Packing out a elk solo.

[jvanhoy]

So 38 days from our elk hunt my best friend says he may not be able to go due to conflicts with work. My dad and his dad are still in for the trip but they just deer hunt and won't be able to be much help packing a elk. The last elk i killed was a cow about 2 miles in and 3 of us got it out in one trip. Any tips on keeping meat cool and packing out solo? How many trips to get a average size bull out? How far is to far in to kill and get out solo with no loss of meat? Thanks for any tips or past experience.

 

[cur dog]

Even in early Sept. that area gets pretty cool at night. I'd say get it quartered and hung up in the shade asap. Packing out an elk solo is like eating an elephant. You need to take it one bite at a time. A quality freighter frame and a pair of treking poles should help. I'll be in the area from the 31st thru the 9th. If you get one down and need a hand, I might be able to help.

 

[Brad Daniel]

Skin, quarter and bone. Hunt with a good pack that you can take a fair load out with you the first trip. Two easy trips after that.

 

[Jwill]

There is a great thread on here about backcountry meat care if you search for it. I think it was started by bambistew.

 

[Idaho Wanderer]

Thanks for asking this question (and the answers). Been kicking this thought around all summer, and wondering if I could get away w three trips. I bone out everything, just never done an elk. Figure it will be tight but hopefully possible.

 

[Paul in Idaho]

I have packed a few out by myself, but only cows. If you're worried about warm temperatures, do some research on citric acid. Don't let the meat get wet.

There's lots of great information in this thread, including how to use citric acid: http://onyourownadventures.com/hunttalk/showthread.php?261698-Meat-Field-Care I think this is the one Jwill is referring to.

 

[jvanhoy]

Even in early Sept. that area gets pretty cool at night. I'd say get it quartered and hung up in the shade asap. Packing out an elk solo is like eating an elephant. You need to take it one bite at a time. A quality freighter frame and a pair of treking poles should help. I'll be in the area from the 31st thru the 9th. If you get one down and need a hand, I might be able to help.

Thanks for the offer but we wont get there till the 11th and stay till the end. Good luck

 

[jvanhoy]

That's a great link. Thanks everyone.

 

[N2TRKYS]

I told my buddy that we gonna have to eat a bunch of it onsite before we start packing it out.

 

[Brad Daniel]

I'm 46 and can easily pack out a bull in two additional trips if I take some the day of the kill. Always hunt with a pack that can carry a load. These guys packing fanny packs are hunting near the vehicle.

 

[brownbear932008]

Get that thing quartered and hung as quick as you can in some shade. Keep the meat dry and get that good crusty film on it. It will probably be pretty chilly in the upper elevations your gonna be in at night. But weather can play a factor I have seen it quite hot in November in Montana a few times. May be an all nighter if you get one down. Get some good bags to keep flies away from your meat. Good luck look forward to the story.

 

[vanish]

I wish my first bull was only three trips! I tried to pack out two bone-in front shoulders at the same time and saw stars after about 200 yards. All the bones came out after that. Took me 4 trips, plus my wife carried the head.

The second bull I took was much easier. Not sure if it was training, mental preparation or if my first bull just had an unusually large body.

 

[Brad Daniel]

I wish my first bull was only three trips! I tried to pack out two bone-in front shoulders at the same time and saw stars after about 200 yards. All the bones came out after that. Took me 4 trips, plus my wife carried the head.

The second bull I took was much easier. Not sure if it was training, mental preparation or if my first bull just had an unusually large body.

It probably wasn't you. Some bulls are just extra large. A friend killed a 290 six point two years ago with backstraps that I would honestly say were five feet long. Those alone were a serious load. That bull was unreal. It took the original trip plus three others to get that bull out.

 

[ShootsManyBullets]

Shady spot preferably on a north slope or in the bottom of a canyon where the air stays cool. Quarter it with meat on bone in a good game bag so you get better airflow and more surface area exposed to air. Boning it out then throwing in a game bag is a good way to spoil it as it just sits there in a blob and festers.

Probably take you 3 trips. I'd rather do more trips than do a hero load and blow out a knee, ankle or my back and be laid up. That's just my .02 from experience.

 

[Idaho Wanderer]

No joke on that hero load advice, a gamble for sure.
Luckily they don't live in parking lots...unluckily they don't live in parking lots

 

[HalfAce]

every situations different. Like if it's downhill or up hill to the truck and the distance. But, I'll generally do more pack trips the further I am from the truck. I'll shoot one up to about 7 miles in when solo, but I get stupid and throw that "rule" out the door if I get in that far and see a nice bull even further in. But this is during the rifle hunt, not during the earlier archery hunt when weather is warmer.

 

[Brendan]

Haven't had the opportunity to try this, but many people swear by bringing in 2-3 contractor bags in your kill kit. Get the meat de-boned, cooled down, dried out, then put it in contractor bags and submerge in a creek. Nature's refrigerator. Supposedly the meat will last 1-2 weeks that way.

Not sure I'd want to do it this way, but some people will just dump their game bags directly in the creek if it's really hot. Certainly better than losing it though.

I packed out a smaller 5-pt bull in two loads by myself. But, it was about 3/4 of a mile, and downhill to the truck. My plan is 3 loads (2 additional) for whenever the next time is ( Fingers crossed that's in about 6 weeks )

 

[marksjeep]

Lots of good suggestions in the thread. Another tactic we've started using is relay-packing, depending on the terrain and conditions. Instead of packing a load the whole way back to camp, you haul it 1/2 way or so. Go back to the kill and haul another load 1/2 way. So on and so forth until all the loads are 1/2 way, then repeat the process to get the meat to camp. I don't know that it saves any time, but its less continuous time with a load on your back and gets your legs a break, while still getting the meat out.

 

[sbhooper]

Hunt with a frame pack, so that you don't come out empty. Carry good knives and game bags in it. Once your elk is on the ground, get your pics and then get to work! Immediately bone the meat out and put it in game bags (I like pillow cases). Hang it in the coolest place that you can find. Meat can stand quite a bit of heat, if it is off the bone and hung where the air can get to it well.

I usually come out with the head, back straps, tenderloins and scrap meat on the first trip (maybe the meat off a front quarter, too). Follow up with as many trips as you need to, depending on your physical capacity and the size of the animal.

I have always gotten cows out in two trips and my biggest bull (a non-typical 6x6) came out in three trips, because I had to haul the head/antlers out.

The lack of help is not a game changer, it just makes it a bit more challenging.

 

[BKHunter]

I'm in the same boat. I'm deciding if I should go Elk hunting this year doing an OTC elk hunt in CO. Problem is this would be my first time Elk hunting and camping in the back country and then if I get something getting it out seems daunting. Not sure If I should just go or wait another year until hopefully I can find a hunting partner.