A top-to-bottom audit of Omar’s early season mule deer gear for a week in the backcountry
It’s late July, and mule deer seasons are opening across the West. Omar drew the same high‑country tag he notched last year, so this time, he’s packing a little more confidence and a more refined kit. To keep things honest, he invited Brady Miller to audit his gear list. Brady has full permission to scrutinize every piece of gear. What’s in, what’s out, and why.
We’ll start from the feet up, tighten where needed, and see what a few extra seasons in the field have taught Omar.
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That’s the tweaked kit for Omar’s five-to-six-day high country mule deer hunt. It’s leaner, quieter, and Brady‑approved. Think he missed something? Got a clever swap or question? Drop it in the comments.
Item | Boots |
|---|---|
Model | Crispi Nevada GTX |
Rationale | Broken‑in, flex‑2 sole keeps him “grounded” on stalks |
Item | Insoles |
Model | Lathrop & Sons |
Rationale | Gel feel with bat wing technology |
Item | Socks |
Model | Darn Tough Micro-Crew |
Rationale | “Lucky Eagle” sentimental (gift from my sister) and blister‑free |
Item | Stalkers |
Model | |
Rationale | Quiet stocking option Brady reminded him to pack |
Item | Model | Rationale |
|---|---|---|
Boots | Crispi Nevada GTX | Broken‑in, flex‑2 sole keeps him “grounded” on stalks |
Insoles | Lathrop & Sons | Gel feel with bat wing technology |
Socks | Darn Tough Micro-Crew | “Lucky Eagle” sentimental (gift from my sister) and blister‑free |
Stalkers | Quiet stocking option Brady reminded him to pack |
Item | Pad Repair |
|---|---|
Model | |
Rationale | Learned the hard way in New Zealand |
Item | Matthews Tool |
Model | All‑in‑one |
Rationale | Quick tweaks to rest/sight in field |
Item | Arrow nocks & D‑loop cord |
Model | Compatible with Omar’s current setup |
Rationale | Field repair for your archery setup |
Item | Model | Rationale |
|---|---|---|
Pad Repair | Learned the hard way in New Zealand | |
Matthews Tool | All‑in‑one | Quick tweaks to rest/sight in field |
Arrow nocks & D‑loop cord | Compatible with Omar’s current setup | Field repair for your archery setup |
Item | First-Aid Kit |
|---|---|
Model | |
Rationale | Lightweight; tourniquet, gauze, meds included |
Item | Hygiene |
Model | Tooth paste & brush, hand sanitizer, baby powder, ChapStick, floss & lotion |
Rationale | Contacts, chafe prevention & tiny luxuries |
Item | Model | Rationale |
|---|---|---|
First-Aid Kit | Lightweight; tourniquet, gauze, meds included | |
Hygiene | Tooth paste & brush, hand sanitizer, baby powder, ChapStick, floss & lotion | Contacts, chafe prevention & tiny luxuries |
Item | Stove |
|---|---|
Model | |
Rationale | Top‑3 in Brady’s boil‑test; compact vertical pro |
Item | Fuel |
Model | MSR IsoPro 100 g |
Rationale | One can = 5‑day hunt w/ coffee |
Item | Utensil |
Model | |
Rationale | Lives in MISC bag so it never vanishes |
Item | Model | Rationale |
|---|---|---|
Stove | Top‑3 in Brady’s boil‑test; compact vertical pro | |
Fuel | MSR IsoPro 100 g | One can = 5‑day hunt w/ coffee |
Utensil | Lives in MISC bag so it never vanishes |
Item | Kill Kit |
|---|---|
Model | |
Rationale | All-in-one solution for quickly and cleanly processing your harvest |
Item | Paracord |
Model | |
Rationale | Meat pole, gear line, emergency laces |
Item | Sharpie + Tag Tape |
Model | Your choice |
Rationale | Sign tag, label meat, leave dash note |
Item | Lighter |
Model | BIC Mini |
Rationale | Backup fire / Jetboil ignition |
Item | Model | Rationale |
|---|---|---|
Kill Kit | All-in-one solution for quickly and cleanly processing your harvest | |
Paracord | Meat pole, gear line, emergency laces | |
Sharpie + Tag Tape | Your choice | Sign tag, label meat, leave dash note |
Lighter | BIC Mini | Backup fire / Jetboil ignition |
Item | Hard Bottle |
|---|---|
Model | |
Rationale | Rides on pack hipbelt for constant sipping |
Item | Reservoir |
Model | |
