Brady Miller's 2021 spring black bear hunting gear list — everything for a backpack hunt – gohunt

A look at Brady Miller's full spring black bear hunting gear list
It’s hard to believe that spring bear season is already here! Hands down, a spring bear hunt is my second favorite hunt, right behind mule deer.
What’s truly great about bear hunting is that you can honestly use whatever gear you have available. Especially when it comes to the plethora of different hunting options for spring bear. 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. Spring bear hunting is just a fun, fun hunt!
You can watch the video below for a look at my 2021 spring bear gear list, or jump further down this article to see an item-by-item list. This year Chris Neville and I are doing a full backpack hunt so this is everything I’m carrying in my pack. Some of the items for this hunt Neville and myself are splitting up. For instance, I’m having him carry my solar panel (but I haven’t told him that yet). While I love the challenge of a solo hunt, being able to split gear when hunting with someone is a huge advantage.
I haven’t put everything in my backpack yet to get an exact weight yet. We are going to do another video shortly where we have everything in our packs before we go on our hunt and hang the packs on a scale. For people who are curious, currently, my full backpack weighs around 54 pounds based on my excel sheet when I weighed each piece of gear the other week. And that weight includes 2 liters of water. The 54 pounds I mentioned does not include food as I’ll be honest, I just haven’t had time to put together my food list yet for this hunt, so that is why you don’t see it in the video or this article. This will be a roughly 8-day bear hunt and is pretty much the exact gear I will be using. I’m going to go through my gear again several times and see if I can toss anything out. That’s why I like doing these gear list videos/articles as it gives me a great way to check and plan everything as well as ensure I don’t forget anything. Which I why I always try to tell people to take all their gear and place it on your floor and run through it several times to ensure you have everything and to see what you could live without. I 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.
Check out the video below for a complete overview of the gear for this hunt.
** Waiting until the new Phone Skope case arrives so I can purchase one and weigh it.
There will be another video that will follow up this article where I will take all my gear and place it in my backpack and show you all the true weight. I did my best to weigh out every piece of gear individually in the table above, but a good reference will be the full pack weight video.
This year’s camp setup is fairly trimmed down. The beauty in this system lies in the packability of Stone Glacier’s Sky AirULT tarp, vestibule, and mesh system. It’s worth mentioning that I’ve done the whole floorless shelter thing enough times in the spring that I’ll admit it’s no longer fun to sleep with ticks at night. Dealing with ticks all day, and then have to deal with ticks that crawl into your shelter at night and then in the morning you find them on you or worse… starting to dig at your skin. So we stopped using floorless shelters in the spring a few years ago and this year that will continue.
I consider this a fairly light sleeping setup that is barely over 5 pounds.
To be successful at spring bear hunting, in my opinion, you need a ton of patience, determination and you need quality optics. My optics setup weight increased a bunch this year by purchasing a Swarovski BTX setup. I’m excited to see how it performs on this spring bear hunt!
In the video, I totally spaced out and forgot that last year on our spring bear hunt was when I initially used the Hanwag Alverstone II GTX boots. These boots are so comfortable and at a Flex 3 rating, they are a great do-it-all boot.
There’s no denying that I love quality hunting clothing. Each year I appreciate the quality and the full layering system that Sitka offers. They have everything I need when it comes to clothing that can hold up to any hunt I go on.
Best of luck to everyone headed out after spring bear this spring. Have fun and enjoy the time on the mountain. There’s no better way to kick off the dust and experiment with gear, food choices, and hone your glassing techniques than on a spring bear hunt.
