Summer is upon us and most of us know what tag or tags will be in our pocket this fall. If your plans include a remote backcountry hunt, it’s not too early to start putting a good meal menu together.
Effectively fueling your motor over a 5-day backcountry hunt is not always an easy task. Whether you’re on horseback or foot, these types of hunts are typically very physically demanding. A diet that will replenish your energy levels quickly is a must. For those of you lucky enough to have access to horses, the menu options just got a lot better. There are plenty of companies making backcountry food items these days, but much of this food is overpriced and doesn’t usually taste very good. It is important to do your own pre-hunt experimentation to find foods that will work for you.
From my own experience, the best backcountry food is lightweight, tasty, calorie-packed and is easy to cook (just add water). Each meal type is different. For me, breakfasts usually consist of an oatmeal packet and a cup of fruit. Lunch is usually heavier, more bulky, high energy, and doesn’t require cooking. Cooked dinners are typically dehydrated so they are lighter.
The right kind of food, and enough of it, will keep you physically energized and in the right mental state to complete the task at hand. What goes into your pack can be a little tricky because you want to keep the weight down as much as possible, but you also need food that is nutritious and has a high calorie-to-weight ratio. Oreo Cookies and Little Debbie snacks aren’t going to cut it.
The average backcountry hunter that is in “hunting shape” will burn around 1,500-2,000 calories just sitting on the couch. Add a 50 lb pack, 5-10 miles of hiking and 2,000-3,000 feet of vertical elevation and you realize pretty quickly that you need to start taking in some serious fuel (i.e. calories). A backcountry hunter can easily burn 1000 calories just hiking to base camp with the scenario mentioned above.
Food prepared for backcountry hunting needs to be packaged and organized (rationed) to balance the weight of the pack versus not having enough. Food and menus can easily become the most complicated and time-consuming part of hunt planning!
A flexible meal organization system that I’ve settled on is to put a full day’s supply of food into one bag. This way, I can ration the food and take the guesswork out of what and how much I need to eat each day.
Backcountry hunting takes an amazing amount of energy. A general rule is that you will need to replenish roughly 2,500-3,000 calories per day on a typical backcountry hunt. You can obviously adjust your intake depending on your hunting tactics, but that should get you close.
Breakfast · Oatmeal Packets · Cup of Fruit (plastic containers) · Granola (Mountain House) · Pop Tarts (Easy to grab and go)
Lunch · Bagels (peanut butter, bacon & honey)· Jerky · Granola bars (Cliff Bars) · Candy bars · Dried fruit · Trail Mix (almonds, walnuts, chocolate chips, raisins, dried fruit, etc) · PB Crackers · Tuna (sold in pouches now)· Cup O Soup· Apples
Liquids · Hot cocoa · Emergency Powder Mix / MTN OPS · Powdered lemonade or Crystal Lite Here is a
sample 5-day food menu that includes calorie and weight calculation based on the food items mentioned above.
For all my quick-cook meals, I use a compact canister stove (Optimus Crux Lite or MSR Pocket Rocket) and a lightweight cook set (GSI Halulite Minimalist) to boil water. A Jetboil system also works really well if your only boiling water. If I’m hunting at high altitude or in really cold weather, I will pack a liquid fuel stove (MSR Whisper Light International). The liquid fuel stove is heavier than the canister stove but is much more reliable at high altitude.
Finally, you will need a constant supply of water to not only drink, but to rehydrate your dehydrated meals and add to any other or your quick-cook meals. Water tends to be one of the heaviest items in your pack, so ideally you will want to replenish as your hunt progresses by filtering water from natural springs and streams rather, than packing the extra weight on your back. A good rule of thumb is to always top off your water supply when you have the opportunity. This can save you from expending precious energy and time searching for water sources.
10 Best Hunting SnacksMeat Sticks: Sweetwood’s FATTY Meat Stick Collection.Nuts: Peanuts, cashews, pistachios, walnuts, sunflower seeds.Peanut Butter: Individual packs for easy carrying.Granola Bars: Lightweight and packed with carbs.Snickers: Indulgent but effective for quick energy boosts.
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Meat Sticks: Sweetwood’s FATTY Meat Stick Collection.
