Joel Lemons Guide • Gallatin Gateway, Montana

General Early-Mid Season Rocky Mountains

My general early-mid season backpack hunting gear list has ben refined over the past fifteen years of solo hunting in the Rocky Mountains. I feel that this is an adequate list for elk and mule deer, in the Continental Divide from New Mexico to Montana. As I have gotten older, I place more emphasis on comfort and ergonomics, especially when it comes to my sleep system. I have a broad range of experience hunting personally and guiding in most of the western states for most of the North American big game species. I hope that you find this list useful.

May contain sponsored links*

Optics

I have found the TA feature of the Swarovski optics to be invaluable. It is great for marking an animal before beginning a stalk and finding blood/signs after a shot. The range-finding feature in a bino is necessary for guiding rifle hunters. It allows you to judge an animal and call out a range without taking your eyes off of the animal. I have tried numerous iterations of bino harnesses and prefer the sleekness and closure style on the Marsupial.

SWAROVSKI EL Range with Tracking Assistant 10x42

MARSUPIAL GEAR Binocular Pack

Dialyt 18-45x65 Field Spotter

Gitzo GT2531 Series 2 6X Carbon Fiber 3-Section Tripod

Sig Sauer KILO2400ABS

Outdoorsman Pistol Grip

Outdoorsmans Panner

Outdoorsmans Pan Head

Backpacks & Gear

This gear has been an evolution that started with what I could afford. Trial and error have led me to my current system, but I am always evaluating new products. I enjoy the durability, functionality, and light weight of the SG packs. A red led on a headlamp is a must for night vision preservation. The Morakniv is a great robust, cheap, and easy-to-field sharpen knife.

Stone Glacier Sky Archer 6400

First Aid Kit

I run a personal first aid kit that I have developed based upon Wilderness First Responder experience with a SAM XT tourniquet.

SAM XT Extremity Tourniquet

GEAR AID Tenacious Tape

Tenacious tape always goes in the first aid kit.

Game Bags

T.A.G. BAGS BOMB PACK GAME BAG

Kuiu Ultralight Pullouts

Calls

Rocky Mountain Game Calls

Phelps Game Calls Pitch Black Series - AMP

Sound Plate Series - Select 4 Elk Calls

Miscellaneous

WINDICATOR

Wind Direction Detector Refill Powder

Camping Equipment

I started out as a backpacker and a hunter and the two passions combined about 15 years ago. I feel like the sleep system and shelter is the most crucial part of the kit. From a safety standpoint, you have to be able to stay warm and dry and from a comfort standpoint, your physical and mental self will fatigue if you aren't sleeping well. I don't sleep well in a sleeping bag. I end up tossing and turning, getting twisted up and my arms being in a weird position. I like to sleep with one arm under my pillow, I can only do this in a quilt. My next trial will be using wide sleeping pads so that I can sprawl out more while sleeping.

Tarptent Bowfin 2

KUIU Summit Refuge 3

Enlightened Equipment Revelation 20F

UGQ Bandit 0F

Anker Portable Charger

LEKI Black Series Carbon Trekking Poles

I prefer the twist locks.

Jetboil Flash Cooking System

Naturehike Winter Down Hood

Lixada Ultralight Winter Duck Down Booties

Katadyn Hiker Microfilter Water Filter

Exped ULTRA 7R

Food & Nutrition

This area is my weakness. I never do a thorough job of packing for food in advance. I usually end up making a grocery store run a day in advance and throwing a bunch of stuff together. When in the mountains, I typically do not eat much and usually have to force myself to finish a freeze-dried meal each night. Each day's worth of food is stored in a gallon plastic bag to make it easy to organize and pull out the correct number of nights of food for each trip. I have tried at least one meal from all brands of freeze-dried that I am aware of and do not have a favorite. I try to emphasize nutrition, but the taste is my priority.

Snacks & Bars

Fruit Smoothie Gels 24ct Box

Peanut Butta Protein Bars 15ct Box

Freeze Dried Meals

Grass-Fed Bison Chili (Single Pack)

Starbucks VIA Instant Coffee

This is my morning coffee.

Alpine Spiced Cider

I like to have this for a bedtime drink.

Clothing

I have used Sitka, First Lite and KUIU systems the most and have settled mostly on KUIU with a few pieces from other manufacturers. I focus on fit, durability, innovative design, versatility, and affordability when selecting which pieces to use.

Baselayers

Kuiu Ultra Merino 120 LT SS Crew-T

Kuiu Ultra Merino 120 LT Zip Off Bottom

Insulation/ Midlayers

Kuiu Peleton 97 Fleece Zip-T

Kuiu Peleton 240 Full Zip

Outerwear/ Jackets

Kuiu Super Down Ultra Hooded Jacket

Pants

The pants worn depend on the weather conditions.

Kuiu Kutana Stretch Woven Pant

Kuiu Attack Pant

Rain Gear

Kuiu Kutana Gale Force Hooded Jacket

Kuiu Kutana Gale Force Pant

Footwear

The choice of footwear depends on the ruggedness and miles covered.

Lowa Tibet GTX Boots

Lowa Camino GTX Boots

Darn Tough Hunter Over The Calf Extra Cushion Sock

I prefer the thicker cushion for rougher terrain.

Kuiu Yukon HD Hunting Boot Gaiter

I am using the Kuiu Yukon gaiters with great success, but am intrigued by the Stone Glacier gaiter design.

Superfeet Trailblazer Comfort Carbon Fiber Orthotic Support Insoles

Accessories

First Lite Talus Touch Full Finger Merino Glove

First Lite Shale Touch Hybrid Glove

I use the liner.

First Lite Wick 150 Beanie

I prefer the solid hunter orange or neutral color.

Marsupial Gear Belt

I haven't found the perfect belt, but this one is close. I like the elasticity and closure mechanism.

Firearms

Archery Equipment

I usually keep a bow for 3 years, so I don't have a lot of experience with many different models. I will say that while guiding clients with many different bows, Hoyt is consistently the quietest that I have been around.

Mathews Vertix

Black Gold Ascent Verdict Single Pin Sight

Carter Wise Choice 3 Fingers Release

Iron Will S Series 100 gr Broadheads

Block 6x6

BlackOut 1.5 Bow Case

Bee Stinger Sport Hunter Xtreme Stabilizer

Easton Axis Arrows

MATHEWS QAD IMX RH Black

Rifle Equipment

I have a diverse rifle selection and love my full custom builds, but they're often heavy. When backpacking, I want lightweight in a caliber that functions on most medium-sized game with sub-MOA accuracy. I recommend having a good relationship with a local gunsmith who can refine a factory rifle to your criteria, or build a full custom that works for a range of situations. The Hatch Bipod design is ingenious and in my opinion, the best hunting bipod on the market. It isn't for bench or match shooting, but for a durable and intuitive design that will work from prone to kneeling, there is nothing else on the market like it.

Weaver Custom Rifles

Hornady Precision Hunter 270 Win

SWFA 3-15 x 42mm MOA Scope

Hatch Bipod