longcruise
70 Cal.
So, you're only 71?@tenngun you're younger than I thought you were. I'm 6 years older than you so I guess that makes me the really old one...
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Backpacking with longer rifles
- Thread starter Nuthatch
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I recall the line in Grumpy old men where Meredith, in his nineties says ‘boy you wake up one morning and realize your not in your seventies anymoreSo, you're only 71?
That would probably end my movie career…..
The pocket that holds the buttstock or cam if you're carrying a compound bow is adjustable in height over several inches. Will the barrel of a longrifle stick up above your head - yes. IMHO, that drawback is far more manageable than having it strapped to the back of my pack for a couple of different reasons. First and foremost, the Kifaru system allows gun or bow to be readily accessible - like "right now" accessible. #2, since the barrel is in front of you, you can either maneuver it around obstacles or take it out and do what you have to do, then put it back in and keep rolling. The point is obstacles can be seen before you get tangled up. I dont know about you, but those are ALWAYS noisy for me. #3, the gun rides beside you at an angle so walking/hiking isn't adversely affected. Strapping to the back of the pack results in the barrel being above your head and the buttstock below your rear end at the same time. Some of that could be solved by strapping it to the side of the pack. However, the barrel is hard to see and control at best. Plus, you have to take your pack off in order to get the gun into action. When I hunt coyotes, I have my rifle in the gunbearer with the height adjusted so that the scope is under my arm. I strap my shotgun to the side of my pack. With this setup, my rifle is ready quickly and I'm not worried about using my shotgun until I stop and setup to call which means my pack is off. I attached a picture of my bow in the gunbearer to give you an idea...
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Enjoy the hike, let us know how that packing your long rifle thing works out. Been there, done that, sure wish I still could but I'm now a "stump sitter", makes napping a bit easier.
Ha! Yea, I don’t mind putting in crazy miles sometimes. But tree stands kinda freak me out. I’m afraid I’ll fall out whenever I doze off for a few min — which is at least a few times every day.
That’s an interesting system. Will have to see if I can create something like that for my pack.
A deer tick bite if carrying Lyme can take a person out of the hiking game.
Let me know if you'd like more pictures. I can PM them to if you'd like. Or, you can study the Kifaru website. Good luck!
smoothshooter
50 Cal.
True, but the odds are pretty small.
Some good tick spray properly applied should work pretty well.
I struggle with arthritis and the meds impact my immune system. Haven't had any real problems with this aspect of the disease though. I have very little reaction to insect bites/ stings. I do make the exception for ticks. We can get a lot of them in the summer here. I use tick spry liberally on my clothes/shoes/legs.
Don
Don
stephenprops1
45 Cal.
In removing a tick, you need to be careful. Just grabbing it and pulling it off is not as easy as you imply. If the tick's head is buried in your skin the head might be left behind. In that case it can cause an infection. I had this happen years ago. My wife was an RN at the time. She used a scalpel to scrape away the infected area. I still have a small scar from that experience.
I carry it in my hand. My rifle has a 42 inch long barrel, and like some others here, I carry it in my hand.
However, my smoothbore fowler, also with a 42 inch barrel, has a sling and I sometimes carry it slung over my shoulder.
I used to go just like that, but now that I am old and not so steady on my feet, I use a staff. My staff is simply a sapling that I cut to a 5 foot length. It works great as a 3rd leg for me.
Rifle in one hand, or fowler slung over my shoulder, backpack, and staff in my other hand and I can still hike for miles.
I have been known to get down on my hands and knees to crawl through some nearly impenetrable laurel thickets. I just have to be careful and go slow with my long barreled firearms.
However, my smoothbore fowler, also with a 42 inch barrel, has a sling and I sometimes carry it slung over my shoulder.
I used to go just like that, but now that I am old and not so steady on my feet, I use a staff. My staff is simply a sapling that I cut to a 5 foot length. It works great as a 3rd leg for me.
Rifle in one hand, or fowler slung over my shoulder, backpack, and staff in my other hand and I can still hike for miles.
I have been known to get down on my hands and knees to crawl through some nearly impenetrable laurel thickets. I just have to be careful and go slow with my long barreled firearms.
Snake Pleskin
54 Cal.
I fell asleep one time when hunting with my brother and a few friends. Boy, did they give me a hard time!! LOL
Actually pretty good odds here, so many people in this area have come down with Lyme. Old growth forests cut off and replaced with brush and quick growing trees. Earlier posts were talking about sleeping on the ground in a pile of leaves 18th century style. Like sleeping in a nest of ticks. Permethrin soaked ground cloths may help or spraying your blankets with permethrin or DEET but still.
Snake Pleskin
54 Cal.
Yes, there is nothing funny about Ticks! Lyme disease can totally screw up your system. It is no laughing matter.
Snake Pleskin
54 Cal.
I use Permethin around my boots, ankles, pants etc. Anything is better than nothing.
One of my favorite movies is Paint Your Wagon. Lee Marvin offers up a prayer for Brother at the beginning of the movie. And list all the maladies a fellow could die of in the west, that Brother didn’t have to suffer
I like my historic fun, but will take pains not to die historically
I like my historic fun, but will take pains not to die historically
smoothshooter
50 Cal.
I should say I quit camping in hot weather years ago. Partly because of the ticks ( most mosquitos ) in some places, but mainly because I hate being hot.
Walking, sitting, and trying to sleep with sweat running down my face and other parts is misery, and not my idea of fun.
TDM
Cannon
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tenngun, you put me to shame. I only have to walk about 300 yards to my first cozy box stand and rarely do it!
