Truth be told, the best elk gear ain’t a magic bullet. Stats show most of us come home empty-handed. Colorado hunters, for example, only tag out around 12% of the time (much of that is on private land.) Probably similar in other states.
Quick answer: A DIY backcountry elk hunt in 2026 comes down to five gear systems: a weapon you’ve practiced with all summer, glass you trust (10×42 binos minimum), a call setup with at least one diaphragm and one cow call, a pack that hauls 80+ lbs of meat, and a kill kit with game bags and a sharp knife. Everything below is gear our guides actually carry — 51 items, with a printable checklist at the end.
Written by Josh Riley — a Colorado elk, deer, moose, and bear guide with seven years and 50+ days a season in the Rockies. Every item on this list is gear we’ve carried, broken, replaced, or still run.
But some guys fill their tags every year. Ain’t luck, it’s preparation. They know their gear inside and out, scout-like hell both online and in person, and make every shot count.
Pro-tip: Check out our top-to-bottom guide on bowhunting elk here.
Do they have all the latest gadgets? Maybe, maybe not. Gear doesn’t make the hunter. But look in their pack, and you’ll see a setup that works for them.
This list covers the top elk gear for 2026 and beyond. Use the checklist at the end to ensure you don’t forget anything. Given these odds, we need all the help we can get.
Weapon of Choice
Compound Bow
Xpedition NexLite
Archery season starts and ends with your bow. We shot the Xpedition Xlite for three straight seasons — it took Field & Stream’s 2024 nod and ATA’s 2025 Bow of the Year, and in three years of hard Colorado miles it never gave us a reason to look elsewhere.
This season we’re shooting the NexLite platform, and that’s the bow we’re recommending now. It’s the next evolution of the Xlite — same proprietary Magnite alloy that made the Xlite 30% lighter than billeted aluminum, 50% stronger, and lower-vibration than carbon fiber, with the platform rebuilt around it. Draw weight adjusts from 50-70 pounds, and it’s dead quiet on the release.
That’s not a sponsorship line. It’s what’s in our hands come September, and it’s what’ll take you further, faster, and lighter on your feet into elk country.
Broadheads
Our Top Picks
No elk bowhunting gear list is complete without top-quality broadheads. Last season, a local meat processor showed me a dozen cheap broadheads he had pulled from an elk. They didn’t penetrate enough to kill the animal, but were lodged in the beast just enough to hurt it. If you’ll get a clean shot, don’t waste it with inferior broadheads.
Rifle
High-End / Long Range Shooters
Browning X-Bolt 300 PRC
This X-Bolt Max is built for distance. The adjustable stock fits your eye and shooting position. The fluted barrel and muzzle brake keep the recoil in check. Smooth, reliable action with a fast bolt lift. This rifle helps you make those long shots count.
Rifle
Budget / Beginner Option
Savage 110 High Country Bolt Action
The best elk hunting gear in the world means poppy-cock if you don’t have a reliable weapon that consistently performs. My pick might ruffle some of the 6.5 Creedmoor guys’ feathers here (LOL.) Still, I think the Savage 110 Chambered in 30-06 is the best elk hunting rifle regarding reliability, consistency, and affordability.
Scope
Leupold VX-Freedom Firedot
No matter what caliber you choose, combine your Savage rifle (or any other hunting rifle, for that matter) with this powerful and affordable Leupold scope. Do so, and you’ll have quite a lethal setup. With its 3-9×50 magnification with the second focal plane, plus built-in Firedot technology, you can ensure a crystal clear picture and a crisp aiming point, even in the low light of dawn and dusk.
Ammunition
OpticsPlanet
I could write an entire book about the ins and outs of ammo selection, but I know you don’t have that much time. We use 165-212 gr bullets for elk, specifically the Remington CoreLoft and Hornady ELD-X. Why? They’re easy to find and provide stellar consistency for their affordability (not so much on the Hornady). We’ve seen success with Nosler rounds but moved on from them because of their scarcity.
Shooting Sticks
Primos Hunting Trigger Stick
The competition doesn’t hold a candle to this shooting stick from Primos; I love their sticks and have used them for several years. I know you’re not supposed to use shooting sticks as walking sticks, but I did once when my knee was aching, and it held up to the abuse. My favorite set of sticks is these fast-deploying Primos sticks. They double as a bino tripod on the go as well.