Rationale | Hauls camp water when springs are 1,000 ft below |
Item | Extra Bladder |
Model | |
Rationale | Folds up small as a backup |
Item | Water Purifier Primary |
Model | |
Rationale | Ultraviolet (UV) purifier |
Item | Water Purifier Secondary |
Model | |
Rationale | Redundancy if SteriPEN dies |
Item | Model | Rationale |
|---|---|---|
Hard Bottle | Rides on pack hipbelt for constant sipping | |
Reservoir | Hauls camp water when springs are 1,000 ft below | |
Extra Bladder | Folds up small as a backup | |
Water Purifier Primary | Ultraviolet (UV) purifier | |
Water Purifier Secondary | Redundancy if SteriPEN dies |
Item | Power Bank |
|---|---|
Model | |
Rationale | Single brick covers a 5‑day hunt |
Item | Solar Panel |
Model | Goal Zero Nomad 7 |
Rationale | Trickles the brick while he glasses from camp |
Item | Headlamp Primary |
Model | |
Rationale | Long‑runtime, rechargeable |
Item | Headlamp Secondary |
Model | |
Rationale | AAA backup—because 2 = 1 |
Item | Satellite Messenger |
Model | |
Rationale | SOS & check‑ins; clipped to bino harness |
Item | Cables/Batts |
Model | USB-C, AA & AAA |
Rationale | Double‑checked for compatibility pre‑trip |
Item | Model | Rationale |
|---|---|---|
Power Bank | Single brick covers a 5‑day hunt | |
Solar Panel | Goal Zero Nomad 7 | Trickles the brick while he glasses from camp |
Headlamp Primary | Long‑runtime, rechargeable | |
Headlamp Secondary | AAA backup—because 2 = 1 | |
Satellite Messenger | SOS & check‑ins; clipped to bino harness | |
Cables/Batts | USB-C, AA & AAA | Double‑checked for compatibility pre‑trip |
Item | Backpack |
|---|---|
Model | Kifaru Absaroka backpack & KU Lid |
Rationale | 7‑day capacity; blood‑stained and trusted |
Item | Rain Cover |
Model | |
Rationale | Lives in side pocket, deploys in seconds |
Item | Bottle Holster |
Model | Water bottle Pocket Gen 2 |
Rationale | Quick sip without shoulder yoga |
Item | Dry Bag |
Model | |
Rationale | Keeps electronics dry / segregates bloody backstraps |
Item | Trekking Poles |
Model | |
Rationale | Shelter poles, & hiking (now wrapped with a variety of tape) |
Item | Model | Rationale |
|---|---|---|
Backpack | Kifaru Absaroka backpack & KU Lid | 7‑day capacity; blood‑stained and trusted |
Rain Cover | Lives in side pocket, deploys in seconds | |
Bottle Holster | Water bottle Pocket Gen 2 | Quick sip without shoulder yoga |
Dry Bag | Keeps electronics dry / segregates bloody backstraps | |
Trekking Poles | Shelter poles, & hiking (now wrapped with a variety of tape) |
Item | Tent |
|---|---|
Model | |
Rationale | Floorless, trekking‑pole pitch, 1 lb shelter |
Item | Tarp |
Model | |
Rationale | Shade, thunder bumper shield, or meat lay‑out |
Item | Bag |
Model | |
Rationale | High‑loft warmth; stuffs small in GOHUNT Compression Sack |
Item | Pad |
Model | |
Rationale | Comfort without much weight & bulk |
Item | Stakes |
Model | |
Rationale | Holds well, hammer‑proof |
Item | Model | Rationale |
|---|---|---|
Tent | Floorless, trekking‑pole pitch, 1 lb shelter | |
Tarp | Shade, thunder bumper shield, or meat lay‑out | |
Bag | High‑loft warmth; stuffs small in GOHUNT Compression Sack | |
Pad | Comfort without much weight & bulk | |
Stakes | Holds well, hammer‑proof |
Item | Bow |
|---|---|
Model | Mathews Lift X 33 |
Rationale | Dead‑in‑hand |
Item | Sight |
Model | |
Rationale | Tall stack can dial as needed |
Item | Rest |
Model | Mathews QAD integrated Ultrarest |
Rationale | Micro‑tuners; silent felt shelf |
Item | Stabilizers |
Model | 12″ Front / 10″ Back |
Rationale | Levels hold without side torque |
Item | Grip |
Model | Lizard‑Skin wrap |
Rationale | Improves anchor, zero‑slip in rain |
Item | Primary Release |
Model | |
Rationale | Smooth, low maintenance, and reliable |
Item | Backup Release |
Model | |
Rationale | Peace-of-mind backup in case of failure or loss |
Item | Arrows |
Model | |
Rationale | 001" straightness and +/- 1 grain weight tolerance |
Item | Broadheads |