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Nuts: Peanuts, cashews, pistachios, walnuts, sunflower seeds.
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Peanut Butter: Individual packs for easy carrying.
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Granola Bars: Lightweight and packed with carbs.
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Snickers: Indulgent but effective for quick energy boosts.
My absolute favorite type of elk hunting is backcountry DIY (Do-It-Yourself). In my opinion, no other type of hunt requires more preparation, effort, planning, and reward than this type of adventure. Effectively fueling your motor over a 5-day backcountry hunt is not always an easy task though. These type of hunts are typically very physically demanding, so to consistently punch your tag you need to be in top physical condition as well as have the right consumable items in your pack. Doing a little research (such as reading elk101.com articles) as well as doing your own pre-hunt experimentation with food can certainly make all the difference on your backcountry hunts.
Breakfast · Oatmeal Packets · Cup of Fruit (plastic containers) · Granola (Mountain House) · Pop Tarts (Easy to grab and go)
The average backcountry hunter in “hunting shape” will burn around 1,500-2,000 calories just sitting on the couch. Add a 50lb pack, 5-10 miles of hiking, and 2,000-3,000 of vertical elevation and you realize pretty quickly that you need to start taking in some serious fuel (i.e. calories). A backcountry hunter can easily burn 1000 calories just hiking to base camp with the scenario mentioned above.
Liquids · Hot cocoa · Emergency Powder Mix / Wilderness Athlete · Powdered lemonade or Crystal Lite
The right kind of food and enough of it will keep you energized and in the right emotional state to complete the task at hand. What goes into your pack can be a little tricky because you want to keep the weight down as much as possible, but you also need food that is nutritious and has a high calorie to weight ratio. Oreo Cookies and Little Debbie snacks aren’t going to cut it.
Food prepared for backcountry hunting needs to be packaged and organized (rationed) to balance the weight of the pack versus not having enough. Food and menus can easily become the most complicated and time-consuming part of hunt planning!
Backcountry hunting takes an amazing amount of energy. A general rule is that you will need to replenish roughly 2,500-3,000 calories per day on a typical backcountry hunt. You can obviously adjust your intake depending on your hunting tactics, but that should get you close.
Lunch · Bagels (peanut butter, bacon & honey)· Jerky · Granola bars (Cliff Bars) · Candy bars · Dried fruit · Trail Mix (almonds, walnuts, chocolate chips, raisins, dried fruit, etc) · PB Crackers · Tuna (sold in pouches now)· Cup O Soup· Apples
From my own experience, the best backcountry food is lightweight, tasty, calorie-packed and is easy to cook (just add water). Each meal type is different. For me, breakfasts usually consist of an oatmeal packet and a cup of fruit. Lunch is usually heavier, more bulky, high energy, and doesn’t require cooking. Cooked dinners are typically dehydrated so they are lighter.
What Food I Packed for a 9 Day Back Country Hunt
FAQ
What are good snacks for deer camp?
What is the best food for deer hunting?
Can you eat snacks while deer hunting?
What not to eat before hunting?
What to pack for a hunting trip?
Pack some comfort food for your next hunting trip in the form of cheesy, gooey, macaroni and cheese. Grab a few boxes from the grocery store, or bring along something a bit more gourmet with our Three Cheese Mac & Cheese.
What to eat on a hunting trip?
Like jerky, summer sausage is a high-protein and high-fat food that keeps well without refrigeration. 6. Snack Crackers Carbs are equally important for staying satiated on a hunting trip. Pair your summer sausage with some snack crackers, like Wheat Thins. If you’re feeling extra fancy, pack some cheese and make your own campsite charcuterie board.
What should I consider when going on a hunting trip?
One of the most important things to consider when going on a hunting trip is the size of the pack you will need. The size of the pack will depend on the type of hunting you are doing, the length of the trip, and the amount of gear you need to bring. Some packs are designed for specific types of hunting, such as waterfowl hunting or deer hunting.
What can I eat if I’m a hunter?
All you need is water, a stove, and perhaps some toppings. Dried fruit, nuts, and nut butters are all great additions that will add healthy calories to the first meal of your day. 2. Bananas Some hunters prefer apples as their portable fruit of choice, but chomping down on an apple is anything but quiet.