OK, we’ll see how tough an Osprey EXOs is

Love my Exos 38 and 58, but 34lbs is at, if not past, what I'd consider their comfort limit. Rare for me to break 25lbs(only when carrying a week's food, and haven't hit 30 with a bear canister), but around there is where I start having to pause to shift the pack weight and tighten the belt fairly often. Considering my loads are most often in the 10-20lb range, the mesh they used on the newest version's stretch pockets is the only thing I'm displeased with-and even that's fine until you go rambling off-trail.

35lbs is reasonable for a starting maximum weight, but the rifle and accessories is a significant increase. It will test how tough YOU are.

Dale, I hope I don't have to hike far for a water source/flat spot to camp. Owen, I'm carrying winter clothes, 10X laser range finding binoculars, daypack, meat bags, gutting & boning gear, etc. Thus the extra weight.

I get the weight, just don't know how (un)comfortably an Exos will carry it! :p

Doesn't sound like you'll have any space for carrying back meat. I assume you have a plan for that?

The weight is understood. Hunting is a whole other order of backcountry travel. 35 lbs is the outer limits for the pack, but the Exos frame would put the pack on my list of UL packs to try. Classic external frame packs aren't terribly heavy. That category would have better candidates for packing out your kill too.

I had an Exos 58 that I used for a 2-night/3 day trip in the canyon country of western Colorado. I tend to be moderately conservative in how I use gear, generally being careful but not to the point of babying things. This pack sustained a hole in the bottom of the main bag and a hole in the side mesh in just those 3 days of use. In my opinion, it requires very delicate handling. I can't imagine it standing up to the rigors of what I imagine a hunting trip to be; let us know how yours did.