I'm going on my first pack hunt this year. I'm taking my own horses and don't have much gear for packing. I'm looking for a good deal on saddle panniers and other stuff. What do I need to look for, I'm doing most of my searching via internet as there isn't much in the way of equipment locally to look at.

Please explain your trip in more detail. How much stock, how far, how long, how many people? Do you have pack saddles or are you packing riding saddles? Do you know how to tie any hitches or how to pack at all? I may be able to help you if I knew some more info. Daryl.

Pretty easy packing on this trip, we ride the horses in 3 to 5 miles from where we unload and camp. I just need the gear to bring the possible elk and bear that I might get out of the timber. I'm looking for saddle panniers and don't know what kind to get. Both horses that I'm taking for me and my buddy are both broke to hobbles and ground tie. I'm not going to be running a train or anything as both horeses will be rode to get to the hunting area. I'm new to the using horses to hunt and need some suggestions on gear that I will need. I have the saddles, scabbards, headstalls, halters, saddle bags, and rope to make my hi-line.

Depending how handy you are, you can make a lot of the stuff yourself. Pack saddles are relatively cheap, make sure you have a breast collar and maybe breeching. I use wooden pack boxes contoured on the inside to fit the horse. Since I usually have scrap lumber kicking around, they cost me nothing. Best thing to do is buy a book like Horse Packing in pictures and you'll be an expert in no time.
Grizz

The web site www.horse.com has some pack equipment that is reasonably priced. It is not the very highest quality but for the average person packing once or twice a year it works.

I may be a little late but try Outfitters Supply. Website

Thanks for all the advice and web sites. My hunting trip definatly didn't go as planned. We had bad weather and one of my friends got hurt so I only got to hunt about 6 hours on opening day and had to give it up. I only saw three elk and only had a shot at one them. I had some hunters on the other side of the elk and I didn't want to risk the shot. The other two elk I saw were not legal bulls and I only had a cow tag anyway. I was a little dissapointed in the trip but hey thats hunting. I'll definatly be better prepared for next year and I think I'll take about four horses and pack in even deeper to get away from the other hunters.