Brady Miller's 2022 late-season mule deer gear list


Photo credit: Brady Miller

Another fall is here, and as always, that means another one of my gear lists. This article is all about my upcoming late-season backcountry-style mule deer hunts. There are just a few small tweaks here and there that I made for 2022, but nothing major has changed.

I want to start off by saying that the gear I use is just what works well for me. I will never say you "need to use the gear I use to be successful." I get a lot of comments each year about my list that people enjoy them. And my entire goal for sharing my gear lists for each hunt is to help people. I've made a lot of mistakes backpacking in the mountains early on in my life, and so I don't want people to experience those. My struggles in the past, are a way to help people going forward. And so these gear lists are a way to show what has worked for me. Because if I don't trust something, I will not use it. Yes, you don't need a super heavy weapon, you don't need a ton of weight in optics, but for me, it's just something that works well. This gear list is based around a full backpack-style hunt, so this is everything I'm carrying in my pack. And my late season, I hope to experience snow and lots of cold temperatures. Which is why there is a need for some extra gear.

If you're a visual person, you can watch my gear list video and the reasons I use each piece of gear below:

 

Why a gear list?

The reason I personally do gear lists for every hunt is simple... I want to know that I don't leave anything behind and to see if there is anything I need to add or even subtract from my gear. As most know, when I'm getting ready for a hunt, I create a personalized gear list well in advance. I why always tell people to take all their gear and place it on the floor and look through it several times to ensure you have everything and to see what you could live without. I always keep my gear lists in both a Google Sheet that I can access from my phone and I also have a custom Excel spreadsheet I built several years ago that I linked in some previous articles for people to download and work off of that I also create for every hunt.

NOTE: If you want to access my downloadable Excel file, you can jump over to the Insider only gear list article linked below:

Download his gear list file in this article


My gear list breakdown for a backpack style late season mule deer hunt

Clothes Packed In Backpack (Extra layers)

ItemModelWeight
(oz)
Rain JacketSITKA Dew Point Jacket - Pyrite - (LT)12.10
Rain PantSITKA Dew Point Pant - Pyrite - (LT)11.10
Mid LayerSITKA Heavyweight Hoody - Subalpine - (XL)15.40
Softshell JacketSITKA Ambiant Hoody - Pyrite - (XLT)13.80
Insulation TopSITKA Kelvin Lite Down Jacket - Subalpine - (XL)18.60
Insulation BottomSITKA Kelvin Lite Pant - Open Country - (L)20.30
BeanieFjallraven Byron Hat3.00
GlovesSITKA Stormfront GTX Gloves - Subalpine - XL6.50
MittensSITKA Blizzard GTX Mittens (Just The Liner) - Open Country (XL)4.20

Clothes Worn (Items I always wear each day)

ItemModelWeight
(oz)
Top (Wicking)SITKA Core Lightweight Hoody - Subalpine - (XLT)7.70
Bottoms (Outer)SITKA Timberline Pant - Lead (34T)28.10
BeltSITKA Stealth Belt2.50
GlovesSITKA Gunner WS Glove4.40
Hat (Hiking)GOHUNT Alpha3.20
UnderwearSAXX Quest Long Boxer - (M)3.10
WatchGarmin Fenix 6 Pro Solar3.00
Socks (Hiking)Darn Tough Merino Hunter Boot Full Cushion 2012 - (XL)3.10
Leg GaiterPEAX Storm Castle Gaiters - (L/XL)11.00

Footwear

ItemModelWeight
(oz)
BootsHanwag Trapper Top (12.5)88.4
InsolesSheepFeet Full-Length Custom Orthotic Insole
(Heel Stabilizer & Double Cushioning)

Backpack

ItemModelWeight
(oz)
BackpackStone Glacier Sky Guide 7900 w/ XCurve frame96.0
Pack Rain CoverStone Glacier Pack Rain Cover3.50
Pack PocketStone Glacier Accessory Pocket (R)2.10
Camera HolderCotton Carrier Strapshot3.80

Optics

ItemModelWeight
(oz)
Spotting Scope EyepieceSwarovski BTX Eyepiece49.60
Spotting Scope ObjectiveSwarovski 115 mm Objective w/cap78.20
Tripod PlateSirui TY-70A Quick Release Plate1.60
Digiscope SetupMagview B1 Binocular System--
Digiscope SetupMagview Phone Plate W/Phone Case1.50
BinocularsVortex Razor UHD 12x5036.10
HarnessMarsupial Gear Enclosed Bino Harness (L)15.10
RangefinderSig Sauer Kilo8K ABS W/Lanyard8.50
Rangefinder Battery
(Extra)
Energizer Lithium CR2--
Rangefinder CaseMarsupial Gear Rangefinder Pouch (S)2.50
Bino AdapterAziak Equipment Bino Clamp0.387
TripodSirui ST-124 Carbon Fiber Tripod37.00
Pan HeadSirui VA-5 Ultra-Compact Fluid Head (Stock Handle Removed)17.75
Pan Head HandleAziak Equipment Carbon Fiber Handle0.562
Digiscope SetupiPhone 12 Pro Max8.30

Sleep System

ItemModelWeight
(oz)
ShelterSeek Outside Cimarron Dyneema Shelter24.90
Shelter PoleSeek Outside Lil Bugout Carbon Fiber Center Pole8.10
Guyline CordageZpacks 2.0mm Z-Line Cord--
Guyline AccessoriesZpacks Micro Linelocs--
Shelter Compression SackSea To Summit Ultra-Sil Compression Sack (XXS)1.30
Shelter PoleSeek Outside Cimarron Carbon Fiber Center Pole10.30
StoveSeek Outside U-Turn Medium Titanium Stove17.60
Stove PipeSeek Outside 7.5' Stove Pipe16.40
Shelter StakesHyperlite Mountain Gear Ultralight Stakes (13 W/ Bag)6.20
Ground SheetTyvek Sheet5.10
Sleeping BagStone Glacier Chilkoot 15 Degree Sleeping Bag34.70
Compression SackSea To Summit Ultra-Sil Compression Sack - Size: S2.20
Sleeping PadTherm-A-Rest NeoAir UberLite - Regular11.40

