Paul’s Picks
When I asked Vortex’s Paul Neess for a bulleted list of the gear featured in this article’s laydown shot, he replied he could get it to me that evening. The delay was excusable. Paul was on a giant Coues deer and unavoidably detained for the next few hours. As we say around here, “classic Neess.”
Life-long hunter, adventure seeker, and former sheep guide, Paul lives life on God’s green marble doing next-level things in next-level places. The knowledge and experience he’s gained is immeasurable. Factor in he’s tough as nails, never deterred but rather embraces the adversity of a challenging hunt, and you get one of the folks I respect most in the hunt space.
When it comes to gear, he’s distilled his kit down through hard-won experience. If it doesn’t work, it doesn’t make the cut. Below are Paul’s picks for a 10-day sheep hunt – a gear guide from a sheep guide you can trust. For a complete deep-dive into Paul's gear list, listen to the Vortex Nation Podcast.
First row, Left to Right
- Hyperlite tarp for daily carry
- Small blue Sea To Summit dry bag with extra clothing
- puffy jacket
- 1 pair socks, 2 silk socks
- 1 merino underwear
- KUIU – zip long johns, 1 heavy merino shirt, gloves, neck gaiter, raingear upper
- Arc'teryx rain pants
- Vortex beanie
- Mountain Hardwear Phantom 15 down sleeping bag w/green dry bag
- Exped insulated inflatable pad
- Sea To Summit inflatable pillow
- Sawyer Squeeze water filter
- MSR Dromedary water bag
- Closed cell sit pad
- Paracord rope
- Wet wipes & TP
- Phone Skope adapter for cell phone/spotting scope
- Sunglasses
Second row, Left to Right
- Hyperlite Ultamid 4 tent w/ center pole and polycro ground cover
- Blue Sea To Summit food bag w/examples shown – approx. 15 lbs. total/120 calories per oz./3000 calories per day
- Dinners – 10 assorted freeze dried dinners multiple brands, 10 oz. olive oil
- Lunch – Nuts, cheese, bagels w/PB, sausage, ramen, tuna, energy snacks, banana chips, granola bars etc.
- Breakfast – Protein bars, oatmeal
- Drinks – Energy mix, tea, coffee
- MSR Reactor stove/pot w/two fuel canisters (one for heating shelter if needed)
- Plastic bowl & cup
- Anker small solar panel
- Dark Energy battery pack
- Ear pro one piece
- Black Diamond headlamp w/new batteries
- Toothpaste, toothbrush, lip balm, pocket lighter
- In Reach satellite communicator
- Hang bag & rope for food (if trees present)
- Kestrel weather/ballistic meter
Third row, Left to Right
- 10 rounds in ammo in pouch
- Vortex rangefinder (new prototype ????)
- Nalgene water bottle w/ extra muzzle tape & small amount duct tape
- Piranta knife w/extra blades in leather pouch
- Kestrel Ti fixed blade knife
- Small accessory bag containing minor first aid items, extra lighters & fire-starter, license/tags, medications, spare contacts etc.
- Small bottle for olive oil (food)
- Crocs camp shoes
- Stone Glacier Sky Guide 7900 pack
Lower right quadrant - clothing on person
- First Lite gaiters
- Merino underwear, socks
- KUIU/ Arc'teryx raingear (stored in top of pack readily available)
- First Lite pants, KUIU merino top
- Swazi lightweight fleece
- Vortex baseball hat
- KUIU belt
- Kenetrek Mountain Extreme non-insulated boots
Lower left quadrant
- Vortex Razor 65mm Spotting Scope
- Vortex Ridgeview Carbon Tripod Kit and
- Vortex Pro Binocular Adapter
- Javelin carbon bipod and extension legs
- Lightweight custom-built rifle, LR capable with Vortex Razor HD LHT 4.5-22x50 Riflescope
- Black Diamond trekking poles
- Vortex Razor UHD 10x42 binocular in Stone Glacier bino pack
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