Model | SEVR Ti 1.5 Hybrid 100 gr |
Rationale | 2.2" total cut, rear deploy locking mechanical |
Item | Quiver |
Model | |
Rationale | Mounts on hip via Total Peep Hip Quiver Support |
Item | Model | Rationale |
|---|---|---|
Bow | Mathews Lift X 33 | Dead‑in‑hand |
Sight | Tall stack can dial as needed | |
Rest | Mathews QAD integrated Ultrarest | Micro‑tuners; silent felt shelf |
Stabilizers | 12″ Front / 10″ Back | Levels hold without side torque |
Grip | Lizard‑Skin wrap | Improves anchor, zero‑slip in rain |
Primary Release | Smooth, low maintenance, and reliable | |
Backup Release | Peace-of-mind backup in case of failure or loss | |
Arrows | 001" straightness and +/- 1 grain weight tolerance | |
Broadheads | SEVR Ti 1.5 Hybrid 100 gr | 2.2" total cut, rear deploy locking mechanical |
Quiver | Mounts on hip via Total Peep Hip Quiver Support |
Item | Spotter |
|---|---|
Model | |
Rationale | Enough power to judge yet still packable |
Item | Digiscoping |
Model | |
Rationale | Capture big buck pictures |
Item | Tripod |
Model | |
Rationale | Sit‑down height; 2‑lbs all‑in |
Item | Binoculars |
Model | |
Rationale | Image‑stabilized—hand‑hold for quick pickups |
Item | Rangefinder |
Model | Sig SauerKILO4K |
Rationale | Stabilized, 22 mm objective |
Item | Bino Harness |
Model | |
Rationale | Also stores wind‑checker, allen set & spare range finder battery |
Item | Butt Pad |
Model | |
Rationale | Comfort while glassing & around camp |
Item | Model | Rationale |
|---|---|---|
Spotter | Enough power to judge yet still packable | |
Digiscoping | Capture big buck pictures | |
Tripod | Sit‑down height; 2‑lbs all‑in | |
Binoculars | Image‑stabilized—hand‑hold for quick pickups | |
Rangefinder | Sig SauerKILO4K | Stabilized, 22 mm objective |
Bino Harness | Also stores wind‑checker, allen set & spare range finder battery | |
Butt Pad | Comfort while glassing & around camp |
Item | Base Tee |
|---|---|
Model | |
Rationale | Hike‑in layer to stay cooler |
Item | Sun/Static Layer |
Model | |
Rationale | Quick‑dry synthetic for sun protection on long glassing sits |
Item | Mid layer |
Model | |
Rationale | Lightweight windbreak for early mornings |
Item | Boxers |
Model | |
Rationale | Wedgie‑proof; Undie‑King approved |
Item | Pants |
Model | GOHUNT Lightweight Pant (prototype) |
Rationale | Early‑season stretch + vent zips; beta‑testing for the team |
Item | Belt |
Model | |
Rationale | Lightweight, adjustable belt with stretch webbing |
Item | Active Mid |
Model | |
Rationale | Nylon ripstop outer shell; breathes on uphill grinds |
Item | Puffy |
Model | |
Rationale | 850‑fill furnace that stuffs down small |
Item | Rain Shell |
Model | Stone Glacier M5 Jacket & Stone Glacier M5 Rain Pant |
Rationale | Tried and true protection for surprise showers |
Item | Hat |
Model | |
Rationale | Go-to, wicks sweat, dunk it in a creek at will |
Item | Beanie |
Model | |
Rationale | Added warmth, look cool like Trail |
Item | Thick Gloves |
Model | |
Rationale | Leather palm protection |
Item | Thin Gloves |
Model | |
Rationale | Light wind block during first‑ and last‑light |
Item | Model | Rationale |
|---|---|---|
Base Tee | Hike‑in layer to stay cooler | |
Sun/Static Layer | Quick‑dry synthetic for sun protection on long glassing sits | |
Mid layer | Lightweight windbreak for early mornings | |
Boxers | Wedgie‑proof; Undie‑King approved | |
Pants | GOHUNT Lightweight Pant (prototype) | Early‑season stretch + vent zips; beta‑testing for the team |
Belt | Lightweight, adjustable belt with stretch webbing | |
Active Mid | Nylon ripstop outer shell; breathes on uphill grinds | |
Puffy | 850‑fill furnace that stuffs down small | |
Rain Shell | Stone Glacier M5 Jacket & Stone Glacier M5 Rain Pant | Tried and true protection for surprise showers |
Hat | Go-to, wicks sweat, dunk it in a creek at will | |
Beanie | Added warmth, look cool like Trail | |
Thick Gloves | Leather palm protection | |
Thin Gloves | Light wind block during first‑ and last‑light |
