Hunters need to carry a lot of gear on them. Carrying around all this gear is essential, but it should never get in the way.

A good deer hunting backpack is essential to success. Could you imagine trying to hunt while trying to carry stuff in your hands? Or while wearing an uncomfortable backpack? It’s almost impossible!

But deer hunting backpacks come in many sizes, shapes, and forms. Not all hunters are the same and one specific backpack won’t work for everyone.

However, there are some qualities that every hunting backpack should have. Hunting backpacks should be easy on your body, fit your frame, and have plenty of space. But most importantly—they need to allow you to have free hands. Hunting is a very complicated sport so your gear needs to enable your peak performance.

Today, we’re going to go over the best deer hunting backpacks of 2022.

Best Deer Hunting Backpack - ALPS OutdoorZ Commander

This is the hunting backpack that comes to mind when discussing the best bags for the sport. 

This backpack from ALPS OutdoorZ is made from a durable fabric. It lasts long and can survive harsh weather environments. There are tons of pockets in this thing. Overall, there’s about 86L of space in this bag.

With all this space, you’d think that the bag is heavy and difficult to carry around. But it only weighs in at 7 lbs. 5 oz.! The detachable bag is 2 lbs. 3 oz. It’s a pretty comfortable fit that won’t wear you down after a day of hunting.

This would be a great pack alone with these standard features, but this bag goes above and beyond with traits that all hunters would appreciate.

The bag has a spotting scope pocket, a clip-style holster, a drop-down rifle pocket, and a hydration pocket with a port.

However, some hunters have noted that they find this bag’s material very loud. If you (or your game) don’t mind the noise, then this shouldn’t be a problem at all. Another thing to note is that the bag itself isn’t waterproof, but a waterproof sleeve should work just fine with it.

If you’re looking for the best deer hunting backpack around for general use, then check out this bag on Amazon.

Best Deer Hunting Backpack for Hauling Meat - Badlands 2200

Many hunters prefer this bag to the ALPS OutdoorZ Commander. While both are great bags, this one is undeniably better for hauling meat. Even without its meat-hauling capabilities, it’s a great bag in general.

Soft memory foam will ensure your support and comfort throughout the whole trip. The bag equips magnesium alloy for the frame. It’s lightweight and durable. But that’s not all. The KXO-50 fabric on the outside of the bag is waterproof, light, and durable. DWR treatment on the bag doesn’t allow water to seep into the bag.

The bag has 36.9L of space and weighs 5 lbs.15 oz. It has eight pockets that can accommodate a bow, rifle, tripod, and more hunting gear. 

A blaze orange wing hides inside of the bag. When you need to carry dressed game, open up the bat-wing design to carry the dressed game. Other hunters won’t mistake it for living deer.

Check out this bag here on Amazon.

Best Lightweight Deer Hunting Backpack - ALPS OutdoorZ Pursuit Pack

If you’re going on a short trip or are tagging along with a more experienced hunter, then we’d recommend the ALPS OutdoorZ Pursuit Pack. This bag is versatile, lightweight, and easy to carry.

The 44L bag has a ton of features for its size and weight.

The bag includes a drop-down rifle/bow holder pocket, quiver holders, and a hydration pocket/port.

Front shelf pockets made it easy for you to easily organize your gear inside and outside the bag. The main pocket compartment even has a little foldable table for you to rest your gear on. This bag is insanely versatile and flexible. A bright-orange rain cover is even included.

The bag weighs 4 lbs. 1 oz., it’s a very light bag!

Any hunter could appreciate the flexibility that comes with having a lightweight and versatile bag like this. 

Check out this bag here on Amazon!

Best Deer Hunting Backpack for Bow Hunting - SITKA Gear Apex Pack

This backpack from SITKA Gear is awesome for those who love bow hunting. It’s a pack that’s made with bow hunters in mind.

The pack is durable, deployable, and easy to use. It’s also low-profile and quiet. There are 1,800 cubic inches of storage so it’s spacious as well. 

This bag is also very comfortable. The body-hugging waist belt has multiple pockets and enables you to keep going all day long. You can rest your bow on retractable cam cables on the bag as well.

Every material on the bag is also high-quality and sturdy. 

If you’re interested in this bag, then check it out here on Amazon.

Best Treestand Deer Hunting Backpack - TENZING Hangtime Packs

This backpack is great for those who love hunting in treestands. When you’re in a treestand, there’s not much space to dig around in your bag to find gear. 

The pack is designed with ultra-soft and quiet fabric to give hunters quick and quiet access to gear. Many pockets inside & out allow access to gear that you need on the fly. The straps are all comfortable and durable. They won’t wear you out or wear down on the hunt.

This backpack has 1600 cubic inches of storage in cleverly designed ways. The pockets are all easily accessible from any direction as well. There are also hoops to hang a rifle or bow from as well.

However, the backpack only has about 750 cubic inches of space. This isn’t too spacious but treestand hunters typically need less gear than on-foot hunters. There is also an EVA-molded shell, which easily hangs open. The bag weighs 1 lb. 12 oz.

If you’re looking for a great treestand deer hunting backpack, then visit this bag’s page on Amazon.

Best Budget Deer Hunting Backpack - TIDEWE Hunting Backpack

It’s often said that you get what you pay for. Fortunately, TIDEWE cuts production costs in ways that don’t hurt the consumer. 

So that means deer hunters can get this affordable, high-quality backpack without breaking the bank. This pack from TIDEWE is made of high-performance polyester. It weighs 3.7 pounds and has 35L of space. 

You’re not sacrificing the ability to carry your gear with this budget pack, though. Multiple pockets on the bag make it easy for you to organize and separate your hunting materials so you won’t have to rustle around the bag to find what you need.

Another thing you aren’t sacrificing with this bag is comfort. Ergonomic straps and back paneling provide great support and breathability all day long. It even comes with a padded waist belt.

Another bonus is that this bag comes with a built-in rain cover! Beat unpredictable weather and keep your gear dry with this bag.

And as if this bag wasn’t good enough already—the bag is designed with a pocket, quiver, hook, and loop to carry your bow or rifle. There’s also a hydration port. 

If you’re looking for the perfect budget backpack, then look no further. Check out this awesome bag on Amazon here.

Final Thoughts

Finding a great hunting bag isn’t easy. There are tons of options out there but hopefully, this list narrowed it down for you.

When buying a bag, consider things like your needs, wants, and hunting style.

Check out this post on other essential hunting gear necessary to succeed!