Well, part of the question is, what are you trying to "experience", and are you trying to accomplish anything beyond harvesting game?
:hmm:
For example, you will dress in historic styled clothing using historic type fabrics. OK good, so this is to enhance your experience, so you are going for a pleasingly aesthetic event. Nothing wrong with that. :wink:
You could also...,
..., be checking out the old style clothing, to a) get used to using it "in the field"and checking..., does it bind, is it warm enough, is it durable enough..., how to apply it (you should try a match coat before you need a match coat - for example) ...., b) or to weather it so that when at an event it doesn't look like you just bought everything ten minutes ago....
The same is true for the gear..., you could simply carry stuff for a simple day hunt, the minimum, just to sort of "step back in time". On the other hand you might carry extra stuff to again, see how to properly carry it. Does it chafe? Does it make noise? Does it weigh too much? Does it look too new and you don't want to artificially age it? Did you find you needed something in addition to what you had or need to delete something from your list?
NOW..., You might carry a full load with a tumpline /blanket-pack, to..., use the day hunt as an opportunity to train in carrying your stuff for a 3 to 4 day trek. Again, to see if it makes too much noise, is it too heavy, does it chafe, etc etc...
You also might carry a full load if your day hunt is a bit out in the boonies, and if you have an accident that prevents you from departing before night or reaching your car or cabin, you might spend a tolerable night in the woods, instead of being miserable or worse.... :shocked2:
I carry my shooting bag. It's set up for a good long time in the woods, because I'm one of those that benefits from keeping things simple. I use the same bag and horn for the same rifle, whether I go to the range, on a day hunt, or overnight(s) some place.
I carry a day-pack, a snapsack with stuff I need to drag a deer from the woods, plus some food and water, and a first aid kit and cell phone in case of an emergency. There have been times that I carried a full tumpline, to check my load, and the durability of some new gear, as I'd rather it "failed" and didn't spoil a day hunt, instead of it failing a day or two out on the trail, and really messing up the situation.
I also admit that there have been times in damp or snowy/slushly weather on a day-hunt that I took a wooden, folding stool with me (period correct - because that's what I own) as I was stiff and sore from the day before, and felt like it..., :grin: If I didn't own the stool...., I'd probably would've taken a 5 gallon bucket and inverted it to sit upon.
LD