Best backcountry hunting food

How we ranked it

Two filters, then one sort. Every food must have at least 100 kcal per ounce (the hunter's weight rule) and at least 4 g of protein per ounce, which drops candy, chips and plain carbs. What's left is ranked by protein per ounce. Sort the table by kcal/oz instead if your pack weight matters more than protein. All numbers come from published Nutrition Facts; see the methodology.

Freeze-dried meals that pass: 106. The highest-protein are Next Mile Meals Cajun Jambalaya (16.8 g/oz, 131 kcal/oz), Next Mile Meals Buffalo Ranch Chicken (16.3 g/oz, 149 kcal/oz), Next Mile Meals Coconut Chicken Curry (14.9 g/oz, 146 kcal/oz). For glassing and on-the-move snacks (27 jerky, bars, nuts and nut butters pass), the top are Premier Protein Protein Bar (11.8 g/oz), Premier Protein High Protein Bar (11.8 g/oz), Krave Beef Jerky (9.1 g/oz).

Sample 7-day elk hunt menu

Built by our planner at 4,000 kcal and 200 g protein a day (the high-protein menu style, 20% of calories from protein). Each day averages 4,013 kcal and 231 g protein. The whole hunt weighs 12.0 lb, about 1.71 lb a day, at 146 kcal per ounce overall. Days rotate foods so you aren't eating the same thing all week.

Open this elk hunt menu in the planner →

In the planner you can change the days, swap foods, set a diet, and print a shopping list with a packing list for each day.

Shopping list for the 7 days

• ☐9 × 365 by Whole Foods Market Chopped Macadamia Nuts (10.2 oz)
• ☐8 × Bio Chem 100% Whey Protein Powder (chocolate) (7.1 oz)
• ☐8 × Honey Stinger Chocolate Waffle (8.5 oz)
• ☐8 × Justin's Classic Cashew Butter Squeeze Pack (9.0 oz)
• ☐8 × Justin's Classic Peanut Butter Squeeze Pack (9.0 oz)
• ☐8 × Fritos Hot Corn Chips (7.9 oz)
• ☐8 × Honey Stinger Honey Waffle (8.5 oz)
• ☐7 × ZobaFuel Chocolate Plant Protein Powder (8.6 oz)
• ☐6 × Justin's Almond Butter Covered Almonds (5.9 oz)
• ☐6 × Fritos Corn Chips (5.9 oz)
• ☐6 × M&M's Peanut (9.7 oz)
• ☐6 × Honey Stinger Vanilla Waffle (6.3 oz)
• ☐6 × Met-Rx Whey Protein Powder (vanilla) (6.3 oz)
• ☐5 × M&M's Peanut (8.7 oz)
• ☐4 × Jack Link's Beef Jerky (4.0 oz)
• ☐4 × Next Mile Meals Cajun Jambalaya (12.8 oz)
• ☐4 × Snickers (fun size) (2.4 oz)
• ☐4 × Next Mile Meals Steak Omelette (12.0 oz)
• ☐4 × Organic Valley Whey Protein Powder (chocolate) (4.9 oz)
• ☐3 × Next Mile Meals Buffalo Ranch Chicken (10.5 oz)
• ☐3 × Honey Stinger Caramel Waffle (3.2 oz)
• ☐3 × Justin's Cinnamon Almond Butter Squeeze Pack (3.4 oz)
• ☐3 × Jif Creamy Peanut Butter Squeeze (3.5 oz)
• ☐3 × Fritos Corn Chips (3.0 oz)
• ☐3 × Premier Protein Protein Bar (7.6 oz)
• ☐3 × Backpacker's Pantry Summit Breakfast Scramble (6.3 oz)
• ☐3 × Met-Rx Whey Protein Powder (chocolate) (3.5 oz)
• ☐2 × Skratch Labs Exercise Hydration Mix (0.8 oz)
• ☐2 × Skratch Labs Hydration Drink Mix (lemon-lime) (0.9 oz)
• ☐1 × Skratch Labs Hydration Drink Mix (passion fruit) (0.5 oz)
• ☐1 × Snickers Bar (0.9 oz)

Notes for hunters

Calorie needs vary with body weight, terrain, weather and whether you're packing meat. Treat 4,000 kcal as a starting point. Freeze-dried meals need water; protein powder needs a bottle to mix in. This is label data, not a meal plan or medical advice.