Optics
Spotting Scope
Our Top Picks
A quality spotting scope will probably be one of the most expensive pieces of elk hunting gear you own, but it’ll also be one of the most important items you bring. We wrote this complete guide to the best hunting spotting scopes for anyone who knows they can’t afford to get this purchase wrong. I swear by the Vortex Viper HD.
Binoculars
Our Top Picks
Spotting elk can be challenging, as these crafty critters know how to blend in well. If you want a better chance at keeping track of them, you’ll want some high-quality binos at the ready while chasing them through the wilderness. A great set of binoculars is a cornerstone of any excellent elk hunting gear list.
Rangefinder
Our Top Picks
Another must-have gear for backcountry elk hunting is a rangefinder with on-the-fly angle-compensation ability. Elk often present themselves at steep angles and usually up or downhill from you. Accurately ranging their distance at an angle increases the chances of making an accurate shot.
Bino Harness
Elevation Dual Bino Harness
Glass swinging off your neck all day is how binoculars end up cracked on a rock. The Elevation Dual carries your binos and your rangefinder on your chest, secure and one-hand accessible, with three wearable configurations depending on how much else you’re running up front. It’s the cheapest insurance you’ll ever buy on a four-figure pile of glass.
Navigation & Communication
Handheld GPS
Garmin inReach Mini 2
It’s true. The more distance you put between yourself and civilization, the better your chance of getting into the elk. Don’t forget backcountry navigation and survival when you’re out there in the sticks. Make sure you have a good handheld unit because you never know when you might get into a sticky situation and need help getting out.
We ran the inReach Explorer+ for years, but Garmin has since discontinued it. The Mini 2 is the replacement we point people to now — two-way satellite messaging and SOS anywhere on the planet, TracBack routing to get you home the way you came in, and small enough to clip to a shoulder strap and forget about until you need it.
OnX Maps
OnX Hunt
OnX Maps has to be one of the most valuable tech tools created by the hunting industry this generation. If you haven’t heard, OnX provides up-to-date maps for your phone or GPS unit that give you all the necessary information for hunting public land in any state. This includes waypoints, topography, boundary lines, and more.
Two-Way Radio
Rocky Talkie
If you’re elk hunting with others, you must include some long-range walkie-talkies on your checklist. This season, my group will use a set from Rocky Talkie to chat when we’re deep in the woods searching for bulls. These bad boys are lightweight and compact, perfect for our minimalist style of backcountry hunting.
Hunting Watch
Our Top Picks
When discussing hunting watches, we aren’t referring to your grandpappy’s old relic. Modern hunting watches have some seriously elite tech that can give professional and serious hunters an unreal advantage in the woods. These watches can do everything, from GPS tracking to monitoring your steps and heart rate. Check them out in our up-to-date guide!
Survival
Compass
Suunto MC-2 Mirror Compass
Grab an old-fashioned compass for your elk trip if you’re a traditional hunter who avoids cell phones and OnX maps. Use this compass with a topo map to navigate elk country. The MC-2’s sighting mirror lets you shoot a precise bearing on a distant landmark instead of eyeballing it, and the adjustable declination means you set it once for your unit and stop doing math in your head at 11,000 feet. Batteries never die on one of these, which is the whole point.
Water Filter
Sawyer Products SP160
Avoiding giardia and Cryptosporidium on your backcountry elk hunt is vital, so a filter like the Sawyer SP160 is a must-have for your backcountry kit. Built for effortless use, its one-gallon pouch can hang from a tree branch while gravity pushes dirty water through the filter and purifies it directly into your container below.
First-Aid Kit
EMT Pouch
A first-aid kit is one of the most essential items on your DIY backcountry elk hunting gear list because you never know when you’ll be the one bleeding (and not the elk). It’s essential to have a trauma kit at the ready if something terrible happens and you’re far from civilization. This pouch has a tourniquet, flashlight, medication space, and more.
