I'm suprised at everyone's suprise /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif at how much some of us carry. Nothing in my pack weighs much more than a few ounces (except for my chair, which I must have). The foxpro is my heaviest piece of equipment. It just doesn't weigh that much. Water is the biggest weight concern, and there's no getting away from that either in Arizona. There's been more than once where a single stand has turned into a half day or day long adventure for me. A quart weighs 2 lbs. Not a big deal.
Sad fact for me is that if I want to call, and enjoy the experience rather than be in pain, I need back support, which means a chair, and a backpack. Otherwise nothing I have won't fit in a moderately sized fanny pack.
It is more of a hassle than just slinging a rifle over the shoulder and going calling. But, when I'm out wandering for miles in rocky, unstable terrain, where a slip will likely result in something broken and a night in the woods, I'd prefer to lug a couple extra pounds around. Besides, biggest worry is the kid if something happens to me. Maybe I've just seen too many 40-ish year olds die of heart attacks, but the thought of my kid being alone next to my corpse with no way of getting out, getting warm, or contacting help is not acceptable to save a few pounds.
I used to adjust the pack contents depending on if the kid was with me or not, or the weather, but it became too much of a hassle every trip. Now I've got it down to my basic kit, and just leave it at that 365.
I can understand why guys in some eastern areas aren't big on carrying a lot, but I can't understand why any western hunter who gets more than a few hundred yards from the vehicle would venture out without enough for basic first aid and equipment for a night or two in the woods. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused1.gif
But that's me. I'm definately (within reason) a "better to have it and not need it, than need it and not have it" type of guy.