I am just now getting a tripod and realizing that I will now be hauling a bit to the average stand. How do you carry your gear, shoulder straps, back pack what have you? Also, what do you carry? E-caller, seat/chair, hand calls, binos, range finder, sticks/tripod, coyote drags, extra gloves/mask, extra jacket, kitchen sink?

Keep it as light as possible. I have my rifle with a normal sling over my shoulder, rangefinder which doubles as a monocular around my neck, I carry my lightweight folding seat with my shooting sticks folded inside it, and my Revolt, both in my left hand. Sometimes I have a lanyard of hand calls around my neck also. Coyote drag goes in the pouch on the back of my seat. That's it, and it's almost too much but I use all these items every stand. I'm never too far from the RZR or the truck, so extra clothes, water, etc all stay there.

Depends on the season, weather, where I'm going, and how long I plan to be out. A small backpack, a vest with lots of pockets, a foam "hot seat" until the snow gets deep, then a three leg stool. I keep some extra cloths and boots in the truck, but try to keep light and simple.

I carry my rifle in a back scabbard, there is a small pouch on the back that holds matches, knife, energy bar, spare mouth call and drag. there are cartridge loops beneathe the pouch and I have five extra shells and three batteries for the decoy. The decoy is clipped to the rim of the scabbard and shooting sticks go in the scabbard with the rifle. Hooked on the back is a stool or seat. On the front shoulder strap is a pouch to hold my caller. When I get out of the truck I just throw the scabbard on my back and I'm ready to go. The set up works well whether I'm walking, skiing or on the bike, both hands are free and I never have to juggle equipment.

A bag with my e-call in it,extra batteries,monopod (unless I'm using my rifle with a bipod attached) and I wear a turkey hunting vest with hand calls and extra bullets in it. I don't like carrying a bunch of stuff. It makes it that much more difficult carrying a coyote back.

How far from the truck to you generally travel to make a stand? I'd guess my average has been about 150-200yds. Sometimes get a little further.

I've been known to travel miles through non-accessible wildlife areas and behind closed gates. Skis and mountain bike make it easier but shanks mare if needed. I also use boats and canoes to access areas that are beyond what the average hunters willing to travel. I am getting lazier since getting in my 70's but I've lost 30 pounds and the knees are responding nicely, I try and walk a couple miles in the morning with a pack before breakfast in the off season.

My favorite way to call and spend a day in the Ozark's is to walk a circular route from my truck that takes me five to seven miles overland in steep, rocky and heavily timbered country. I have a lot of public ground that once the general firearms deer season ends is pretty empty of other hunters. It's remote and there is very little or no cell service. We have a few critters that could give some trouble, bear, hogs and large long tailed cats. There could be other issues, a bad fall, slip of the knife, ect. A couple years ago my son and I got caught in the path of a wildfire. We got lucky and got back to the truck before the fire.

In our situation you better be ready to handle whatever comes your way. You need to pack everything you need for the day and possibly an overnight stay in case something goes bad. Clothing, food, water, medical kit, firestarter, topo map & compass, multi tool, headlamp w/extra charged batteries, actual hunting gear and a way to take a pelt or two out. This year I am using a new pack, the Mystery Ranch Pop Up 18. Pretty excited at the possibilities of this pack.

I have a sling bag, inside I pack:
eCaller w/ attached decoy
Remote
3 hand calls (reed howler, distress, squeaker)
Spotlight
IR scanner
Range finder
Monocular
Extra load of ammo
Knife
Headlamp

*I'm usually within about a mile of my car so if something goes bad I'm not far...

I wear a jacket that has pockets big enough to put my johnny stewart cheapo caller..its a great little ecaller! range finder in my other pocket. Gun slung over shoulder, head mounted scan light, gun mounted kill light, rubber gloves and tow rope in my back pocket. Tripod carried in my free hand. I leave the rest of my stuff in the truck. I set my tripod up with some shrubs/ Joshua trees behind me and I stand up that way I can see over all the sage, cactus and yucca plants. Only need to go a couple hundred yards from my truck, some stands might only be 50 yards away longest is prolly 400 yards away.

A Superday pack with all calls, ammo, bino, rangefinder etc and a kill pack for dressing/skinning game with tarps for transport and a lunch cooler completely full.
All three fit behind the seat, guns upfront and I drive to 98% of my stands.

Sticks, caller and seat in left hand. Rifle over right shoulder. Right hand empty. Coyote drag and a couple rounds of ammo in a pants pocket.

- DAA

Sticks and seat in right hand, gun in left. Calls and drags in jacket pocket. If I use an e-call I carry it in a backpack/seat combo pack with the sticks and carry my gun in hand.

I try to keep it simple and light. Couple of hand calls, rifle, and a pad to sit on. Of course I have a pocket knife and TP in my pocket. I've learned that less is better. As I get older I don't like to walk very far or carry much.

I carry very little. Tied a rope around the Banshee caller for a sling - frees up a hand - that was an improvement.