Bear Spray
Sabre Frontiersman Max
If you’re hunting elk anywhere in the Rockies you’re hunting in bear country, and September is when they’re eating everything they can find before denning up. Carry bear spray somewhere you can reach it in under two seconds — a chest holster or your hip, never buried in your pack. The Sabre Frontiersman Max 9.2 oz throws a heavy fog out to roughly 30 feet and is rated for mountain lion as well. Practice pulling it before the season so your hands know where it lives.
Calling, Attracting & Decoying
Elk Calls
Our Top Picks
Straight from our shop: we stock the calls we actually run in September — the Primos Hoochie Mama (the push-button cow call every elk camp owns), the Born and Raised Outdoors EZ Cow diaphragm (easiest reed to learn on, period), and the Rocky Mountain Golden Tone 3-pack for bugles, mews, and chirps in one pouch.
Early-season elk hunts often require a cow call or bugle tube to help lure one of these magnificent creatures within range. Speaking the elk language starts with choosing a high-quality elk call. After you get one, you’re going to need TONS of practice. Grab a few calls from this list and start perfecting your calls now.
Elk Urine
Elk Fire Cow Estrus
I use cow estrus sparingly on my hunts, but don’t spray it all willy-nilly. The issue for me is that Bull elk focus on that smell and nothing else. They come in on a b-line to that scent and expect to see a cow in heat. I deploy this when I know I am ready to take a shot, as it will likely swirl in the wind and get those bulls all hot and bothered. Spraying this in your buddy’s truck is funny when he isn’t looking.
Scent Wafer
Hunters Cow Elk
An elk can hear you three times and stay put. They can see you twice and won’t be too bothered. But smell you once? See ya later. These wafers mask your scent while walking into your hunting area.
Cow Elk Decoy
Montana Decoy RMEF
As mentioned above, a good strategy for luring in big bull elk is usually by tricking them with a call or scent into thinking a cow is nearby. Pair that strategy with a decoy to fool one of these lovestruck bulls into charging right into shooting range. Just hide behind this decoy to ensure the bull doesn’t see your ugly mug and head for the hills. This one’s built in partnership with the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation.
Viewing & Tracking
Trail Camera
Moultrie Edge 3 Pro
Scouting the unit you plan to hunt may be as important as the hunt itself. Setting up a few motion-sensor trail cameras where you pulled your tag will give you a glimpse of what’s walking through. The Moultrie Edge 3 Pro is the cellular cam we run — 50 MP stills, Ultra-HD video, and enough built-in automation that you’re not hiking in every week to babysit it.
One important caveat: cellular cams are not legal in most elk hunting states while you’re engaged in hunting. We keep ours at basecamp so we can watch out for our stuff while we’re deep in the backcountry. Check your state regs before you hang one.
Tree Stand
Our Top Picks
You might disagree that a tree stand is an essential piece of gear for your personal backcountry elk hunting checklist, but hear me out here. Many Wapiti hunters swear by tree stands and love the advantage hunting from above provides. Especially effective in the pre-rut, tree stands placed in a known travel route, combined with a lot of patience, can really pay off.
Hunting Blind
Muddy Infinity 3-Man
Maybe sitting in a tree stand all day isn’t exactly your idea of fun. If you’d rather have more freedom, invest in a camo ground blind. The Muddy Infinity 3-Man is the one we stock — three independent pop-up Tru-View windows per side, Veil “Cervidae” camo on a 600D PU-coated shell, and enough floor space for three hunters to sit a long morning without climbing over each other. It lets you hunt from ground level with the option to move around, stretch your legs, and go after that elk on foot at the drop of a hat.
Blood Light
Primos Bloodhunter HD
What’s your plan after you hit a bull from 30 yards, and he takes off crashing through the woods another 1000…right at dusk? You’d best bring along a trusty blood-tracking light like the Bloodhunter from Primos. It uses a 600-lumen purple phosphorescent light to highlight the blood trail as you follow it through the night. For more low-light tracking options, see our guide to the best hunting headlamps.
Headlamp
Our Top Picks
A powerful headlamp with red, blue, or green light settings (or any combination) will significantly benefit you on your next backcountry hunt. These colors help you stay stealthy when you don’t want to be seen, reliably track blood trails, and even safely take a dookie in the woods.
