How to Choose the Right Game Bag System for Your Next Hunt

We understand that all the different sizes and combo packs can be a little confusing. We have small, medium and large Magnum Packs, plus the Wapiti, Muley, Caribou and Carnovire. Additionally, there are individual quarter bags in small, medium and large, and even full carcass game bags.

Once you get to know our systems, it’s actually pretty simple. Here’s a quick breakdown of our game bag options. Use this guide to choose the right game bags for your next hunt:

THE HIGH COUNTRY SERIES

Backcountry hunters and those who work hard to minimize backpack weight should look immediately to the game bags in our High Country series. You can easily identify these sets by their black storage bag (the Magnum Packs feature orange packaging – we’ll get to those below).

We have options in the High Country series that can accommodate a variety of game size and species. Game bags in the High Country series are sized to reduce bulk and weight as much as possible.

Systems in the High Country series include: 

The Wapiti

The Wapiti is our best-selling set of game bags. It contains five game bags, and can comfortably handle an entire mature bull elk with bone-in quarters. The set contains four 23” x 40” quarter bags and one 16”x 30” meat parts bag for loins and other loose meat.

Packing out bone-in quarters has distinct advantages. Less surface area means a higher yield of meat. Plus, leaving meat on the bone through rigor avoids muscle “shortening” which can lead to tough meat.

If you’re a backcountry elk hunter, but prefer to leave quarters on the bone, the Wapiti is your go-to game bag set.

The Carnivore

While there are advantages to leaving meat on the bone, some backcountry situations call for deboning meat. If you’re packing in deep or perhaps hunting solo, deboning quarters in the field might be the best decision. If that sounds like your sitation, we’d recommend The Carnivore.

The Carnivore set can easily accommodate an entire boned-out bull elk. It also includes five game bags. All five bags are 16” x 30” and this long, tubular shape is ideal for carrying boneless meat. The shape of these game bags packs neatly onto a pack frame for comfortable load carrying.

If you’re an ultralight minimalist and need to pack an entire boned-out, mature bull elk – the Carnivore is designed for you.

The Muley

Just as the name suggests, The Muley is the set in our High Country series that’s designed for deer-sized game with bone-in quarters. This one is also perfect for sheep, mountain goat, black bears, antelope and similarly sized animals.

The Muley game bags are large enough to accommodate a large mule deer buck with bone-in quarters. The set includes five game bags. There are four 18” x 34” quarter bags and one 16” x 21” meat parts bag. 

If you need a lightweight system for packing out a mule deer buck, or if you’re headed high into sheep or goat country, The Muley is the ideal game bag set.

The Caribou

The name says it all right? The Caribou is designed to hold an entire bull caribou with bone-in quarters. But compared to the Muley and the Wapiti, this final set in our High Country Series has a little extra.

Because many units in Alaska require hunters to pack out bone-in ribs, this set actually includes six game bags. There are four 20” x 38” quarter bags, an extra 20” X 38” bag for the ribs, as well as a 16” x 21” meat parts bag.

If you’re heading on a backcountry caribou hunt where lightweight packing is essential, our Caribou Game bag set is the perfect solution.

THE MAGNUM PACK SERIES

The game bag sets in our Magnum Pack series are designed to be robust, full-featured meat care systems. If weight is less of a concern or if you simply are willing to trade a little weight for more features, then take a close look at these game bag sets. You can easily identify our Magnum Packs by their orange storage bags. 

We have three different sets in the Magnum Pack Series, built to accommodate anything from antelope all the way up to an Alaska-Yukon bull moose with bone-in quarters. The sizes of these game bags are slightly larger than their counterparts in the High Country series, to allow more air circulation around the meat. Plus, they include a few additional items.

Systems in the Magnum Pack series include:

Small Magnum Pack

The Small Magnum Pack is perfect for deer-sized game with bone-in quarters, including sheep, mountain goat, black bear and pronghorn. It includes seven game bags. There are four, 20” x 34” quarter bags, one 16” x 21” meat parts bag for backstraps and other loose meat, a 21” x 24” cape bag and a 12” x 21” camp meat bag. Compared to the Muley, the Small Magnum Pack’s quarter bags are sized slightly larger to allow for increased airflow. 

Additionally, the small magnum pack includes seven waterproof, tear-proof ID tags with zip ties to easily identify the contents of each game bag. This is especially helpful when hanging meat in a shared walk-in cooler or outfitter camp.

If you need a game bag set for deer-sized game and you’re willing to accept a little extra weight for the addition of a cape bag and other features, then the Small Magnum Pack is perfect for you.

Medium Magnum Pack

The Medium Magnum Pack is designed to hold a mature bull elk or caribou with bone-in quarters. It includes seven game bags. There are four 28” x 48” quarter bags, one 23” x 30” meat parts bag, a 23” x 30” cape bag and a 12” x 21” camp meat bag. Compared to the Wapiti, the Medium Magnum Pack’s quarter bags are sized slightly larger for increased air circulation around the meat.

In addition to the seven game bags, the Medium Magnum Pack also includes seven waterproof, tear-proof ID tags and zip ties to label and secure each game bag. 

If you need a game bag set that can comfortably hold a mature bull elk with bone-in quarters, including a bag for the cape, the Medium Magnum Pack is the right choice.

Large Magnum Pack

The Large Magnum Pack is designed to hold an entire bull moose or bison with bone-in quarters and ribs, for those units in Alaska where hunters are required to take the ribs. The Large Magnum Pack includes eight total game bags. Inside, you’ll find four 28” x 60” quarter bags, another 28” x 60” game bag for the ribs, one 23” x 30” meat parts bag, a 28” x 48” bag for the cape, and a 12” x 21” camp meat bag.

Like the other magnum packs, this pack also includes waterproof, tear-proof ID tags with zip-ties so that you can label and secure each game bag. This is essential when flying moose meat out of the bush in places like Alaska. Whether the meat ends up in an outfitter’s base camp or in a public walk-in cooler, you can be sure which meat is yours.

Single Quarter Bags

In addition to packaged sets, we offer single quarter game bags in Small (20” x 34”), Medium (28” x 48”), and Large (28” x 60”). These are the same sized quarter bags that you’d find included in our Small, Medium and Large Magnum Packs. 

Having the option to purchase these single bags comes in handy for several reasons. First, you can replace a quarter bag from a set you already own. Second, you might want to add an additional bag to your High Country set to hold a cape or hide. Or, you may just want to assemble your own custom pack of varying sizes.

Full Carcass Bags

Finally, we offer full carcass game bags for those situations when you’re able to take an animal whole. In these situations, our patented game bag fabric will allow you to hang a whole animal for aging, keeping the carcass protected and clean while still allowing plenty of breathability and air circulation.

Full carcass game bags are available in Small, Medium and Large. The Small Full Carcass Game Bag is ideal for whitetail deer or small hogs. The Medium Full Carcass Game Bag can hold a mule deer or small elk. And the Large Full Carcass Game Bag can comfortably hold a large bull elk.

Contact Us With Questions

If you need help choosing the right game bags or if you have questions, please don’t hesitate to ask! We’d be happy to help you find the perfect solution for your next big game hunt. Click here for our contact information.