Caribou Gear Guide for DIY Alaska Hunt

Anyone who has done a backcountry hunt knows that the key difference between success and comfort in the field comes down to gear and preparation. In this caribou gear guide, I want to walk you through the essentials that helped make our Alaska DIY caribou hunt a little bit simpler.

Camping Essentials

Klymit

Insulated Static V Luxe™ Sleeping Pad - There are a few reasons I chose this sleeping pad. First, it is compact and lightweight, making it ideal to get thrown into a pack for a trek into our camping area. Second, being that I am 6 feet tall, this pad fits me well. Inflates quickly and gives you adjustability to add or release air quickly. Finally, being insulated helps keep me warmer as most of the backcountry hunts I have done are in temperatures that get close to freezing at night.

KSB 0™ Sleeping Bag – I chose this sleeping bag, despite its “heavier” weight. At nearly four pounds, this bag takes up a good amount of the limited weight we are normally allowed to bring on bush plane hunts. However, this is a tradeoff I will make every day. Having a warm and comfortable bag to crawl into at the end of longs days is not something I will compromise.  The bag hugs the body while still allowing for movement, as it is not a tight mummy configuration. The hood and ability to secure a pillow while cinching down the bag to keep the cold out makes this a very cozy place to rest your head.

Princeton Tec

Vizz 550 RGB – In the backcountry, you never know what time of day you will be out hunting. Having a durable and reliable headlamp is crucial. I chose the Vizz 550 for a few reasons. One, it is a lightweight option that is waterproof. Second, the light options you have are tremendous with this selection. It has high and low beams for white g, while also providing red, blue and the important green light for hunting. Having a tool like this was crucial in the field.

AMP RBW – This little flashlight was a lifesaver. Small enough to simply clip onto my bino harness, yet powerful enough to use to light up the tent or the exterior as we got ready or wound down each night. The oversized loop on the end made it simple to clip onto a carabiner and detach and reattach easily in the field. The adjustability of the light beam and again, waterproof, made this a perfect choice for Alaska.

Helix Li – This camp lantern was the surprise of the trip for me. Compact, rechargeable, and could light up our 8-person tent easily. This light features white or red light and with its folding legs that feature hooks, this lantern can hang virtually anywhere, and its collapsible globe design makes for easy and space-saving transport, a must-have for camp lighting. 

Hunting Gear

Savage Arms

110 Ultralite Elite in 7mm PRC – When heading into the backcountry, every ounce matters. We chose the Ultralite Elite due to it’s versatility, unmatched accuracy and low weight. Featuring a Savage designed PROOF Research carbon fiber barrel, and the MDT HNT26 folding chassis, this rifle fit perfectly on our packs for the trek each day. The Cerakote finish on the action and bolt made this ideal for the ever-changing Alaksa weather.  At around 6 pounds, the rifle was a no-brainer choice for us when weight and unmatched accuracy mattered. 

Hornady 

7mm PRC 160 gr CX™ Outfitter® - This caliber is newer to the market but has proven it will not be a flash in the pan. We chose the 160grain version of this cartridge for this hunt. Corosion resistant, waterproof cases meant we didn’t have to worry about the elements mucking up our shots when they came. The accuracy when paired with the Savage rifle and terminal results worked flawlessly in the field. Our shots ranged from 195-275 yards and each one had the same result, a quick, ethical kill.

Burris  

Veracity™ PH 3-15x44 – Everyone knows that when you are in the moment of staring through your optic at the trophy you are after, taking any doubt away is crucial. We chose the Veracity OH scope due to its simple use to dial to whatever range you are shooting at with a simple turn of the dial and the heads up display (HUD). You simply dial to the range and watch the numbers adjust in the HUD. When the moment matters, this system makes it simple.

Signature LRF 10x42 – Simplifying what you carry in the field, and more importantly, what you can lose in the field, is crucial on a hunt like this. We chose to carry this bino/rangefinder combination. Being able to sight, judge and range a target with one tool made the stalking and decision making process easy in the field. 

Signature HD Spotting Scope 20-60x85mm – From base camp, we could see three miles down the valley. Sadly for us and our legs, the caribou we were spotting were two miles down the valley. However, being able to use this spotting scope and glass from camp was a life-saver. Every morning we were able to get eyes on caribou to make sure that we were moving the right direction from camp.

Apparel and Gear

Stone Glacier

When preparing for a backcountry hunt like this, we knew that weather could be anywhere from 20 degrees to 60 degrees. We could have pure sun, snow, rain and wind, and likely all of it at some point.  I chose a selection of layering options and gear from Stone Glacier for the hunt. Here are the items that were essential during my hunt:

• Pant: De Havilland LITE Pant
• Base Vest: Cirque LITE Vest
• Jacket: Cirque LITE Jacket
• Down Jacket: Grumman LITE Down Jacket
• Base Layer: Helio Hoody
• Bino Harness and Case:  Sentinel Bino Harness
• Bino Harness Accessories: Sentinel Side Pocket

TrueTimber

In camp, being comfortable after a day in the field was critical. Making sure we had the right gear at all times was a large part of the planning of the trip. For camp essentials, we went with True Timber apparel from Cabela's. Here were my top picks:

• Jacket: SHE Outdoor Puffy Jacket for Ladies
• Pullover: SHE Outdoor Fleece Quarter-Zip Pullover for Ladies
• Rifle Case: Cabela's Ultimate Rifle or Shotgun Case

Harvest Necessities

Hogue Hunting 

Scalpel – We were going to be hunting in Zone 23, which means that we would not be boning out any caribou in the field. We would be field dressing, quartering, skinning the hide and packing out the antlers. Then before we flew out, we would need to clean the hide and remove the antlers. The right tools in the field make all the difference. 

Blade Dispenser – This new kit from Hogue was a game changer. This dispenser removed the problem of having used blades laid out in the field while we were working on our animals. They made it safer to change blades by not having to touch the replacement blades. Everything little thing matters in the field, and this added safety feature was a welcome feature in the backcountry. 

Work Sharp

Knife Sharpener – In the field, we used the Guided Field Sharpener from Work Sharp Tools. This compact and lightweight tool was crucial to keeping us moving along in the dressing and pack out process of our game. I was blessed enough to bring home a bull caribou for the freezer. I process my own meat, which means I can dull knives easily and having the perfect tool during the processing.  I’ve used the Ken Onion Edition ELITE Knife & Tool Sharpener. Easy to use, a small footprint, and speed of sharpening has helped me speed up my processing time.

When it comes to choosing the right gear for your once in a lifetime hunt, make sure you do your homework and invest in the items on this caribou gear guide that will not only make this hunt a breeze, but items that will stand the test of time for your future hunts.