Skinning, Butchering & Hauling
Skinning & Processing Knives
Our Top Picks
You’ve taken down a bull, and he’s a big one. Now, it’s time to get down to business. You’ll need a tool that can help you break down and section off your kill, and a razor-sharp skinning knife will do just that. We recommend pairing your skinning knife with a more rugged fixed-blade hunting knife for a complete field-dressing setup.
Game Bags
Born and Raised Outdoors Meat Bags
Once you’ve pieced your elk into quarters or boned them out, you’ll need a way to stash and haul it out before it spoils. We prefer lightweight bags that take up little room in your pack but can still cool the meat down properly while keeping dirt, debris, bugs, and bacteria at bay.
These are the bags we carry in the shop and the ones I pack. The 6-pack full set covers a whole bull — quarter bags plus bone-out bags — and the 2-pack is enough if you’re splitting the load across a couple of guys. You can also see how they stack up against the rest of the field in our complete game bags buyer’s guide.
Electric Hunting Bike
Our Top Picks
You can haul your harvest out with game bags and sheer determination, or you can let a cutting-edge camo eBike do all the work. We use the Bakcou Mule Elite for elk and deer season and love how powerful, quiet, and stealthy it is in the field. It helps us get deeper into the backcountry with minimal effort.
Truck Hitch Game Hoist
HME Products
If you’re lucky enough to take down an elk within a stone’s throw of your truck and you brought along a game hoist, you’re doing it right. This sturdy hunk of aluminum will anchor to your truck hitch and help you raise your kill off the dirt while you get to work gutting, dressing, and loading it into your truck bed.
Camping
Backpack
Mystery Ranch Metcalf
You’ll need a spacious backpack to lug around your backcountry elk hunting gear, but what about a pack that can haul 75+ lbs of meat? Look no further than the Mystery Ranch Metcalf. This high-capacity pack will keep your gear and harvest separate while carrying it all comfortably.
Tent
KUIU Mountain Star Two Person
Backcountry elk hunting will expose you to unforgiving weather conditions, especially in the late seasons. When you hunker down at night, you’ll want a tent that withstands everything Mother Nature hurls at you. We opted for the Mountain Star 2 by KUIU for our hunt last fall, and it didn’t even flinch in the roughest conditions.
Sleeping Bag
Near Zero ZERO Mummy
If you’ve ever camped in the late seasons (or even in September), you know how brutally cold the weather can get in elk country. When it comes time to rest after a long day of chasing Wapiti, you want a sleeping bag to keep you toasty as temperatures drop.
The ZERO Mummy from Near Zero is what we stock and what I run. It’s built for cold-weather, high-altitude nights — 850+ fill-power down under a durable water-resistant shell — and it packs down small enough that I’m not fighting it for room in the pack. If you want to see more top-notch options for deer and elk hunting, check out our list of 2026’s best sleeping bags for hunting here.
Sleeping Pad
Thermarest NeoAir X-Therm
Your 0-degree sleeping bag won’t do you any good if you don’t have a well-insulated pad to keep the chill of the ice-cold earth at bay. One such pad is the Thermarest NeoAir X-Therm. It boasts a 6.9 r-value, meaning it’ll bounce your body heat back towards you while insulating against the frozen dirt below.
Pillow
Nemo Fillo King
I don’t know about you, but I have a hell of a time getting any sleep if I don’t have a comfortable pillow to rest my head on, especially during backcountry hunting trips. Lucky for me, I have a Nemo Fillo King Pillow to enjoy when it’s time to hit the sack. It’s soft, cushy, easy to inflate, and perfect for side sleepers like me.
Camping Chair
Montbell Base Camp
After a long day of elk hunting, it’s time to grab a cold one, kick back, and relax by the campfire. A comfortable and well-made camping chair like the Montbell Base Camp I use will help you do that. It has a padded back, a removable cup holder, and a spacious mesh pocket to stash your post-hunt gear. If you’re into the rocking type chairs pictured above, you’ll need to head over to Cabelas and check them out!
