OUTDOOR TIPS OF THE MONTH
Your pack should be of good quality no matter what you choose. A quality pack that comfortably carries a heavy load is worth the extra cost. (PAUL D. ATKINS)
LEADERS OF THE PACKS Editor’s note: Each issue, our Paul Atkins will offer a tip outdoorsmen and -women can use as they prepare for an Alaska adventure. This month: The best in packs and game bags. BY PAUL D. ATKINS
Y
ou’ve been hunting out of camp for a week and each day takes you a little further away. Finally, on the last day you find the monster of your dreams and make the perfect stalk. One shot from your rifle and the big boy is down. You’re excited and exchange high fives with your hunting partner, and you snap pictures of your harvest. Only then do you realize you’re 4 miles from camp and the hard work is about to begin.
In Alaska, accomplishing this step in the process is not an easy task. For most of us who pursue big game here, packs and packing are a fact of life. Whether you live in Southeast Alaska – with its rugged up- and downhill terrain – or the far north – think an endless sea of tundra – packing is not a job to be taken lightly. Alaskan hunters pretty much live and die by their pack. I’m not talking just about the physical demand of getting downed game from point A to point B, but the whole hunting process. From choosing the right pack to selecting the proper game bags, all will come into play while hunting the Last Frontier.
BEST PACKS ON THE MARKET Let’s first start with packs themselves. There are lots of packs made specifically
for packing meat, horns and capes, and they all come in a variety of sizes. Back in the old days a simple packing board was used. These were crude pieces of board strapped to your back with rope and canvas. They worked for the purpose at hand, but weren’t the most comfortable. Today’s packs have come a long way. Most high-tech packs on the market now have an internal frame system that has a loading compartment attached to the frame itself. These packs are incredible by today’s standards. They can handle large loads by slipping your bagged meat or cape inside and securing the load with tie downs. The great thing about them is they are specifically built to fit close to your body and securely above or right at the hip, giving you a comfortable feel,
aksportingjournal.com | APRIL 2022
ALASKA SPORTING JOURNAL
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