Item
Boots
Model
Hanwag Alverstone II GTX – Size: 12.5
Weight(oz)
64.0
Item
Insoles
Model
SheepFeet Full-Length Custom Orthotic Insole (Heel Stabilizer & Double Cushioning)
Item
Model
Weight(oz)
Boots
Hanwag Alverstone II GTX – Size: 12.5
64.0
Insoles
SheepFeet Full-Length Custom Orthotic Insole (Heel Stabilizer & Double Cushioning)
Item
Stove
Model
MSR Windburner Stove System
Weight(oz)
14.80
Item
Fuel
Model
MSR Fuel Canister
Weight(oz)
6.20
Item
Spork
Model
Sea to Summit Alpha Light Long Spork
Weight(oz)
0.30
Item
Model
Weight(oz)
Stove
MSR Windburner Stove System
14.80
Fuel
MSR Fuel Canister
6.20
Spork
Sea to Summit Alpha Light Long Spork
0.30
Item
Backpack
Model
Stone Glacier Sky Guide 7900 w/ XCurve frame
Weight(oz)
96.0
Item
Pack Rain Cover
Model
Stone Glacier Pack Rain Cover
Weight(oz)
3.50
Item
Weapon Holder
Model
Stone Glacier Quick Release Sling
Weight(oz)
1.40
Item
Camera Holder
Model
Cotton Carrier Strapshot
Weight(oz)

Item
Model
Weight(oz)
Backpack
Stone Glacier Sky Guide 7900 w/ XCurve frame
96.0
Pack Rain Cover
Stone Glacier Pack Rain Cover
3.50
Weapon Holder
Stone Glacier Quick Release Sling
1.40
Camera Holder
Cotton Carrier Strapshot

Item
Gear Bag
Model
Stone Glacier Swing Out Pocket
Weight(oz)
1.00
Item
Dust Blower
Model
Optics Dust Blower
Weight(oz)
1.60
Item
Lens Wipes
Model
Zeiss Lens Wipes
Weight(oz)
1.20
Item
Lens Pen
Model
Vortex Lens Cleaning Pen
Weight(oz)
0.50
Item
Lens Cloth
Model
Random Lens Cloth
Weight(oz)
0.40
Item
Bluetooth Remote
Model
Phone Skope Bluetooth Remote
Weight(oz)
0.70
Item
Charge Cord
Model
iPhone Charge Cord
Weight(oz)
0.65
Item
Charge Cord
Model
Cord For Headlamp & Sat Messenger
Weight(oz)
0.20
Item
Model
Weight(oz)
Gear Bag
Stone Glacier Swing Out Pocket
1.00
Dust Blower
Optics Dust Blower
1.60
Lens Wipes
Zeiss Lens Wipes
1.20
Lens Pen
Vortex Lens Cleaning Pen
0.50
Lens Cloth
Random Lens Cloth
0.40
Bluetooth Remote
Phone Skope Bluetooth Remote
0.70
Charge Cord
iPhone Charge Cord
0.65
Charge Cord
Cord For Headlamp & Sat Messenger
0.20
Item
Wind Check
Model
Smoke In A Bottle
Weight(oz)
0.70
Item
Trekking Poles For Shelter
Model
Black Diamond Ergo Cork
Weight(oz)
20.10
Item
Glassing Chair
Model
Hillsound BTR Glassing Stool 17″
Weight(oz)
14.10
Item
Glassing Pad
Model
Z Rest Cut Into Small Section
Weight(oz)
2.00
Item
Wind Check
Model
Kestrel 5700 Elite Meter with Applied Ballistics LiNK
Weight(oz)
6.00
Item
Ear Protection
Model
Orange Wrap Around Head Ear Protection
Weight(oz)
0.60
Item
Battery Pack
Model
goHUNT Dark Energy Poseidon
Weight(oz)
8.87
Item
Solar Panel
Model
Goal Zero Nomad 7 Solar Panel
Weight(oz)
15.00
Item
Food Hanging
Model
Z Packs Z Line Slick Cord
Weight(oz)
2.00
Item
Ammo Holder
Model
Old Ammo Holder Kept In Top Lid Of Pack
Weight(oz)
2.40
Item
Camp Shoes
Model
Crocs – Size: 13
Weight(oz)
15.7
Item
Model
Weight(oz)
Wind Check
Smoke In A Bottle
0.70
Trekking Poles For Shelter
Black Diamond Ergo Cork
20.10
Glassing Chair
Hillsound BTR Glassing Stool 17″
14.10
Glassing Pad
Z Rest Cut Into Small Section
2.00
Wind Check
Kestrel 5700 Elite Meter with Applied Ballistics LiNK
6.00
Ear Protection
Orange Wrap Around Head Ear Protection
0.60
Battery Pack
goHUNT Dark Energy Poseidon
8.87
