Ha! Welcome to my world. I allways overpack on a hunting trip. My wife complains I take more junk just for a day at the range than I do on a ten day vacation cruise.

You can always leave it in the tent/truck or hanging from a tree if you don't end up needing it....but you can't always go home and get it if you end up needing it.

Other than survival gear, my practice is to lay everything out after the hunt and remove (after careful consideration) any thing I did not use. I too, tend to over pack!

Yes, I did the same after each time as well. Slowly I realized what I was using, going to use and probably not going to use. My pack is now perfect for what I need. Of course, the axe, chainsaw,shovel, rope, tarp etc is always in the truck. Since I live a 1/2 hour away from most places I go, anything I dont have, a quick call to my friends will get me what I may need. What I would like to get is a portable winch that runs on a gas motor. I saw them at Costco, but they dont have them anymore. That would be cool for almost any predicament.

The chain saw winch is really cool. Another hunter used his to help us get unstuck from muck on a dry lake bed a couple of years ago. We then found one in Cabela's Bargin Barn and bought it for $399. Have not had an occasion to use it since then.