Brady Miller's 2022 spring black bear hunting gear list


Photo credit: Brady Miller

I recently returned from my 2022 spring bear hunt and thought it would be a great time to drop this gear article out there. What I take on my spring hunts, mirrors very closely to what I use in the fall on my mule deer hunts. There are just a few small tweaks here and there, but overall a spring bear hunt is a great way to test new gear or try some different foods.

My 2022 spring black bear.

What's truly great about bear hunting, is that you can use whatever gear you have available. 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.

If you're a visual person, we actually released my spring bear gear list video back on April 26. You can watch that video below.


There is a few differences between that gear list video I recorded back in April and what I took on the hunt. Since I was hunting with some friends (Ryan Lampers, Brian Call and Pedro Ampuero) we split up some of our gear to make things eaiser on all of us. I didn't end up taking my shelter, but I'm leaving it in the gear list for a reference if you wanted to prepare for a solo spring hunt.

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 add or even subtract from my gear. When I'm getting ready for a hunt, I create a gear list well in advance. I why always tell people to take all their gear and place it on the floor and run 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.


My gear list breakdown for a backpack style spring bear hunt

Clothes Packed In Backpack (Extra layers)

ItemModelWeight
(oz)
Rain JacketSitka Dewpoint Jacket - Pyrite - (LT)12.10
Rain PantSitka Dewpoint Pant - Pyrite - (LT)11.10
Mid LayerSitka Heavyweight Hoody - Subalpine - (XL)15.40
Softshell JacketSitka Jetstream Jacket - Subalpine - (XLT)27.00
Insulation TopSitka Kelvin Lite Down Jacket Subalpine - (XL)18.60
Insulation BottomSitka Kelvin Lite Down 3/4 Pant Subalpine - (L)13.60
BeanieFjallraven Byron Hat3.00
GlovesSitka Stormfront GTX Gloves - Subalpine - XL6.60

Clothes Worn (Items I always wear each day)

ItemModelWeight
(oz)
Top (Wicking)Sitka Core Lightweight Hoody - Subalpine - (XLT)7.70
Bottoms (Outer)Sitka Mountain Pant - Subalpine - (34T)24.30
BeltSitka Stealth Belt2.50
GlovesSitka Gunner WS Glove4.40
Hat (Hiking)GOHUNT Alpha3.20
UnderwearSitka Core Silk Boxer - (L)2.80
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 Alverstone II GTX - Size: 12.564.0
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
Weapon HolderStone Glacier Quick Release Sling1.40
Camera HolderCotton Carrier Strapshot3.80

Optics

ItemModelWeight
(oz)
Spotting Scope EyepieceSwarovski ATX Modular Angled Eyepiece28.80
Spotting Scope ObjectiveSwarovski 115 mm Objective w/cap78.20
Tripod PlateSirui TY-70A Quick Release Plate1.60
Digiscope SetupPhone Skope Eyepiece Adapter0.30
Eyepiece CoverPhone Skope Lens Cap0.50
BinocularsVortex Razor UHD 12x5036.10
HarnessMarsupial Gear Enclosed Bino Harness (L)15.10
RangefinderSig Sauer Kilo8K ABS W/Lanyard8.50
Rangefinder CaseMarsupial Gear Rangefinder Pouch2.50
Bino AdapterVortex Pro Binocular Adapter w/Arca Swiss Plate3.70
TripodSirui ST-124 Carbon Fiber Tripod37.00
Pan HeadSirui VA-5 Ultra-Compact Fluid Head20.00
Digiscope SetupiPhone 12 Pro Max with Phone Skope Case11.00

Sleep System

ItemModelWeight
(oz)
ShelterSeek Outside Lil Bugout and 3 piece vestibule27.0
Shelter PoleSeek Outside Lil Bugout Carbon Fiber Center Pole8.10
Compression SackSea To Summit Ultra-Sil Compression Sack - Size: XXS1.30
Shelter Stakes13 stakes6.20
Ground SheetTyvek Sheet5.10
Sleeping BagStone Glacier Chilkoot 15 Degree Sleeping Bag34.70
Compression SackSea To Summit Ultra-Sil Compression Sack - Size: S2.20
PillowBig Agnes AXL Air Pillow1.80
Sleeping PadTherm-A-Rest NeoAir UberLite - Regular11.40

Gear

ItemModelWeight
(oz)
Wind CheckSmoke In A Bottle0.70
Trekking PolesPEAX Sissy Stix Backcountry ELITE Trekking Poles16.05
Glassing PadZ Rest Cut Into Small Section4.60
Wind CheckKestrel 5700 Elite Meter with Applied Ballistics LiNK6.00
Ear ProtectionOrange Wrap Around Head Ear Protection0.60
Battery PackGOHUNT Dark Energy Poseidon (Old Version)8.87
Food Hanging CordZ Packs Z Line Slick Cord2.00
Ammo Holder10 Round Ammo Holder Kept In Top Lid Of Pack (empty)1.80
Food Hanging BagOutdoor Research Dry Sack 15L2.00

Optics Accessories Bag

ItemModelWeight
(oz)
Gear BagStone Glacier Swing Out Pocket1.00
Dust BlowerOptics Dust Blower1.60
Lens WipesZeiss Lens Wipes1.20
Lens PenVortex Optics Lens Cleaning Pen0.50
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 Capra Hunter Ti1.30
Replaceable Blades60A Replaceable Blades x 50.50
Hunting LicenseLicense0.28
LighterLarge Bic Lighter W/Lukotape0.70
LighterSmall Bic Lighter (Backup)0.40
TapeSmall Roll Of Electrical Tape0.80
PillsElectrolyte, 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
HeadlampPetzl Reactik+3.97
Headlamp (Spare)Petzl Actik2.80
Tooth Brush & PasteZ Packs Ultralight Travel Tooth Brush & Paste0.70
First AidAssorted First Aid Kit in aLOKSAK bag1.40
Toilet PaperToilet Paper in ZipLoc Bag0.99

Weapon

ItemModelWeight
(oz)
RifleBrowning X-Bolt Long Range 300 RUM W/McMillan A3-5 ADJ Stock227.4
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")
Scope LevelFlatline Ops Patriot Plus Level (34mm)
Two round holderShort Action Precision Two Round Ammo Holder
BipodMDT Ckye-Pod Gen2 Single Pull Standard
Bipod RailArea 419 Improved Bipod Picatinny Rail (4.8")
SlingQuake Original Claw Rifle Sling
AmmoPersonal Handloads = 200.20x Berger Target Hybrids, ADG Brass,
Federal 215 Match Magnum Primers, H1000 Powder = 10 total 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)
78.0
Water BottleGOHUNT Nalgene (empty)6.20
Water PurificationPlatypus Quickdraw 1L Water Filter4.20
Water ContainerMSR DromLite 6L4.80
 

I actually removed a few items from this gear list that was in the gear video I recorded. I didn't take my pepper spray and I elected to leave my Aquamira water purification drops at home.


In conclusion

If anyone has any questions about the gear I brought on this hunt, I'd be more than willing to dive in and explain a few things. If you have an upcoming bear hunt planned or are looking at one down the road in the future, have fun and enjoy the time on the mountain.

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