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The Gear You Need When September Arrives

Get Outfitted with Everything You Need this September

Elk hunting is demanding, requiring a combination of stamina, strategy, and the right gear to increase your chances of success. Clothing is the foundation — layering is key to adapt to changing temperatures, with moisture-wicking base layers, insulating mid-layers, and a durable, quiet outer shell. Footwear must be sturdy, waterproof, and supportive, as hunters often traverse rocky, uneven terrain for hours.

A reliable rifle or bow, matched with appropriate optics like binoculars or a spotting scope, is essential for spotting and harvesting elk at distance. Accessories such as calls, rangefinders, GPS devices, and a quality pack help hunters stay organized and prepared in the backcountry. Safety gear, including blaze-orange clothing, first-aid kits, and emergency signaling devices, is also critical. Lastly, practical extras like hydration systems, snacks, and a lightweight seat can make long stalks or hours of waiting far more manageable. With the right combination of gear, elk hunting becomes safer, more efficient, and ultimately more rewarding.

We’ve made a list of the gear we currently carry. While length of trip, weather conditions, and weapon type may change the baseline of gear generally stays the same. If you’re looking to put together an elk hunting packing list we’ve got you covered.

Packing List Planning

When building a packing list we’ve found that we really like using LighterPack. LighterPack is an online site that allows you to add, adjust, track by weight, track by category and many other options. See our example here:

THE LIST

BACKPACK:

Multi-Day Pack

CAMP / SLEEP:

Shelter
Tent Stakes
Sleeping Bag
Ground Cloth
Sleeping Pad

CLOTHING / GEAR WORN

Pants
Shirt
Socks
Underwear
Suspenders or Belt
Hat
Watch
Boots
Pocket Knife
Chapstick
Bino Harness
Binoculars
Wind Checker

CLOTHING PACKED

Insulation Layer
Socks
Long Bottom Base Layer
Head Insulation
Gloves
Rain Jacket
Rain Pants

HUNTING SPECIFIC GEAR

Weapon
Bullets / Arrows
Game Bags
Knife Sharpener
Knife
Extra Cordage
Bugle Tube
Diaphragm(s)

BACKPACKING GEAR

Trekking Poles
Headlamp
Headlamp spare batteries
Water Treatment (w/spare batteries if required)
Organizer Bag
Toilet Paper
Tooth Brush
Tooth Paste
First Aid
Satellite Communication
Power Bank

COOK KIT

Stove
Pot
Coffee Cup
Coffee Preperation
Fuel
Spoon

WATER

Water Bottle(s)
Water Bladder
Water

FOOD

Expand this list as necessary. We like to organize by each day.

Best of the Rest

Initial Ascent IA5K ($727.95)

Weight: 6 lb

Capacity: 5200 Cubic Inches / 85 Liters

Frame Swappable: Yes

Load Shelf: Yes

What we like: Initial Ascent is certainly one of the more comfortable packs on our list. Initially developed with a focus on comfort, they really hit the mark. We really liked the relatively narrow pack because it passed through brush and between trees pretty easily. Features a roll-down top so you can remove the lid, and an expandable 500 cubic inch front pocket. The IA5K sits in that sweet spot of big enough for multi-day while maintaining a compact enough design to be carried as a day pack. Looking for a slightly smaller pack? Check out the IA3K.

What we don’t like: Initial Ascent is a relative new comer to the hunting pack scene. Because of this there isn’t a ton of historical data to determine how it holds up in the long run. The biggest disadvantage of Initial Ascent packs is how hard they are to find to try on. It’s likely you won’t even be able to try on a buddy’s because there’s just not that many out there, yet.

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Mystery Ranch Metcalf 75 ($559)

Weight: 5 lb 4 oz

Capacity: 4576 Cubic Inches / 75 Liters

Frame Swappable: Officially yes

Load Shelf: Yes

What we like: Why fix what ain’t broken? The Metcalf has been a mainstay in the hunting pack community for a long time with little changes. Mystery Ranch’s design is so good that while other companies continue to have new “generations,” the Metcalf 75 has remained largely unchanged. While the bag hasn’t really changed much, Mystery Ranch has updated their frame. They recently introduced the new ULTRA LITE MT, a lighter and dare I say “better” frame.

What we don’t like: Like the women’s version listed above, the Metcalf line (50, 75, 100) is officially capable of swapping different bag sizes onto the same frame. But as of now Mystery Ranch does not sell the bags or frame separately. They do claim this is in the works though.

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Sitka Gear Mountain Hauler 4000 ($590)

Weight: 5 lb 12 oz

Capacity: 4000 Cubic Inches / 66 Liters

Frame Swappable: No

Load Shelf: Yes

What we like: Great all-around pack. The mountain hauler sits close to the body and doesn’t shift around once fitted properly. Made out of a water resistant polyester material your gear will stay dry in all but the wettest conditions. We really liked the large front pocket for organization. The mountain hauler is pretty “simple,” but sometimes simple is good.

What we don’t like: Bag is not fully detachable from the frame meaning if you want to use just the frame to haul meat you have to keep the bag attached. The Mountain Hauler is not quite as comfortable under real heavy load as some of the higher ranked packs on our list.

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Stone Glacier Col 4800 ($699)

Weight: 4 lb 11 oz (on Xcurve Frame)

Capacity: 4800 Cubic Inches / 79 Liters

Frame Swappable: Yes

Load Shelf: Yes

What we like: Light, sleek, and durable. The Col 4800 has an internal spotting scope pocket to protect that expensive glass. With all the capability you need without all the extra “features,” the Col 4800 is a great pack for those looking to go further and pack heavier. Option to choose Xcurve or Krux frames.

What we don’t like: While the internal spotting scope sleeve does a great job of protecting your glass, it does make it a little more difficult to quickly access. The suspension system lacks a little padding when compared to some other packs like Kifaru, which can make it less comfortable when packing extra heavy. Hip belt pockets must be purchased separately.

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Stone Glacier Solo 3600 ($675)

Weight: 4 lb 5 oz (on Krux Frame)

Capacity: 3600 Cubic Inches / 70 Liters

Frame Swappable: Yes

Load Shelf: Yes

What we like: Designed specifically for being light and fast without compromising durability the Solo 3600 is yet another excellent pack by Stone Glacier. Choose the Krux frame to save a few ounces and maybe even have a better more comfortable fit. The Solo 3600 has a horseshoe zipper for easy access to the main compartment. This works well as a great day pack as well.

What we don’t like: A bit small for more than a couple of days. Dialing in the suspension system can be a little difficult, though once achieved we’ve found it very comfortable.