Gear

ItemModelWeight
(oz)
TarpSeek Outside DST - Dyneema11.50
Tarp Guyline CordageZpacks 1.3mm Z-Line Cord--
Trekking PolesPEAX Sissy Stix Backcountry Elite16.05
Glassing PadStHealthy Hunter Glassing Pad (Gray)6.80
Wind Check (Rifle)Kestrel 5700 Elite Meter With Applied Ballistics LiNK6.00
Ear ProtectionOrange Wrap Around Head Ear Protection0.60
Ammo HolderGOHUNT Ammo Wallet1.94
Wind CheckSmoke In A Bottle0.70
Solar PanelAnker 21W 2-Port Foldable Solar Panel16.90
Battery PackGOHUNT Dark Energy Poseidon (Old Version)8.87
SawSilky Saw F1805.60
Food Hanging BagOutdoor Research Dry Sack (15L)2.00
Food HangingZ Packs Z Line Slick Cord W/Carabiener2.00
Wolf CallPrimos Randy Anderson Lil Dog1.144

Optics Accessories Bag

ItemModelWeight
(oz)
Gear BagStone Glacier Swing Out Pocket1.00
Dust BlowerOptics Dust Blower1.60
Lens WipesZeiss Lens Wipes x 40.32
Lens PenVortex Optics Lens Cleaning Pen0.554
Charge CordiPhone Charge Cord0.65
Charge CordMicro USB Cord For Headlamp & Sat Messenger0.20

Kill Kit

ItemModelWeight
(oz)
Gear BagStone Glacier Camp Pocket1.80
KnifeGoat Knives Ibex Mini1.01
Replaceable Blades60A Replaceable Blades x 50.50
KnifeGoat Knives Nitro TUR2.80
Hunting LicenseAll Required Licenses0.28
LighterLarge Bic Lighter W/Lukotape0.70
LighterSmall Bic Lighter (Backup)0.40
TapeSmall Roll Of Electrical Tape0.80
PillsSalt Pills, Advil1.50
Game BagsARGALI High Country Pack Ultralight Game Bag Set (5 Bags)9.50

Safety Gear

ItemModelWeight
(oz)
Satellite MessengerGarmin inReach Mini W/Carabiner3.90
HeadlampPEAX Backcountry Duo Headlamp4.20
Headlamp (Spare)Petzl Reactik+3.97
Tooth Brush & PasteZ Packs Ultralight Travel Tooth Brush & Paste0.70
First AidAssorted First Aid Kit in aLOKSAK bag1.40
Fire StarterPyro Putty Winter Blend2.563
Fire Starter (Spare)Esbit 1300-Degree Smokeless Solid 14g Fuel Tablets--
Toilet PaperToilet Paper in ZipLoc Bag0.99

Weapon

ItemModelWeight
(oz)
RifleBrowning X-Bolt Long Range 300 RUM W/McMillan A3-5 ADJ Stock229.20
Muzzle BrakeSnowy Mountain Rifles 30 Cal Snowflake Self Timing Titanium 3 Port Brake (5/8-24)
RiflescopeVortex Razor HD Gen II 4.5-27 FFP
Riflescope RingsVortex Precision Matched Rings 34mm (Low: 0.92")
Picatinny RailTalley 20 MOA Picatinny Rail For Browning X-Bolt
Scope LevelFlatline Ops Patriot Plus Level (34mm)
Two round holderShort Action Precision Two-Round Ammo Holder
BipodMDT Ckye-Pod Gen2 Single Pull Standard
Bipod RailUnknown Munitions The Hunters Rail - Short
AmmoPersonal Handloads = Barnes 208 LRX BT Bullet, ADG Brass,
Federal Match 215 Primers, H1000 powder = 10 rounds
--
Rear SupportRugged Ridge Outdoor Gear Rear Support System4.37
Rifle CoverGOHUNT Gunslicker Rifle Protective Cover4.83

Cook Kit

ItemModelWeight
(oz)
StoveJetboil Stash Stove System6.60
FuelJetboil Jetpower 100g Fuel Canister7.00
SporkSea to Summit Alpha Light Long Spork0.30

Water

ItemModelWeight
(oz)
WaterPlatypus Big Zip EVO 3L Hydration Bladder
(filled with 2 liters of water)
78.00
Water BottleGOHUNT Nalgene (Empty)6.20
Water PurificationPlatypus Quickdraw 1L Water Filter4.20
Water PurificationSteripen Ultralight UV Water Purifier2.52
Water ContainerMSR DromLite 6L4.80
 

A few notable items that have always been in my gear list have been removed for this year. I decided to leave my Aquamira water purification drops at home, and I elected not to take a pillow this year. The pillow... it just seems to never stay put in my sleeping back since I'm already at the max height of the bag. So the pillow usually ends up not under my head at night, and thus, it is a wasted item.


In conclusion

As always, I'm an open book. If anyone has any questions about the gear I'm using on my upcoming late-season mule deer hunts, I'd be more than willing to dive in and explain a few things. If you have an upcoming mule deer hunt planned or are looking at one down the road in the future, have fun and enjoy the time on the mountain.

See all your gear options in the Gear Shop here

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