Elk down. Ways on getting your elk out.

[lineman53]

What are some things I need to be considering when it comes to if I do get lucky in Colorado. I may be hunting solo so packing an elk out is a big concern. I've heard through the grape vine you can hire someone with horses to help. I don't plan on taking pack mules with me. Thanks guys for any info you have.

[dtrkyman]

Hunt close enough to a trail head to pack it on your back, or get hold of someone with horses!

[Ridge Ghost]

Get a backpack that can comfortably haul a load out. Bring some good game bags and be prepared for a LOT of work.

If you are hoping to get help from a horse packer, make sure you contact one before your trip and have everything lined up. You will most likely find yourself out of luck if you wait to find help once your elk is down.

[WYO_ELK]

Bring some parachord to tie the legs to trees and brush if need be

[Ponyboy_jonas]

It would be easier to just rent horses then to find a guide to take it out. The bad thing about renting horses is that you wont know the their behavior. And if u have an arrangement with a guide to pack out your meat, he might not be able to make it ay time soon. Or... GET IN SHAPE.

[lineman53]

Thanks guys. Just left the gym.

[Indian Summer]

Thanks guys. Just left the gym.

That'll help. But the two things mentioned above are the bottom line: Make sure you have a daypack that can pack meat and a solid pack that will comfortably do the rest of the job. And.... do not consider hiking in 8 miles and then hunting beyond that.

Bow or gun? Weather plays a big factor. If it is gun season and chilly you can hang quarters and have way more time. Unlimited time actually if the weather is decent.

If it is September bow season and hot which is common, or even a warm gun season, the clock starts ticking the minute your elk hits the ground so you could be in for a packing marathon. That means non-stop packing from the minute you get it all quartered until it is at a processor.

Make damn sure you know what processor you are using in advance and where he is. Also... find out where you can get ice, preferably dry ice so your meat isn't sitting in water in advance if it's warm at the truck. If it's cold enough you can skip that and just keep it off the ground in the shade.

Taking a heavy hind on the first trip is advisable if your hunting pack can handle it. Lots of people bone out their meat but I never do. I like everything intact to avoid exposing so many surfaces to the elements. If your daypack can't handle a hind get at least a front quarter and the back straps out on the first run. Then when you get to the truck go get the ice and get it into a cooler and take the heavy duty pack in for the rest. Wake up the next day early, even though you can hardly move, and pack all day until you get the rest out and on ice or to the processor.

The saying is fairly true that the work begins after the kill. Don't get me wrong, elk hunting itself is tough and some packs are fairly easy. But still.... no matter how many elk you kill when you walk up to one laying on the ground you still look at it and say aaaaaw man, look what I've gotten myself into now!

Don't jump right on it while your hands are still shaking. Instead stop a few minutes and smell the roses. Have a quick bite to eat before your hands get messy. Punch your tag and take some pictures with your Clip-Shot (you do have one don't you??) Then get out your tools and bags and take care of business carefully one step at a time. Take your time and be safe. Don't cut yourself. Don't twist an ankle on the way out with a heavy load on your back.

Oh yeah..... mark a waypoint so you can find your way back and maybe even get some flagging tape around so finding the exact spot is easy..... even in the dark.

Hiring an outfitter to pack meat is usually very difficult unless you are actually hunting near one and can walk into camp and ask on the spot.

Good luck.

[jmez]

Unless you know someone in the area you likely aren't going to find anyone with horses to pack the meat out for you. Even if you find someone that agrees, chances are you won't be able to get a hold of them when you need them.

[lineman53]

Thanks for all the info Indian Summer and everyone else. Hunting 2nd rifle season, end of October so I'm hoping for beginners luck and some snow..

[Swede]

My advise would be for you to have a realistic grasp on your ability to pack at the elevation you are hunting. Understand the terrain you are packing out of. Elk are sometimes killed in some of the most difficult canyons God made. Packing uphill can be especially awful. Every bush is next to another, and they conspire to fight you off, and push you back. If they are loaded with snow they will dump on you constantly. The ground is loose, so when you step up it breaks under your feet and you lose half of what you worked so hard for. The steepness, possible snow, and downed large material make every attempt to move forward even a few feet, into a journey. That can be just the bottom third of the mountain you have to go back up. It gets down right ugly after that.
I am not trying to dissuade you. Only you know where you are hunting, what resources you have, and how capable you are considering all of the conditions. Consider everything you can, and be realistic in what you can handle. Now go get a 1,000 pound 6X6.