Multi-Tool
Gerber Center Drive Plus
If something can go wrong during an elk hunt, it probably will. Come prepared to elk camp and have the tools to get you out of a jam if necessary. My multi-tool is one piece of equipment that’s gotten me through many sticky situations. I rocked it for an entire bowhunting season and was very impressed.
Backcountry Kitchen
Stove
MSR WindBurner
Elk hunting in the backcountry or wilderness areas takes you to some of the earth’s most beautiful places but can also expose you to treacherous survival conditions. If you’re the hunter who leaves little to chance, ensure you have a stove that’ll hold up to the harshest conditions in the field, like the MSR Windburner I use. My experience with this stove is that it’s impervious to wind and won’t disappoint you.
Pot
MSR Stock Pot
Listen, my guy, if you’re in the backcountry and cooking for groups, grab this pot with your MSR Windburner. It’ll boil water in minutes and is made from super strong titanium. This is the perfect pot for cooking stew, chili, you name it — all without the weight of a cast-iron Dutch oven. It’s ultralight, weighing in a meager 1.25 pounds.
Spork
Sea to Summit Alpha Light Long
DON’T FORGET YOUR SPORK! Okay, I understand the levity of choosing the right spork, but I want to let you know which one I prefer. This is one of the lightest sporks on the market and is made from aircraft alloys. I’m an ultralight junky, so if I have the option to spare an ounce or two, I always do. I also love its long handle, as it’s perfect for digging deep into a Mountain House meal. It sure beats a stick.
Plate
Toaks Titanium D190mm
Your elk steaks deserve a quality plate! Plop that freshly harvested and grilled backstrap on this titanium plate from Toaks, and I promise you, the meat will never have tasted better. (Because of the elk, duh)! I like this Toaks plate because it’s made from durable titanium and is as lightweight as it comes. What else do you need in a plate?
Flask
Stanley Camo 8 oz
A burly jacket, a thick pair of socks, and some trusty hunting gloves will go a long way in keeping you warm, but sometimes you need a nip of grandpa’s old cough medicine to put on that last layer. So, grab a flask, fill it with your favorite hooch, and toss it in your pack for those extra chilly nights, celebrations, or disappointments.
Mug
YETI Hunting Tumblers
Keep your go-juice hot and your adult beverages ice cold, and do it all with a Yeti tumbler. These tumblers are perfect for long days on the hunt because they’re durable and have excellent insulation. I like to give these as gifts because they are super helpful, and I know they’ll always be used instead of thrown in the bin of unwanted presents (I’m looking at you, Aunt Susan, and your cotton socks.)
Cooler
Yeti Tundra 250
My goodness, you did it! You took down an elk.
Once you quarter that bad boy and haul it back to camp, what plans do you have to keep the meat fresh? You need a high-capacity cooler, like the YETI Tundra 250 or 350, ready. Both should give you the room to store a properly butchered kill.
If you want a cooler to keep your beers and hotdogs cold, check out our list of 2026’s best coolers for camping here.
Dehydrated Meals
Mountain House
When on the go and you need to recharge your batteries with some tasty, warm provisions, a well-timed backpacking meal is everything. Heat water, pour it into the pouch, and it’s time to eat. I prefer Mountain House, but Backpackers Pantry
(pictured above) also makes great dehydrated meals.
Clothing
Camo Jacket
KUIU Kutana Storm Shell
Everyone’s elk hunting clothing system is different, but one thing they likely have in common is layering. I wear a thin base layer, one or two mid-layers, and an outer shell on colder hunts. Layers can often be bulky and uncomfortable, but the Kutana outer layer won’t be, since it’s made from thin, quiet, and uncumbersome material.
Hunting Socks
Our Top Picks
Socks aren’t a big deal, right? Wrong. If you wear a poor-quality pair of socks during your elk hunt, you run the risk of blisters, clammy feet, or frozen toes. So, do your feet justice and bring a durable, well-cushioned, warm, and breathable pair of socks from our top picks and recommendations for the 2026 season.
Elk Hunting Boots
Our Top Picks
Elk hunting boots are a piece of backcountry gear you can’t afford to get wrong. Protecting your feet and ankles during your hunt isn’t optional, so lace up a trusty pair of boots that’ll stop blistered toes and sprained ankles before they ever happen. Browse through our list of favorites to find a pair that works for you.