Solar Panel
Goal Zero Nomad 7 Solar Panel
15.00
Food Hanging
Z Packs Z Line Slick Cord
2.00
Ammo Holder
Old Ammo Holder Kept In Top Lid Of Pack
2.40
Camp Shoes
Crocs – Size: 13
15.7
Item
Satellite Messenger
Model
Garmin inReach Mini W/Carabiner
Weight(oz)
3.90
Item
Headlamp
Model
Petzl Reactik+
Weight(oz)
3.97
Item
Headlamp (Spare)
Model
Petzl Actik
Weight(oz)
2.80
Item
Tooth Brush & Paste
Model
Z Packs Ultralight Travel Tooth Brush & Paste
Weight(oz)
0.70
Item
First Aid
Model
Assorted First Aid Kit in aLOKSAK bag
Weight(oz)
1.40
Item
Toilet Paper
Model
Toilet Paper in ZipLoc Bag
Weight(oz)
0.99
Item
Bear Spray
Model
Counter Assault Bear Spray
Weight(oz)
11.50
Item
Model
Weight(oz)
Satellite Messenger
Garmin inReach Mini W/Carabiner
3.90
Headlamp
Petzl Reactik+
3.97
Headlamp (Spare)
Petzl Actik
2.80
Tooth Brush & Paste
Z Packs Ultralight Travel Tooth Brush & Paste
0.70
First Aid
Assorted First Aid Kit in aLOKSAK bag
1.40
Toilet Paper
Toilet Paper in ZipLoc Bag
0.99
Bear Spray
Counter Assault Bear Spray
11.50
Item
Water
Model
Platypus Big Zip EVO Hydration Bladder (filled with 2 liters of water)
Weight(oz)
78.0
Item
Water Bottle
Model
goHUNT Nalgene (empty)
Weight(oz)
6.2
Item
Water Purification
Model
Aquamira in UL Mini Dropper
Weight(oz)
1.10
Item
Water Purification
Model
Sawyer Micro Squeeze Water Filter
Weight(oz)
3.10
Item
Water Container
Model
MSR DromLite 6L
Weight(oz)
4.80
Item
Model
Weight(oz)
Water
Platypus Big Zip EVO Hydration Bladder (filled with 2 liters of water)
78.0
Water Bottle
goHUNT Nalgene (empty)
6.2
Water Purification
Aquamira in UL Mini Dropper
1.10
Water Purification
Sawyer Micro Squeeze Water Filter
3.10
Water Container
MSR DromLite 6L
4.80
Item
Shelter
Model
Stone Glacier SkyAir ULT Tarp
Weight(oz)
27.0
Item
Shelter Mesh
Model
Stone Glacier SkyAir ULT Mesh Insert
Item
Shelter Vestibule
Model
Stone Glacier SkyAir ULT Vestibule
Item
Shelter Footprint
Model
Stone Glacier SkyAir ULT Footprint
Item
Compression Sack
Model
Sea To Summit Ultra-Sil Compression Sack – Size: XS
Item
Shelter Stakes
Model
13 stakes
Weight(oz)
5.00
Item
Sleeping Bag
Model
Stone Glacier Chilkoot 15 Degree Sleeping Bag
Weight(oz)
34.70
Item
Compression Sack
Model
Sea To Summit Ultra-Sil Compression Sack – Size: S
Weight(oz)
2.20
Item
Pillow
Model
Klymit Pillow XL
Weight(oz)
3.60
Item
Sleeping Pad
Model
Thermarest NeoAir UberLite
Weight(oz)
11.40
Item
Model
Weight(oz)
Shelter
Stone Glacier SkyAir ULT Tarp
27.0
Shelter Mesh
Stone Glacier SkyAir ULT Mesh Insert
Shelter Vestibule
Stone Glacier SkyAir ULT Vestibule
Shelter Footprint
Stone Glacier SkyAir ULT Footprint
Compression Sack
Sea To Summit Ultra-Sil Compression Sack – Size: XS
Shelter Stakes
13 stakes
5.00
Sleeping Bag
Stone Glacier Chilkoot 15 Degree Sleeping Bag
34.70
Compression Sack
Sea To Summit Ultra-Sil Compression Sack – Size: S
2.20
Pillow
Klymit Pillow XL
3.60
Sleeping Pad
Thermarest NeoAir UberLite
11.40
Item
Gear Bag
Model
Stone Glacier Camp Pocket
Weight(oz)
1.8
Item
Knife
Model
Goat Knives Capra Hunter Ti
Weight(oz)
1.30
Item
Replaceable Blades
Model
60A Replaceable Blades x 5
Weight(oz)
0.50
Item
Knife
Model
Goat Knives TUR Carbon Pro
Weight(oz)
2.40
Item
Knife Sharpener
Model
