Prep For your Hunt!

Little Wood River Outfitters Information Sheet

We have compiled a list of helpful items to consider packing as you prepare for your hunting trip this year. Please do not hesitate to contact us with any questions or concerns, thank you!

Clothing: We suggest that you bring clothing that you can layer, starting with polypropylene next to the skin then layering out from there. The second layer can also be polypropylene, wool, or a cotton layer that has ventilation and zippers to open. This will allow heat to escape outer layer needs to be a water and wind-proof fabric—usually lighter is better.

Footwear: A good pair of broken-in leather boots are best. If you are coming on a rife hunt these boots should be insulated as you could experience freezing temperatures. Also, consider bringing a pair of camp shoes so you can remove your hunting boots at night in camp. Socks are one of the most important items to pack—you need to bring light, medium, and/or heavyweight socks depending on the weather and season. Wool is by far the most preferred sock of choice—please be sure to pack enough socks for each day of your trip.

Gloves: You will need some type of gloves for protection from the cold temperatures and wet weather we can experience in the fall in Idaho. Lighter gloves are perfect for early hunting seasons and heavier gloves are important for the later hunting seasons. Wind-proof and water-proof materials are important for rifle hunting.

Weapons: Whether it be a bow, crossbow, or rifle, the key is to practice and be familiar with your weapon before arriving for your hunt. If you use a bow or crossbow, there is usually a target in the main campsite for practice. If you are on a rifle hunt, we prefer to have you shoot your gun before you leave the transfer camp on horseback to ensure that your point of aim has not changed. If you are using a crossbow or bow, you generally should have about 8-10 arrows with you. If you are using a rifle, you should bring around 40 cartridges.

Backpacks: A small to medium-size backpack is preferred for our hunters. The backpack should be between 1,000 to 1,500 cubic inches. This pack is to hold water, lunch, and snacks for day tripping.

Type of gun to use for rifle hunts: Caliber: between 25-06 to 300 Winchester Mag. Bolt action rifles are the least apt to fail under extremely cold conditions and are the most accurate. A good scope (3-12 power) should work fine in most cases.
Optics: You are more than welcome to bring optics but this is not a necessity. Your guide will have optics to find/spot game.

Lights/Headlamps: A good headlamp is a necessary part of your gear as you will be spending some time in the dark. Two headlamps are nice, I prefer the Petzl brand. Please be sure to bring extra batteries for your headlamps.

Sleeping bags: If you are an archery hunter, your bag does not need to be for cold below -10 rating on the bag. If you are rifle hunting with us in October, we recommend your bag rating be -10 to -35 rating—the higher the better. The camp will have cots and pads, so extra pads are not necessary.

Weight restrictions: With all of the supplies described here, it may seem impossible to keep your duffle bag to a maximum of 50 pounds, but 50 lbs. is the maximum weight we can accommodate per hunter.