is my current gear list and what I'll be heading into the hills with for spring bear hunts this year. This list changes slightly as the seasons change from spring bear to summer scouting and fall hunts, but the base pack stays the same. You'll find a lot of similar items between my gear list and Steve's list. That is partially because great minds think alike but also because they are likely the best of the best when it comes to quality light weight gear. The items we differ on, are usually because of sizing differences, personal preference, or cost to upgrade. For example; my tent, the BA SL1 was the best option years ago when I started backpacking. I've considered upgrading to the Big Anges UL1 for the weight savings, but tent is only 10oz heavier and is a little longer than the UL1. So until I need to replace it I'll probably stick with the tried and true SL1. For an average 3 day hunt with mild weather (no long johns or extra layers) my base pack without water is 28lbs. This includes optics and camera gear and 3.75-4lbs of food. Here is a list of everything I have in my pack or on me personally:

Pack- Kifaru Bikini Frame with Timberline II Bag w/3 accessory pockets and grab it- 6lbs 7oz
Tent- Big Agnes SL1 with Hilleberg stakes- 2lbs 9oz
Sleeping pad- Big Agnes QcoreSL Long mummy- 17oz
Sleeping Bag- Mountain Hardware Phanton 32 degree long- 1lb 7oz
Stove- Jetboil Sol Titanium with one fuel canister- 12oz
Water Filter- Sawyer Squeeze - 3oz
Extra Bladder- Platypus- 2L extra bladder- 1oz
Bladder- Camelback 3L - 6 oz
Headlamp- Petzl TACTIKKA XP- 3.35oz
Knife- Havalon Paranta -2.7oz Or Buck Lightweight Skinner RMEF Edition
Spoon- MSR folding spoon- .35oz
First Aid Kit- Homemade (Adventure Medical Kit with half items removed) - 3.0oz
TP and Wipes- 2oz
Extras Bag (Mini-bic lighter, Coffee, Wisp toothbrushes, Medicine cabinet (Advil PM, Advil, Benedryl))- 2oz
Game bags (Mix of T.A.G. bags and Northern bags) 4oz
Thermarest Z Seat Pad- 2oz
Big Agnes Q-coreSL
Mountain Hardware Phantom 32 long