Work Sharp Pocket Knife Sharpener
Weight(oz)
1.60
Item
Stuff Sack
Model
Mini ZPacks Cuben Fiber W/Rangefinder Battery & Rubber Bands
Weight(oz)
0.60
Item
Hunting License
Model
License
Weight(oz)
0.28
Item
Lighter
Model
Large Bic Lighter W/Lukotape
Weight(oz)
0.70
Item
Lighter
Model
Small Bic Lighter (Backup)
Weight(oz)
0.40
Item
Tape
Model
Small Roll Of Electrical Tape
Weight(oz)
0.80
Item
Pills
Model
Electrolyte, Advil
Weight(oz)
1.50
Item
Game Bags
Model
Caribou Gear Carnivore III (Four Bags)
Weight(oz)
9.80
Item
Model
Weight(oz)
Gear Bag
Stone Glacier Camp Pocket
1.8
Knife
Goat Knives Capra Hunter Ti
1.30
Replaceable Blades
60A Replaceable Blades x 5
0.50
Knife
Goat Knives TUR Carbon Pro
2.40
Knife Sharpener
Work Sharp Pocket Knife Sharpener
1.60
Stuff Sack
Mini ZPacks Cuben Fiber W/Rangefinder Battery & Rubber Bands
0.60
Hunting License
License
0.28
Lighter
Large Bic Lighter W/Lukotape
0.70
Lighter
Small Bic Lighter (Backup)
0.40
Tape
Small Roll Of Electrical Tape
0.80
Pills
Electrolyte, Advil
1.50
Game Bags
Caribou Gear Carnivore III (Four Bags)
9.80
Item
Rain Jacket
Model
Sitka Dewpoint Jacket – Pyrite – (LT)
Weight(oz)
12.10
Item
Rain Pant
Model
Sitka Dewpoint Pant – Pyrite – (LT)
Weight(oz)
11.10
Item
Mid Layer
Model
Sitka Heavyweight Hoody – Subalpine – (XL)
Weight(oz)
15.40
Item
Softshell Jacket
Model
Sitka Jetstream Jacket – Subalpine – (XL)
Weight(oz)
27.00
Item
Insulation Top
Model
Sitka Kelvin Lite Down Jacket Subalpine – (XL)
Weight(oz)
18.60
Item
Insulation Bottom
Model
Sitka Kelvin Lite Down 3/4 Pant Subalpine – (L)
Weight(oz)
13.60
Item
Beanie
Model
goHUNT Orange Beanie
Weight(oz)
2.70
Item
Gloves
Model
Sitka Blizzard GTX Mitten – Open Country (XL)
Weight(oz)
8.40
Item
Model
Weight(oz)
Rain Jacket
Sitka Dewpoint Jacket – Pyrite – (LT)
12.10
Rain Pant
Sitka Dewpoint Pant – Pyrite – (LT)
11.10
Mid Layer
Sitka Heavyweight Hoody – Subalpine – (XL)
15.40
Softshell Jacket
Sitka Jetstream Jacket – Subalpine – (XL)
27.00
Insulation Top
Sitka Kelvin Lite Down Jacket Subalpine – (XL)
18.60
Insulation Bottom
Sitka Kelvin Lite Down 3/4 Pant Subalpine – (L)
13.60
Beanie
goHUNT Orange Beanie
2.70
Gloves
Sitka Blizzard GTX Mitten – Open Country (XL)
8.40
Item
Rifle
Model
Browning X-Bolt Max Varmint/Target 300 Win Mag
Weight(oz)
240
Item
Muzzle Brake
Model
Area 419 Sidewinder Muzzle Brake
Item
Riflescope
Model
Vortex Razor HD Gen II 4.5-27 FFP
Item
Scope Level
Model
Flatline Ops Patriot Plus Level (34mm)
Item
Two round holder
Model
Short Action Precision Two Round Ammo Holder
Item
Bipod
Model
Rugged Ridge Outdoor Gear Extreme Bipod Gen 2
Item
Bipod Feet
Model
Rugged Ridge Claw Feet
Item
Sling
Model
Quake Original Claw Rifle Sling
Item
Ammo
Model
Personal Handloads = 215 Berger Hybrids, Norma Brass, Federal Match 215 Primers, H1000 Powder = 10 total rounds
Weight(oz)

Item
Rear Support
Model
Rugged Ridge Outdoor Gear Rear Support System
Weight(oz)
4.37
Item
Rifle Cover
Model
goHUNT Gunslicker Rifle Protective Cover
Weight(oz)
4.83
Item
Model
Weight(oz)
Rifle
Browning X-Bolt Max Varmint/Target 300 Win Mag
240
Muzzle Brake
Area 419 Sidewinder Muzzle Brake
Riflescope
Vortex Razor HD Gen II 4.5-27 FFP
Scope Level
Flatline Ops Patriot Plus Level (34mm)
Two round holder
