When Kurt pulled an Idaho elk tag, I knew we needed serious packs — the kind that can haul gear and game in rough terrain.
From Boy Scouts to Elk Hunt
My experience with backpacking was mostly limited to Boy Scout trips — hauling a small pack to base camp, nothing too serious. But an elk hunt in Idaho is a different animal. We needed packs that could actually work, that wouldn’t betray us on the mountain, and that felt right on the body.
I met the Mystery Ranch crew at the Total Archery Challenge booth in San Antonio. They showed us some gear, let us try a few on. The Metcalf 75 felt right the moment I put it on, so I ordered one through Lancaster during a good discount period.
Pack Features and First Impressions
The Metcalf 75 is built for serious work. It’s sized to haul what you need on a multi-day hunt without being so large it becomes its own problem. The suspension is clean, the load distribution feels balanced, and the pockets are logical.
“We were able to meet up with the guys over at the Mystery Ranch booth and try some on — felt really great.”
I also ordered the Grav 18 pack, which is supposed to be integrable to the Metcalf. The idea is flexibility: a smaller pack for scouting runs and a larger pack for the full expedition. That’s the kind of thoughtful system design that makes a difference when you’re living out of your gear.
This pack will get real testing during the elk hunt. That’s when you learn if your gear is solid or if it’s all hype. American Country Outdoors documents those real-world tests so you know what actually works when it matters.
Check out my binocular harness review for another honest gear assessment. Good gear, good planning, good hunts — that’s the formula.
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