Hat
KUIU Beanie
Keep that noggin’ out of the scorching sun during warm weather and nice and toasty during the cold of the late seasons. A merino beanie like KUIU’s lives in my pack from September through the late rifle seasons — it weighs nothing and it’s the difference between a miserable pre-dawn sit and a tolerable one. They’ve also got a deep bench of caps, balaclavas, and neck gaiters if you need coverage for a different season.
If this isn’t your style then that’s okay! Check out our full list of 2026’s best hunting hats here.
Pants
Born Primitive Frontier 2.0
Born Primitive hit it out of the park when they created their Frontier 2.0 pants, as they’re some of the best and most versatile hunting pants on the market. Hunters experience a wide variety of conditions, and the Frontiers will keep them comfortable and mobile through it all. All the while remaining extremely durable, resisting tears and abrasions from the rigors of hunting.
If you want to shop around a little for pants, make sure you take a long look at our list of 2026’s best hunting pants here.
Gloves
Our Top Picks
Nothing puts you in a worse mood and ends your hunt faster than having cold hands. Keep your mitts super warm no matter what type of hunting you do with one of our top picks. We have your back, whether you’re collecting your decoys from a frozen pond or skinning an elk on a cold November morning.
Scent Elimination
Scent-Proof Gear Bag
Scent Crusher Gear Duffle
So, you’re bringing along a bunch of delicious food to stash at camp for your upcoming hunting trip? That’s great, but if you don’t adequately cover up all those strong scents, you run the risk of scaring the elk away. Stash your stuff inside a Scent Crusher Gear Duffle instead — it runs an ozone generator right inside the bag to neutralize pesky odors on your clothes and gear before you ever step out of the truck.
Deodorant
Dead Down Wind ScentPrevent
I’ve you’ve ever hunted elk in the backcountry, you’re well aware how ripe your B.O. can get. The problem is that elk have a sense of smell 1,000 times more acute than humans and will head for the hills once they catch the slightest whiff of you. Use scent-eliminating deodorant multiple times a day to neutralize that stench of yours.
Laundry Detergent
Dead Down Wind Laundry Detergent
Give yourself every advantage you can, and take care of your dang scent! Elk really, really hate the smell of humans, and that includes the fragrances left behind by regular laundry detergents. Rather than walking into the woods smelling like “Hawaiian Breeze,” wash your hunting clothes in Dead Down Wind. It’s an enzyme-based formula that pulls odors and stains out of the fabric instead of masking them, and it’s safe on technical camo and waterproof membranes — which is more than you can say for the stuff under your sink.
Other Must-Have Elk Hunting Essentials
- Bow Release
- Bow Sight
- Broadhead Target
- Rifle Case
- Gun Oil
- Gun Cleaning Kit
- Bear Spray
- Flashlight
- Knife Sharpener
- Game Saw
- Field Dressing Gloves
- Vacuum Sealer
- Daypack
- Hatchet
- Pack Saw
- Shovel
- Tarp
- Paracord
- Rope
- Lantern
- Water Bottle
- Cooking Utensils
- Thermal Top
- Underwear
- Long Underwear
- Belt
- Sunglasses
- Wind Checker
- Bug Spray
- Tool Kit
- Multi-Tool
- Tarp
- Jump Starter For Your Vehicle
- Block and Tackle Kit With Tow Rope
- Chains for Your Tires
Complete DIY Backcountry Elk Hunting Checklist
Use the checklist below as you pack for your upcoming elk hunt. We made this list very extensive, and hope it covers every piece of gear you might possibly need. That said, you don’t need to take everything you see on this list along, rather just the essentials for your particular style of hunting and the weather you expect along the way.
You’ll likely need to cover a lot of distance on your hunt, which means the lighter your gear on your back is, the farther you can go. You must strike a good balance between pack weight and functionality of your setup to have a comfortable backcountry elk hunt.