Short Action Precision Two Round Ammo Holder
Bipod
Rugged Ridge Outdoor Gear Extreme Bipod Gen 2
Bipod Feet
Rugged Ridge Claw Feet
Sling
Quake Original Claw Rifle Sling
Ammo
Personal Handloads = 215 Berger Hybrids, Norma Brass, Federal Match 215 Primers, H1000 Powder = 10 total rounds

Rear Support
Rugged Ridge Outdoor Gear Rear Support System
4.37
Rifle Cover
goHUNT Gunslicker Rifle Protective Cover
4.83
Item
Top (Wicking)
Model
Sitka Core Lightweight Hoody – Subalpine – (XL)
Weight(oz)
7.70
Item
Bottoms (Outer)
Model
Sitka Mountain Pant – Subalpine – (34T)
Weight(oz)
24.30
Item
Belt
Model
Sitka Stealth Belt
Weight(oz)
2.50
Item
Gloves
Model
Sitka Gunner WS Glove
Weight(oz)
4.40
Item
Blaze Orange
Model
Sitka Ballistic Blaze Orange Vest
Weight(oz)
14.40
Item
Hat (Hiking)
Model
goHUNT The Blaze Trucker
Weight(oz)
2.80
Item
Underwear
Model
Sitka Core Silk Boxer (Large)
Weight(oz)
2.80
Item
Watch
Model
Garmin Fenix 6 Pro Solar
Weight(oz)
3.0
Item
Socks (Hiking)
Model
Darn Tough Merino Hunter Boot Full Cushion 2012 – (XL)
Weight(oz)
3.10
Item
Leg Gaiter
Model
Sitka Stormfront Gaiter – Subalpine – (L/XL)
Weight(oz)
11.30
Item
Model
Weight(oz)
Top (Wicking)
Sitka Core Lightweight Hoody – Subalpine – (XL)
7.70
Bottoms (Outer)
Sitka Mountain Pant – Subalpine – (34T)
24.30
Belt
Sitka Stealth Belt
2.50
Gloves
Sitka Gunner WS Glove
4.40
Blaze Orange
Sitka Ballistic Blaze Orange Vest
14.40
Hat (Hiking)
goHUNT The Blaze Trucker
2.80
Underwear
Sitka Core Silk Boxer (Large)
2.80
Watch
Garmin Fenix 6 Pro Solar
3.0
Socks (Hiking)
Darn Tough Merino Hunter Boot Full Cushion 2012 – (XL)
3.10
Leg Gaiter
Sitka Stormfront Gaiter – Subalpine – (L/XL)
11.30
Item
Spotting Scope Eyepiece
Model
Swarovski BTX Eyepiece
Weight(oz)
50.0
Item
Spotting Scope Objective
Model
Swarovski 95 mm Modular Objective
Weight(oz)
47.3
Item
Tripod Plate
Model
Sirui TY-70A Quick Release Plate
Weight(oz)
1.90
Item
Digiscope Setup
Model
BTX Phone Skope Eyepiece Adapter
Weight(oz)
0.30
Item
Scope Case
Model
Marsupial Gear BTX Spotting Scope Case
Weight(oz)
10.50
Item
Binoculars
Model
Vortex Razor UHD 12×50
Weight(oz)
36.90
Item
Harness
Model
Marsupial Gear Enclosed Bino Harness (L)
Weight(oz)
15.10
Item
Rangefinder
Model
Sig Kilo 2400 ABS
Weight(oz)
9.20
Item
Bino Adapter
Model
Vortex Pro Binocular Adapter
Weight(oz)
2.80
Item
Tripod
Model
Sirui T-1204XL Carbon Fiber
Weight(oz)
31.90
Item
Pan Head
Model
Sirui VA-5 Ultra-Compact Fluid Head
Weight(oz)
20.00
Item
Digiscope Setup
Model
iPhone 12 Pro Max with Phoneskope
Weight(oz)
**
Item
Model
Weight(oz)
Spotting Scope Eyepiece
Swarovski BTX Eyepiece
50.0
Spotting Scope Objective
Swarovski 95 mm Modular Objective
47.3
Tripod Plate
Sirui TY-70A Quick Release Plate
1.90
Digiscope Setup
BTX Phone Skope Eyepiece Adapter
0.30
Scope Case
Marsupial Gear BTX Spotting Scope Case
10.50
Binoculars
Vortex Razor UHD 12×50
36.90
Harness
Marsupial Gear Enclosed Bino Harness (L)
15.10
Rangefinder
Sig Kilo 2400 ABS
9.20
Bino Adapter
Vortex Pro Binocular Adapter
2.80
Tripod
Sirui T-1204XL Carbon Fiber
31.90
Pan Head
Sirui VA-5 Ultra-Compact Fluid Head
20.00
Digiscope Setup
iPhone 12 Pro Max with Phoneskope
**

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