Looks like a decent vest for ten bucks.

Even of you draped it over a quarter your toteing

Fixed it for ya i think ?

Anybody know of a problem using a muzzle brake for this trip?

Only rule I know of, if you bring you one, you have to bring one for everybody

Here is the brake I just bought. Muzzle brake

Uh....... It might increase your odds of hunting "alone".

I think you're required to yell "Fire in the hole!" before pulling the trigger.

Yea, if you are standing off to the side of that puppy you will think a mortar shell just went off. You won't be able to hear for weeks.

For your 50?

I use a brake on my STW. It's no secret when that thing goes off.

Yes I know it will be louder than normal. But in reality it will not be any louder, just the sound will be directed to the side and not forward so it will seem louder. After spending some time at the range on Thursday I was reminded of how little recoil the .308 with brake was compared to my .260. I was also reminded of how much that affected my accuracy and ability to remain on target after the shot. I think that the biggest gain in knowledge of my past shooting was learning how little I actually knew before! I would basically find a target, put my crosshairs on it and yank the trigger. With little regard for distance, trigger control, or ensuring I had made a good shot by staying on target. I no longer will shoot that way now that I know better. I actually am going to get a supressor for hunting, it is just not in the budget yet.

How important are the headlamps and suggestions for purchase? I have two now but they are just average. Thanks

In my amateur opinion, what you have would be fine...if you don't down an elk, or if you do and plenty of the other guys show up to help. If you do down an elk in the afternoon or last light, far from camp, and it's just you and maybe one other guy, then you're gonna want the best headlamp you can buy and lots of extra batteries.

I use my old ones for around camp, in the truck, etc. and I keep one really good one, folded up in a large pill bottle, with extra batteries, in my hunting pack for a SHTF scenario.

As long as they work and you have batteries for them.

I used a ball cap one year that had several led lights built in, worked great, but makes the bill of the hat too heavy. I have never used a headlight, but can sure see where it would be handy when your by yourself. I carry a mini mag light I have had since the 80's and a small led light and spare batteries.

I have done a few elk by feel, when by myself, it is a biatch, done it fire side to0, which is a little easier, so I could see a headlamp being a good tool worth it's pack weight if you hunt till dark.

As far as muzzle break, if it improves your accuracy, it is a good thing IMO. I carried one on my 7mm for many years. I use a 300wsm now, no break. Just a matter of personal preference I think.

I've used a couple different ones for deer hunting but I'm a fan of the kind that has an elastic headband and the light pivots down. My dad prefers the clip style that clips to the bill of your cap. When I get hot I move my cap around or take it off, guess that's why I like the headband. They are all a personal preference kind of thing.

Zebra light.

The 18650 ones are awesome but setting up for those batteries is a pain and expenses, but the reg battery ones are awesome

How many guys have committed to the trip?

7 or 8, so far, with a few other possibilities.

35 days !!!!

For those of you who have been hunting here before, what types of shooting positions should I expect? I prefer to shoot prone, and am contemplating a shooting mat for this. But I don't know if there would be very many opportunities for this. Shooting sticks?

There are not many places for prone shots. Grass is too high and there aren't many knolls to shoot down off of. I packed shooting stacks the first day or two. After that I left them in the truck. Shots most generally are going to be in quakey parks, dark timber or short openings. Only if you hike to the edge of the canyon and glass the opposite canyon wall will you have a 200 plus yard shot. That's just my opinion. Lots of tress and downfall to shoot off of.

Deep Sea, IMO, the mat would be just an encumbrance, I think the same about shooting sticks, but they would make more sense if you feel like dragging them on the trail with you. I had use a extendable 20" rifle mounted bipods and they worked better than something else to carry. But honestly, I used the bipods on on hunt, don't even have it on my rifle now for the last 6-7 years.

There is usually plenty of rest positions like ,dead-fall, trees, rocks, and you never know how the situation will go down, most likely it will be fast.

I have learned, that the 1st thing I do when I find my spot, is secure a good rest on available "stuff" and for several directions, if elk come through in a hurry, you don't have time to be trimming branches, if you're walking, well, that is another set of "things".

Just my thoughts

You'll have no use for a shooting mat. Sticks or bipods will become an annoyance, too, unless you have a way to secure them to your pack that keeps them out of the way.

A lot of places we will sit are steep, so keep that in mind. Your shorter rests will be useless in those spots due to the incline. I have a Bog Pod for this. I can get by just fine without it, but I have one, and it fits nicely on my pack. It scopes out far enough to provide a good rest on those slopes.

That's for sitting. For walking, I make do with offhand, which I practice regularly, find a nearby sapling, or throw my pack on the ground for longer shots, if the terrain makes it feasible. A sturdy pack makes for a pretty decent rest in varied terrain depending on how you turn it.