NOTICE: Certain links on this post may earn a commission for Western Hunter Magazine from Amazon or our other affiliate partners when you make a purchase. Thank you for your support.
Gear List: Arizona Kaibab Mule Deer Hunt
My dad drew an early rifle mule deer tag for Arizona’s famed Kaibab Plateau. With a wall-hanger muley being one of the only animals that’s really eluded him over the years, I made sure to take the time off work to get out with him and help put one in the dirt. Not only that, but it will be really nice to spend time with him in one of his favorite places to take his rifle for a walk.
I don’t have a tag myself–I will solely be there for support and to document the experience. With that being the case, and the Kaibab being higher and colder than where I usually hunt, my gear list is looking a bit different. I thought I would share said list with you all.
The Gear:
- Pack - Exo Mountain Gear K4 5000
I have been running this pack all season this year, and so far, I have zero complaints. This thing has more than enough space for my style of hunting and has all the right pockets and zippers in all the right places. Getting it dialed for specific hunts is a breeze. It carries weight incredibly well and makes 35+ pounds feel like nothing.
Glassing Setup:
- Outdoorsmans Gen 2 Carbon Innegra Tall with Short Telescoping Centerpost and Fluid Head
This is our most versatile setup. I can stand, sit flat, or sit on a rock or stool with this tall tripod/short centerpost combo. The lightweight-edness of the carbon variation helps since I am opting for extended height. I decided to go with the Fluid Head for this hunt because I am hoping to get some awesome digiscoping footage of big ol’ muley bucks, and I want the ability to handle a full-size spotter plus my mirrorless camera. - Swarovski NL Pure 10x52
I am going with the NL 10x52s because I won’t be needing more than 10 power up on the ‘Bab. This isn’t "big eyes" country. Further, since I will be hunting mostly in old burns with patches of dark timber, I wanted that extra light transmission that the 52mm objectives provide. - Swarovski ATX/85 Spotting Scope
This might be overkill; in fact, it’s definitely overkill, but I want to get some solid footage on this hunt. I considered bringing my 150-600mm “stalker” camera lens, but I’d still want to have my spotter. The ATX/85 gives me the best of both worlds. I can mount my camera to it to get some extended shots, and it still does its job as the top-est-of-the-line spotting scope. - Leica Rangemaster 2800.com
Now, this ranger is discontinued, but it’s still one of the most capable handhelds out there. The laser is fast and accurate, the ballistic solutions work great, and the glass is fantastic. I should have no problem calling yardages for Pops with it.
Clothes/Layering System - Expected Temps: H:50° / L:20°
Baselayers:
- First Lite Yuma Hoody
I’ve written extensively about this baselayer–I love it. This should be perfect as a next-to-skin layer for me with these temps. It's lightweight and breathable, but not too light. - First Light Kiln Long Johns - Merino
These are the best long john bottoms I’ve worn, period. They keep me warm and don’t stretch too much, they wick moisture, and they keep the smell down.
Midlayer:
- Sitka Ambient 75
Since I was warm last year in the Ambient 100, I figured I would pick this little guy up. Given my experience with it so far this year (cold-ish mornings on my early archery tag), I imagine it will work perfectly, and I should be able to regulate my body temperature while hiking.
Outerlayers:
- First Lite Uncompahgre Puffy Jacket
I'm definitely going to need a puffy for this hunt. This thing has kept me warm in single-digit temps, so it’s a perfect punctuation mark for any cold-weather kit. - First Lite Corrugate Foundry Pant
These are, by far, my favorite hunting pants. They are perfect for late-season hunts and will keep me plenty warm when paired with my Kiln long johns. They have a reinforced seat and knees, so I don’t need to worry about getting cold when seated or about them getting torn up. Plus, they have very long hip vents so I can dump heat if we start moving and my body temperature starts to climb.
Socks/Gloves/Beanie:
- Darn Tough Vermont
- First Lite Tag Cuff Merino Beanie
- First Lite Shale Touch Hybrid Glove
- First Lite Aerowool Touch Liner Glove
Boots:
- Kenetrek Mountain Extreme Uninsulated
These boots have carried me through all my hunts over the last five years, in all types of weather and terrain.
Camera Gear:
- Sony A7R IV
I love this camera. It boasts a full-frame, 61-megapixel sensor, so I get all the detail that I want and more. It’s perfectly suited for stills, as well as video, and I plan to utilize both modes of capture for this hunt. - Zeiss Batis Lenses
I am a little pretentious when it comes to my camera gear. I like fixed-focal-length lenses over a variable zoom lens. I just haven’t found a variable zoom lens that meets my quality standards. Plus, fixed or prime lenses are typically fast and boast wider apertures. I’m a sucker for shallow depth of field and a soft, fuzzy background. I will be taking a 40mm lens for a more natural field of view, and an 85mm lens for portraiture and to pull my subject from the background a bit more. - Sony Tough SD Cards
Can’t break 'em. - Neewer NP-FZ100 Lithium Batteries
I absolutely love these batteries because they are rechargeable with a USB-C cord, and I don’t have to be tied to my Sony charger. I can recharge these things with a block, in the truck, or on that standard charger. It’s super helpful.
Kill Kit:
- Havalon Piranta
I’ve had this Havalon for 10 years now. It’s cut up more than a few animals, and I really don’t like to use much else for this type of work. I love the Piranta because the handle is large, I can get a full grip on it, and I don't feel like it’s going to slip or get lost when I put it down. - 550 Cord
- Latex/Nitrile Gloves
I like to have the heavy-duty gloves in my kit simply for grip. - Allen Backcountry Bruiser Game Bags
Don’t sleep on these things. You can occasionally find them on sale on Amazon. I would keep them in your cart or save for later, as they are one of the best bang-for-your-buck pieces of gear you can buy.
Hydration & Supplements
- Wilderness Athlete Hydrate and Recover
I never go outside without it. Lately, I’ve been stuck on Sweet Salted Lime, Blue Raspberry, and Prickly Pear Orange. - Wilderness Athlete Rescue Hydration
This isn’t just for when I’m in a bad way (although I have it strategically placed in my pack for those situations). I start every day with a serving of Rescue and Hydrate. This combo adds electrolytes, sugar, aminos, and sodium. It jump-starts my hydration and puts me ahead of the curve. Since I’ve started this little routine, I have not cramped up, and I’ve been able to go farther and push harder. - Wilderness Athlete Unplug and Midnight Build
I love this combo when I am hunting. I push myself throughout the day, and having the extra recovery boost that each of these supplements provides allows me to sleep well and recover fast so I can get back after it the next day. - Wilderness Athlete Edge
Have you ever been reading, and when you get to the bottom of the page, you realize you didn’t retain anything that you read? You were reading, but your mind was off in the clouds or thinking about work or anything else besides the words you were reading. That happens to me when I glass sometimes. I’ll scan my field of view and not remember anything that I looked at. That simply does not happen when I take Edge. I stay focused, my mind wanders less, and it keeps me in the glass longer. - Misc Essentials
The logistics are dialed, the gear list is made, all that’s left is to load the truck and hit the road. As much as I want to see him drop a gnarly old buck, I’m looking forward to simply spending time with Pops up there on the Kaibab. Having capable and reliable gear just means fewer distractions and allows me to focus more on the hunt. That’s what this list is really about: eliminating the guesswork so I can really enjoy that quality time with Dad.
