We know how this starts: you’re gearing up for a hunt and trying to cram a small mountain of “must-have” equipment into a pack that was never designed to carry your entire garage. Then reality hits—your back and knees are the ones paying for every extra “just in case” item.

Do yourself a favor: pack smart, pack light, and bring what you’ll actually use.

Below is our recommended accessories list for your “actually needed” pile to make packing decisions simple.

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Accessories  (The “Actually Needed” Pile)

Hunting Knife

Unless you request otherwise, your guide will have the right tools to cape, quarter, and bag your animal. That said, a knife is a wilderness essential, and we recommend carrying one every day.
What we use: Havalon and Outdoor Edge for cape work. Any quality pocketknife is fine for general use.

Headlamp

Arguably the most important item in your pack. The last thing you want is a perfect shot followed by a long recovery and a quartering job by moonlight.
Brands we trust: Black Diamond, Fenix, Petzl.

Extra Batteries

Headlamps only work as long as the batteries do. Bring spares—especially if the pack-out runs longer than planned.

Glassing pad

Lightweight, compact, and one of those items you’ll wonder how you ever hunted without. It adds comfort, insulation, and a waterproof barrier for long sits on wet ground.
Brands we use: Therm-a-Rest, Exped.

Trekking poles

Your knees will thank you—especially in steep country and on heavy pack-outs. When choosing poles, we recommend the “lighter is better” approach.
Brands we use: Leki, REI, Black Diamond.

Sidearm or bear spray

We want you to feel comfortable in the field. We’re fine with either option as personal protection.

• If you’re bringing a pistol, we recommend .44 Mag or 10mm.

• If you want bear spray but you’re flying in, we can stop locally to pick some up.

Water bottle (Nalgene recommended)

Loose plastic bottles in a pack can be noisy, and hydration bladders can freeze (and sometimes burst) during colder rifle-season conditions. A Nalgene is tough, quiet, and dependable.
We’ll have bottled water at the lodge, but please bring your own refillable bottle for the field.

Orange vest (rifle hunts)

Any blaze orange hunting vest works. We list it on our gear list simply to make it easy to grab ahead of time.

Binoculars

We recommend 10x42 binoculars as the best all-around option for our terrain.
Solid go-to: 10x42 Vortex Optics—lightweight and built to take a beating.

Bino Harness

In steep country, a bino harness isn’t optional—it keeps your optics secure, accessible, and off your neck. Many setups also work well for carrying bear spray or a sidearm.
Brands we recommend: Alaska Guide Creations, Sitka, Stone Glacier, FHF