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Hunting Gear List

Gear can make or break a hunt. In the backcountry, there are some essential items every mountain traveler should carry whether on a simple day hike or a multi-day adventure. September and October are the best month of the year in Montana with the color change of leaves and cool, crisp mornings. Extra caution should be taken as we move into winter.



Weather History in September
Average high temp 70 deg
Average low temp 29 deg
Average total precipitation 1 inch
Average snow fall .5 inch

Weather History in October
Average high temp 62 deg
Average low temp 29 deg
Average total precipitation 1 inch
Average snow fall .5 inch

Sunset/Sunrise – September 15
Sunrise 7:10am
Sunset 7:42pm

 

Sunset/Sunrise – October 15
Sunrise 7:48am
Sunset 6:46pm


In our hunting area, cell service does not exist. Weather changes can be great and powerful.  Below is a good gear list for your Montana wilderness  hunt that llamas will pack into hunt camp. Each hunter is limited to 20lbs of gear llamas will carry to camp. Each hunter will always carry their own “day hunting essential gear” in a day pack. Our pack llamas will transport all other gear to camp.

Montana Llama Guides will provide tipi style tents made by Seek Outside with stoves and roll-a-cots for each two guests. In some instances, 3 people may share a sleeping tent.

Toiletries and other personal equipment
Even though we have the trusty strong llamas to carry our gear, food and beverage into the mountains, it still is important for us to be as efficient as possible. This means keeping toiletries and other personal equipment to a minimum. Please use travel size toiletries.



Day Hunting Essentials

Mother Earth can unleash her fury with inches of snow and a temperature swing of more than 40 degrees! Or it can be warm and sunny. Either way, we must all be prepared with food, water, and weather protection. Plus have all our necessities and miscellaneous gear for a day of hunting.

  • Day Pack approximately 2500 cu in/40 liters.
    A backpack that can pack meat preferred. Your day pack will carry your “day hunting essential gear”. Please note: when you have an animal down, our pack llamas may not be able to get right to kill spot. Therefore, as a team, we’ll have to pack your harvest in our packs to a rendezvous spot accessible to the llamas. Checkout the Mystery Ranch Hunting Packs or similar
  • Backpack Rain Cover.
    Fourth rule of our operation: protect the gear.
  • Headlamp.
    A must! Get one that’s waterproof, has RED led, strobe, and lock mode. Bring extra batteries. Checkout Black Diamond headlamps or similar.
  • 2-3 L water bladder with drinking hose or 2 – 1 liter water bottles.
    Its very important to stay hydrated. If you bring a bladder, bring a water bottle. Makes it easy around camp to drink.
  • Bow and quiver
  • Extra arrows. Please store in protective case to avoid breaking during transport to camp.
  • Archery release
  • Spare part box
    Broad heads, allen wrench, etc…
  • Rangefinder.
    Checkout Vortex Optics Rangefinders
  • Binoculars
    Recommend 10 x 42. Checkout Vortex Optics Binoculars or similar.
  • Elk Calls
    Mouth reeds, Hoochie mama, bugle
  • 4 Game bags
    We’ll bone out elk meat and only need lightweight bags. Game bags should have loops that can be hung from a tree. We prefer game bags from Black Thunder Gear. Please inquire before purchase.
  • 6-8mm rope with carabiner to hang meat in game bags. 3 sections of 25 feet. Needs to be hung 10 feet up and 4 feet our in tree away from grizzly bears, black bears, coyotes, and wolves.
  • Gutting/Caping knife with extra blades or sharpener
  • InReach Garmin Satellite communication device with backup battery pack. (self-guided, DIY hunts)
  • GPS unit with maps (self-guided, DIY hunts)
  • Battery bank for charging devices. We like Goal Zero.

Daily Clothing and misc

  • Hiking boots. We prefer 9 inch tall boots. They are better on the ankles in down debris and rocky terrain. Plus they help with shallow creek crossings. For October hunts, consider insullated boots .Checkout Schness Boots
  • Waterproof rain jacket. Checkout Sitka Gear, Kuiu, First Lite or similar.
  • Waterproof pants. Great to have. May not carry everyday. This item can go in camp clothing stuff sack.
  • Camo jacket with hood. Checkout Sitka Gear, Kuiu, First Lite or similar.
  • Durable camo hiking pants with pockets. Reinforced knees and seat a bonus. We like knee pads too. Checkout Sitka Gear, Kuiu, First Lite or similar.
  • Fleece or light weight vest. Checkout Sitka Gear, Kuiu, First Lite or similar.
  • Light weight wool base layer shirt and bottoms. Long and short sleeve shirts. No cotton. You’ll wear this daily. One extra in camp gear.
  • Medium weight wool base layer shirt and bottoms.
  • Quick drying socks. No cotton. We prefer Montana alpaca hiking socks or merino wool. Make sure they are the correct thickness to match your boots. Thicker socks for colder weather can cause circulation problems if there isn’t enough room in boots.
  • Belt
  • Light weight pair gloves
  • Heavy weight waterproof pair of gloves or mittens (October hunts)
  • Billed or brimmed hat
  • Warm hat similar to ski hat.
  • Bandanna. They have many uses.
  • Sunglasses
  • Sunscreen
  • Insect repellent
  • Camera or smart phone

Gear to pack on llamas for hunt camp

You’ll be given a 35 liter stuff sack for all your extra clothing and miscellaneous gear with a limit of 20 lbs per person. The 20 lb limit does not include your sleeping kit. Only extra clothing and personal items.

Sleeping Kit

Clothing

  • Wool/fleece/synthetic jacket. No cotton. This should fit under an outer shell.
  • Wool base layer shirt long and short sleeve. No cotton. This will be an extra.
  • 3-4 pairs of quick drying socks. No cotton. Don’t forget a thick comfy sock for camp. We prefer Montana alpaca hiking socks or merino wool. Make sure they are the correct thickness to match your boots. Thicker socks for colder weather can cause circulation problems if there isn’t enough room in boots.
  • Medium weight pair of gloves.
  • Ski hat, balaclava or similar
  • Light weight camp shoes. Something light weight that is good for wet muddy conditions around camp. Checkout Crocs, Muck Boots or LaCrosse.

Meds and Hygiene

  • Sunglasses/prescription glasses
  • Deodorant – unscented
  • Toothbrush
  • Toothpaste
  • Medication
  • Ointments – unscented
  • Chapstick – its dry out west.
  • Sunscreen – unscented
  • Bug Spray
  • Camp Towel and Cloth