Is a Corvette or Mercedes AMG worth it. For some. But it goes faster than your can drive anyways.
I have a custom rifle and it doesn't kill anything that my factory rifles kill. I like, its lights, shoots .26MOA and looks great. I bought it for a specific purpose and it fills it perfectly. I...
On elk I shoot the first mature cow I see. With Mule deer and since I am not a deer freak I will hold out for a older buck. Don't care about horns but look for age, same with pronghorn.
You might be able to find someone in the local area. I have a person I have used in E. Oregon $100 any head, did 2 this year for me. Done in a day or two. For me easier than carrying stuff but depends on where you are.
I have Sportsman's Warehouse canvas game bags. I have used them on probably a dozen elk. They wash up clean and show no signs of wear. For backstraps and loins I have Kuiu small game bags. They breathe and wash up really well also. Have used on several elk.
To me more about where are you hunting and conditions. Shot range, typical windy conditions, terrain ( open vs thick cover like Oregon coast hunting). Very subjective on everything else.
I have had 3 of them. just think of a 8.0 earthquake all day long. That's what the trailer goes through when going down road.
How you store stuff and drive make all the difference.
I am committed next year to back to the gun I shot my first elk and mulie with. Remington 700SPS 300Wm. Its what I will use next year with a good old Leupold VX11, no dials no dots. She's been in the safe for 35 years. time to go for a hike.