Weapon of Choice
Bowhunting
Bow
Arrows
Broadheads
Release
Sight
Extra String
Bow Tuning Tools
Broadhead Sharpener
String Wax
Allen Wrench
Broadhead Target
Rifle
Gun
Scope
Ammo
Gun Case
Gun Cleaning / Oil
Optics
Binoculars
Spotting Scope
Rangefinder
Bino Harness
Thermal Monocular (For blood tracking)
Communication
Cell Phone
Map
GPS / InReach
Compass
Walkie Talkie
GPS Watch
Survival
Water Filter
First Aid Kit
Firestarter / Lighter
Bear Spray
Calling / Attracting / Decoying
Diaphram Mouth Calls
Bugle Tube
Cow and Calf Reed Calls
Scent Wafers
Elk Fire
Cow Elk Decoy
Tracking
Trail Camera
Tree Stand
Hunting Ground Blind
Blood Tracking Light
Headlamp
Flashlight
Extra Batteries / Charging Cables
Battery Bank
Skinning, Butchering, and Hauling
Skinning Knife
Hunting Knife
Knife Sharpener
Game Saw
Field Dressing Gloves
Game Bags
Game Hoist
Vacuum Sealer / Vacuum Sealer Bags
Camping
Main Pack
Daypack
Tent
Stakes
Sleeping Bag
Sleeping Pad
Pillow
Camping Chair
Axe
Saw
Lighter / Matches
Shovel
Tarp
Paracord
Rope
Area Light / Lantern
Backcountry Kitchen
Food
Cooking Oil
Seasonings / Spices
Water
Stove
Fuel
Pots
Pans
Utensils
Dishes
Water Bottle
Coffee Mug
Coffee Maker
Flask
Beer!
Cooler
Soap / Dish Scrubber
Plastic Tote to Wash Dishes
Hand Towels
Paper Towels
Toilet Paper / Dude Wipes
Trash Bags
Clothing
Jacket
Rain Gear
Shirts
Thermal Top
Pants
Underwear
Long Underwear
Belt
Boots
Socks
Sock Liners
Hat
Sunglasses
Gaiters
Gloves
Scent Elimination
Scent Proof Storage
Deodorant
Scent-Free Laundry Detergent
Wind Checker
Toiletries
Soap
Toothbrush
Toothpicks / Flossers
Glasses / Contacts / Fluid
Ear Plugs
Tweezers
Sleeping Aid
Advil
Vitamins
Medications
Bugspray
Personal Items / Documents
Wallet
Keys
ID
Hunting License
Zip tie for carcass tag
Pen
Vehicle
Extra Gas
Oil
Wiper Fluid
Spare Tire
Jack
Tire Chains
Tools
Winch
Air Compressor
Jump Starter
Block & Tackle Set
Tow Rope
Flashlight
Tips for Backcountry Elk Hunting
Though we’ve included some of the absolute best elk hunting gear 2026 offers on this list, taking on the sport as a beginner can be daunting. There are so many competing voices on the internet regarding elk hunting, so we made this list to provide more clarity when making gear selections.
Here are our best pieces of advice when assembling your ideal elk-hunting setup:
Buy Good Gear
The simple idiom goes that you get what you pay for, and it’s usually true for hunting equipment. Invest in quality, top-rated gear that won’t fail you on your hunt.
Create a Budget and Stick to it
If you’re an average elk hunter, you’ll only be using this gear once or twice a year, so don’t go out and blow thousands of dollars if you’re not completely passionate about the sport. Start with a modest budget and start stepping up your gear every season. Get what you can afford now, and improve your pack over time.
Shop for Products With Outstanding Warranties
Sometimes, you must be willing to hunt elk where no one else is willing to venture, which requires you to push your gear to its limits. Make sure that you buy gear backed by excellent warranties from their manufacturer. Brands like Vortex and Leupold are shining examples of how customer service should be.
Try Out Your Gear Before You Take it on Your Elk Hunt
Investing time into your hunt months before the season starts will pay dividends. What I mean by this is simple: try your gear out and get a good feel for it before entering the field. Don’t wait until the last minute and haphazardly put together your pack. Try your gear out right after you purchase it, and if you’re unhappy with it, it won’t be too late to return it and try something else.
