Bino harness / Fanny Pack

[scrotcaster]

I primary archery hunt and am thinking of tweaking my gear a lil this year and am looking for others opinions? For you archery hunters that spot and stock, how do you carry your binos? I have either just carry in hand or neck strap but it bouncing against my chest while walking kinda gets old after couple miles. I also don't like the idea of the constrictive tight stretch bungee style harnesses. People who do use that kind of harness, are u ever worried about hitting the binos on ur chest with your bowstring after a shot? or isnt that a issue?

second thought

I am thinking for day hunts leaving my pack frame in the vehicle and using a fanny pack with the day's worth of supplies so i can hunt light. If i shoot something hike back and get the frame to pack out ( would kinda suck if iam in a couple miles). Whats your guys systems for day hunting in the back country?

Thanks

 

[fish-r-man]

As far as the bino harness, I have used them since I started bow hunting, and not once have I had the issue of the string hitting them while shooting. they are adjustable so they can be made a little more comfortable. as for a day pack, I have a hydration pack with a few pockets for small things, like tag, small bottle of cover scent, rope and what not. all comes down to personal preference

 

[Fly Carpin]

What's your budget? Bino harnesses are nice, but the bag style like the ones made by Alaska Guide Creations or Oregon Pack Works are the bee's knees for protecting glass. As for packs I think you want a daypack with meat hauling abilities. There are literally thousands of combos of frame sets and bags that can be had, just depends how much coin you want to drop

 

[deleted member]

i am no help on the bino thing or the pack thing really. but, for what it is worth, i've hauled entire quartered out deer minus the head with just a rope and the coat i had on one trip and a plastic grocery bag another. it wasn't the best situation. but, i was 1+ miles from the truck on plots one time and wpa the other. i wasn't interested in walking through snow back to the truck to get the sled only to walk all the way out and back again. quartered em bone on. tied one end of the rope to a hind and front quarter. the other to the other hind and front quarter. hung em right over my neck. one strap and one loin in each of pocket of my heavy winter coat. it was a waterfowl type coat and the pockets are the kind meant for holding a box of shotgun shells i think. the other time i did the same with the quarters and had a grocery bag with for some reason. cut the head as small as possible and carried it by hand. admittedly these were just whitetail does. so, not nearly as large as a muley. but, if you took the meat off the bone and had them tied up on game bags, something similar with just a rope might work for getting the meat out.

hell... who am i kidding... just by a damn pack! lol.

 

[aron]

If I didn't have higher end binos, I would use a Rick Young ultralight bino harness. The small elastic cord is much more comfortable then the typical strap style you see everywhere. I like to protect my binos so I run a Marsupical Gear Harness which seems to be one of the better "protective" styles.

As for going all day with only a fanny pack, I would feel naked. And if you get an animal down 2-3 miles from the road, it would royally suck ass to have to go back to just to get your pack frame. There are lots of options for day packs that can haul some meat as well. Not sure what your budget is but a good pack is worth the money.

 

[Kurtr]

What's your budget? Bino harnesses are nice, but the bag style like the ones made by Alaska Guide Creations or Oregon Pack Works are the bee's knees for protecting glass. As for packs I think you want a daypack with meat hauling abilities. There are literally thousands of combos of frame sets and bags that can be had, just depends how much coin you want to drop

I agree agc bino harness is what i run. I have heard good things about the muley freaks one they designed it for bow hunters specifically. Also marsupial gear has gotten alot of good reviews. I would want a meat hauling pack i got a kifaru and there is really no other way i would imagine going. A kifaru frame with the woodsman bag would be about perfect for around here in day pack mode. I have the reckoning and i love using it for a day pack

 

[REY_off]

After using the elastic bino harness for quite a few years, I spent the money last year on this guy. I was very pleased with it. I especially like the magnetic holder for the range finder.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B008F67UZ4/?tag=nodakangler10-20

 

[Fly Carpin]

I think my favorite part about the bino cases is that you don't have the elastic stretching and pulling the optics away from your eyeballs

 

[ndbwhunter]

I love the AGC harnesses.

 

[KDM]

I don't spot and stalk much, but use a Scheels brand bino system that keeps my binos well out of the way of the string when shooting from blinds or a tree stand. Shot 3 deer so far, one from a blind, and two from tree stands without a single problem in weather from 50 degrees down to 10 or so. Heavy clothing doesn't pose a problem with this system either and I'm more than satisfied with their performance. How well they'd work when stalking all bent over for hours on end I have no idea. As far as the pack thing, I'd just wear the pack and hunt. You never know what you may need on any given hunt and I'd rather carry the extra 5 lbs than not have something I need during the day. Good Luck!!

 

[KJS - ND]

Post 5 (sorry - need to post so I can add a link)

- - - Updated - - -

If you're set on a fanny pack style, I'd make sure you get something that has shoulder straps.

I have a Badlands Monster Pack - does a good job of keeping the weight on shoulders instead of waist. I only use it when I'm not venturing too far from the truck. It does the job it's supposed to, but obviously has limits. http://www.badlandspacks.com/monster-camo-fanny-pack

I also have a Badlands Bino pack - I do like it for keeping them cleaner. Wouldn't work if you were crawling, but it's easy enough to take off and you could slide it across the ground while you crawl I guess. http://www.badlandspacks.com/gear/optics/camo-binocular-case

I'm sure other brands/models are as good or better - I've had mine for probably 10 years and it's still in good shape - weren't a lot of other options at that time for cases to keep higher end bino's out of the elements.

 

[Kurtr]

Why would you want weight on your shoulders and not waist?

 

[KJS - ND]

Guess it's probably more correctly said to distribute the weight between both your shoulders and waist/hips.

 

[REY_off]

Why would you want weight on your shoulders and not waist?

Try it sometime and you'll find the answer.