I like to hunt elk using only what I can stuff in a decent-sized backpack. I can be gone for five days, and I have to be conscious about weight. On my last couple hunts, everything was great except the grub. Jerky and granola can only go so far. Are there other foods that taste decent that won’t weigh me down?
- Jack Roswell, Salt Lake City, Utah
Members Answer:
Pre-season, I use a food dehydrator to process apples, bananas, strawberries and any other fruit. You can fit 8-10 apples in a small Ziplock bag and the extra sugar keeps you going.
- David Moody, Denton, Nebraska
Freeze-dried meals usually work for me. Mountain House, Alpine and other companies make meals that are quick, tasty and filling. Make sure you get the packs that serve two! I like to top it off with a tortilla rolled up with jam or honey.
- Allan Reishus , Craig, Colorado
Over the years, my pack has always included granola and jerky as staples, and I’ve used them to spice up other meals like dried mashed potatoes. I also carry small foil packages of tuna to add to Lipton noodle and rice mixes. Don’t forget flavored oatmeal!
- Daniel Blumer, La Crosse, Wisconsin
I preorder MREs (meal ready to eat). They have lots of calories, are completely sealed and have their own heat packs—no fire or stove needed. I tried the jerky and granola thing—I’m not going back.
- Eugene Maes, Bristol, Tennessee
I pare every ounce I can, but when it comes to food it’s worth adding 5 pounds. I order a pizza the night before and put a couple slices into plastic bags. I put pasta with sauce in Tupperware to freeze, then remove it from the bowls and seal the frozen chunks in vacuum bags for the pack in. I drop it in hot water from my camp stove like a MRE. All this stuff keeps for two or three days in the shade. For days four and five, I have a small jar of peanut butter and bread, bagels with cream cheese, nuts, candy bars and ... jerky and granola.
- Kurt Cox, Panama City, Florida
Couscous (tiny pasta) is a very versatile food for hot meals. It’s inexpensive, easy to prepare and can be tailored to anyone’s taste. Cheese or foil pouches of tuna or salmon add protein and improve the taste. To prepare, simply add boiling water, cover and wait 5-7 minutes. A hot meal really picks up your spirits after a hard day in the mountains.
- Armond Acri, Jackson, Wyoming
Next Question: (Answers will appear in the Mar/Apr 2009 Bugle)
I would really like to start hunting for shed antlers, but I don’t even know where to start. What should I know about looking for elk sheds?
- Allison Cartwright, Sundance, Wyoming
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