Store Your Gear in a Scent Crusher Locker Lite in the Offseason
Many hunters store their gear in the garage, and much of the time, it’ll get contaminated by the strong scents around it. Remember: scent is everything, so you might want to get your hands on a storage system like the Scent Crusher Locker Lite that’ll neutralize any unwanted odors.
Its self-contained ozone system protects your gears’ delicate scent and keeps critters away from it. It’ll hold the bulk of my gear (sans my weapon), and it’s well worth the price tag.
Get a High-Quality Carrying Case for Your Optics
I’ve lost and broken more binoculars, rangefinders, and scopes than I’d like to admit. Optics like these usually cost a pretty penny, so make sure they’re well taken care of. A chest-style bino harness that carries your binos and rangefinder keeps both secure, accessible, and off the rocks.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does elk hunting gear cost for a DIY backcountry hunt?
A functional first-year setup runs roughly $2,000 to $3,500 if you already own a weapon, with optics and your pack eating most of that. You can absolutely get into elk country for less by borrowing a pack and buying mid-tier glass, but boots and a sleeping bag are the two places where going cheap will actively cost you days in the field.
What is the most important piece of elk hunting gear?
Your boots, and it isn’t close. Elk hunting is a walking sport — you’ll cover 8 to 12 miles a day across steep, loose ground, and blisters or a rolled ankle end your hunt faster than any gear failure. After boots, good glass is what actually finds elk; everything else on this list is a distant third.
What size pack do I need for elk hunting?
For a multi-day backcountry hunt, look at 5,500 to 7,000 cubic inches with a frame rated to haul 80+ pounds. The capacity matters less than the frame — a boned-out elk quarter is 60 to 80 pounds, and a pack that carries your camp beautifully will destroy you on the meat haul if the frame isn’t built for it.
Do I need a spotting scope for elk hunting?
If you’re hunting open country, timber edges, or big burns where you’re glassing across drainages, yes — a spotter lets you judge a bull before you commit to a two-hour stalk. If you’re hunting thick dark timber and calling, a good pair of 10×42 binos on a tripod will do nearly everything you need.
Are cellular trail cameras legal for elk hunting?
In most Western elk states they’re restricted or outright banned while you’re engaged in hunting, and the rules change often. We run ours at basecamp for security rather than scouting. Always check your state wildlife agency’s current regulations before you hang one.
What should I wear for a September archery elk hunt?
September in the Rockies swings from 25 degrees at dawn to 75 by afternoon, so layer: a merino base, a light insulating mid-layer, and a quiet packable rain shell. Pack for the morning sit and the afternoon sweat, and keep everything quiet — noisy fabric costs more bulls than the wrong camo pattern ever will.
Get 2026’s Best Elk Hunting Gear & Use a Checklist
You came for the absolute best elk hunting gear 2026 has to offer, and we hope to have steered you in the right direction. You are willing and want to be prepared, and that’s a great start.
Elk hunting success is much like a well-tuned engine. If a tiny part or system fails, the whole machine can be in jeopardy. That’s why the gear we’ve recommended is built to perform. We want your pistons to fire in synergy so you can make a clean and ethical harvest.
But hunting success doesn’t entirely hinge on having the best camo, binoculars, and tree stands. Successful hunters are the ones who come prepared and have spent the time beforehand getting to know their equipment.
Hunters who take down elk season after season are the ones who put in the time to practice their skills and go the extra mile to put in the work.
We genuinely hope all the elk hunting gear we’ve recommended and our extensive DIY backcountry elk hunting checklist are of help to you. Maybe, just maybe, what you’ve read in this post will give you a leg up in the upcoming season.
Because if we elk hunters want to land within that 12% success rate, we’ll need all the help we can get.
Alright — What Are We Getting Wrong?
Every elk camp I’ve ever sat in has argued about gear until the fire burned down, and I’d rather have that argument here than pretend this list is gospel. Think the Savage pick is a cop-out? Convinced a spotter is dead weight and 10x42s do it all? Still running a bow you bought in 2011 that’s killed more elk than everything on this page combined? Say so.
Drop a comment below with what’s actually in your pack this September — especially the one piece you’d never leave the truck without. Then come argue it out properly over in the Final Stalk forum, where the gear threads get genuinely heated and a few of you have changed my mind more than once.
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