Backpacks.- I took your advice and...

[dthompss]

,,,won't look back. I left the backpack back at camp. What a difference! I'm able to travel (fast crouch) nearly full quiet. Fast prone is almost full quiet. Beyond that, That's not to mentioned the visibility. Easy-easy to remain out of sight.

I've still get enough space for two weapons, 3 calls and tent, a few spray bottles, exactly what I carried with the backpack. Since the weapons are smaller, I'm going to try carrying three side arms.

I suggest for those who haven't tried this to look at it. GREAT advice.

[Old Goat]

It is very good advice. I can carry 3 guns 3 scopes, calls and scents if I'm not carrying a tent and 2 guns with 3 scopes, assorted calls and scents when I have a tent on board. I can belly crawl across 6" tall grass to within 20m of bedded Mule deer now.

[Rookie-31st]

Yeah, backpacks are functionally useless due to game mechanics, and actually harmful due to noise and visibility penalty. I've never used one, not even once

[NuCkEnFuTs]

Same here not even once.

[yato 6.5]

will try this ,only just seen this , man have i missed out on some kills with the noise thing, off to try thanks

[yato 6.5]

just to add , I did dump the back pack and ,that's the best advice i'v had , been old and grumpy and at the 60 lev you think you have it done and dusted , but this last hunt with out back pack was unreal , best advice around , if you dont do this your missing out big time thanks for the info

[yogisgoat]

If you have a skill point to spare the Mule skill allows you to carry 3 more kilos of equipment, same as the small backpack with no noise or visibility penalty.

[DeviousByDesign]

When you can carry two guns, callers, scents, and a whole tent with you with access to everything, there's zero purpose to a backpack.

ESPECAILLY when there's such a pointless penalty associated with it. I'm glad I never wasted money buying that broken crap.

[Mondyrocks]

Originally posted by yogisgoat:

If you have a skill point to spare the Mule skill allows you to carry 3 more kilos of equipment, same as the small backpack with no noise or visibility penalty.

This is an extremely useful skill to have.
I carry :-

1. Drilling Rifle.
2. Mosin Rifle.
3. .454 Handgun.
4. New Colt Handgun.
5. Crossbow.

Plus all calls for a particular reserve and scent eliminator, plus all scopes and ammunition.

I have the weapons in slots 1 to 5, binoculars in slot 9, scent eliminator in 0 (which I swap out for one of the callers after use).

This loadout covers most animals (The Drilling rifle can be swapped out for the 7mm, not sure about the weight of the .338).
Crossbow is my go to weapon but the rifles will take all animals with full integrity and the colt pistol will take ducks and rabbits with shells, on Layton Lakes :D

[CaptainNebulous]

The small backpack is fine as long as you are patient enough and don't require a super close range shot. I usually don't use it anyway but I have and never had a major issue with it (at least not after having the noise reduction skills). The larger one is basically a no no, no matter what.

[dthompss]

Sounds like there's a real science to backpacks. I'll make it easy & just take them out of the equation, and get that Mule Skill next time I rearrange things. Tkx guys!!

[yato 6.5]

yep best to listen to the people who go into the game with more open eyes than dumb bunies like me :) people who take time to work out the game and pass over info are very good :

[Hidden Gunman]

Last night I was creeping around without pack, and had used the deer bleat caller. A bear then appeared twenty metres in front, and sat with his back against a tree in front of me...when I sighted on him with the scope (1-4x), two, yes two, deer walked into the scope picture as well.

Less noise and scent mask spray can lead to interesting times. Be wary, I've been gored bulk times from accidentally creeping into animals due to low noise and masked scent.

[cbrrrman]

...wasn't my advice.

I've utilized the largest back pack since that free DLC came out.

The noise associated has never stopped me from obtaining / harvesting my kills.
And I don't feel that it was affected all that much.

Maybe if you hunt specifically Diamond quarry.
But then I kill everything that moves and is harvest capable.

To each their own... it's your game to do as ya like.