Hanging Elk Meat

[six]

Last year I shot my first elk the morning of Day 6. Day 6 turned out to be the warmest day of our hunt. After the elk was on the ground panic set it. We hauled the meat to the nearest stream and set the meat on rocks that were sticking out of the stream. This cooled the meat pretty well. After the first trip we decided to hang the meat over the river for the night and get the rest in the morning. After several attempts we just hauled the meat out because we didn’t think we could get it high enough so the bears couldn’t reach it. There were a lot of bears in the area.

How high is high enough to keep the meat out of a bears reach?

Please walk me through how your getting your elk quarters high enough.

ps Black bears only. No Grizz. Not sure how you guys hunt in Grizz country after I saw one up close.

[Swede]

Bears are rarely a problem where I hunt. I consider that protection needs to be commensurate with the risk. Rarely have we had bears or other critters on our meat before we had it loaded and packed out. I think a coyote got on my cousin's bull this past season between the time he killed it and the time we got back to butcher. Often our meat is left out all night in Black bear country. If I was going to hang a meat pole, and avoiding bears was my objective, the cross pole would need to be over 15 feet above the ground. I would think the bears would work over the gut pile before they would go to great effort to get at your meat. If you are really concerned, you could place the meat pole 20 feet above the ground. That would be more insurance for sure.

[six]

Seems the DOW was eradicating the invasive Brook Trout and tossing them along the river banks. The place was crawling with bears last year. We saw 2 and there was sign everywhere.

[N2mywake]

for us it depends on the weather, as I'm sure it does you guys but we've had a lot of bears in the area we hunt (black bear). When it was super cold and the meat was cooled we've covered with a tarp then brush then dirty clothes. On warmer hunts we've tied a small tree across 2 other trees (like a step ladder) then another one as high as I could reach from there to make a meat pole then hoist up all the meat and cover the area with dirty cloths and human scent.

you can see it in the background here after we had loaded up.

[six]

ding ding ding. We have a winner.

I like the step ladder idea. One could even take down the bottom rung while you were away so the bears couldn't use it.

[olympushunt]

Another thing to keep in mind is that bears can't climb small trees. I got this from a guy who used to guide for bears. He told me to find a tree about 6 inch or so in diameter. Stout enough they can't push it over and it's small enough they can't climb it. Toss a rope around a branch above ya and pull up the elk quarter. You are good to go. This is for black bears btw. I have no experience with grizz. They might be able to push a 6 incher over like a tooth pic. I dunno.

[BrentLaBere]

I have never had an issue with bears on the quarters. But we do move all of the meat away from the carcass asap. There will be a bear or two on it by the next day. Create a good distant and possibly a vantage point away from the carcass where you would need to stash the meat over night, if need be. I wouldn't worry about hanging the meat over the creek. If you are getting the temperature of the meat down and then hanging the meat at night away from the creek, you should be just fine. And for the most part I would rather let the meat dry out over night with good airflow around it. Just in case there is any condensation building up in the game bags or liner that you are dunking the meat with. Two years ago we laid the meat across the creek for the night. I don't think I will be doing that again. Hanging it in a shaded area with good airflow works better from my experience. The meat getting wet is what can get you in trouble.
I don't think I would personally even risk trying to hang the meat higher or worry about bears getting it if there are that many around. I would just get the meat off the mountain and into the locker. Just my opinion.......
And I dont think ive shot, or been with someone that had shot one, where the temps reached into the 70s.