[Elkduds]

Plan your hunt so you can reasonably pack an elk from your farthest destination. 3 miles is a very long trip to make 4 times w meat and 4 times back w empty packs. As stated well and often above, the fun is over when you pull the trigger. Then the serious work begins. Know the gutless method! Warm weather or cool, get quarters, backstraps, tenderloins and any other meat (neck, etc) off the carcass, skinned and into game bags to hang. Remember to leave evidence of sex on a hindquarter. Mark the kill spot on GPS, map, w flagging so you can come directly back. Don't waste time/energy wandering when returning for future loads. Take a load to camp w you, or to nearest road downhill from the kill. Load your daypack w backstraps, loins, loose meat. In a pinch, a front quarter w leg attached can be carried over shoulder if it won't attach to your hunting pack. Take pics like these.

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Head downhill to camp, because you decided in advance to hunt uphill from where you started. If it stays cooler than 40 degrees, hang the meat in breathable game bags, shaded & out of reach of predators. Warmer than 40, meat goes in a cooler: Big ice chest, cargo box lined w sleeping bags, tarps. In w the meat goes frozen gallon jugs of water from the ice chest, in which you brought 6 frozen jugs. Validated carcass tag stays w the cooling meat in camp or vehicle.

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Next trip, take frame pack and trekking poles, WY saw or hacksaw. Take ibuprofen or aspirin as often as bottle permits, hydrate to the max. Change socks, put on sturdiest boots. If you found someone in advance to pack meat, remind them of the 2 (or more) Benjamins you brought to secure packing service. Know the shortest route from kill to vehicle. Even an atv of your own or from the nearest camp can shorten your pack out. Keep it on the trail. If you know people who will carry meat, round them up.

Back you go to for 2-3 more trips in the shortest time you can. Maybe more if bringing cape, rack or hide. Last load, take down flagging tape. Each load gets cooled as the first load did. Then, to the processor ASAP. Hot springs, massage, chiropractor. Apply cold liquids internally.

[elkstalker]

If there is snow, and the country allows, use a sled. When I lived in MT, where rifle season starts the last week in October I often was able to drag quarters out on a sled, although, watch out for those steep hillsides A sled with a couple hundred pounds of meat can really get going on a steep hill. If there's no snow, use a sturdy pack and take your time, you don't need to kill yourself.

Like some of the other guys said earlier, your preparation is the greatest tool in making the pack easier. Be in shape, hunt smart (where you can pack downhill), have everything you need to care for your meat, and have a plan.

[Indian Summer]

I can't help but laugh thinking of an old friend when I hear the sled suggestion. The guy was a total rookie. Killed a cow on his first ever elk hunt all dressed in ski clothes. He put one hind on a sled and proceeded down the spine of a small ridge. He didn't get very far before it about ran him over, passed him up, rolled off the right side of the ridge, sailed about 200 yards downhill and crashed into a hodge podge of blowdowns destroying the sled completely.

I came up the next day with 2 mules and plucked the rest out for him. He said wow I guess that's how it's done huh!

Another buddy used a plastic sled once. Snow was spotty though and it didn't take much dry ground before the bottom wore right through.

Get your elk off the ground!

[Vanish]

I do not like carrying out bones as a solo hunter. That's a LOT of extra weight, enough that it could save you an entire round trip. Carry out the extras like the backstraps with each load instead of the bone. Then again, I process my own meat, so I have to take out the bones eventually anyway.

Also, while exposing more meat to the elements is not ideal, removing the bones removes a lot of heat. Just keep things clean.

[elkstalker]

I laugh when I remember some of my experiences too, Indian, but for towing out through 1-10" of snow on relatively flat ground, you can't beat it. Now that I hunt earlier in the year it's not much of an option.

[Indian Summer]

Nothing beats a good game cart on a gated road right.

I have never boned out an elk. I've been with guys who have a didn't like what I saw. My meat is super fine. I feed it to people all the time who don't hunt and they never question if it is wild game.

My air conditioning has been out since the day before I left for Sturgis. A guy from my wife's work came and fixed it today. His fee: One pack of ground elk, one elk round steak, and a pack of elk back strap. That stuff is money!

[six]

Hope this helps.

Last year I shot a bull at 8:30 in the morning. He was .8 mile from camp. I took some photos, radio'd my hunting partner and we went right to work. The last load of meat was hung in camp at 5:30 that evening. Then it was time for a PBR. 3 trips apiece UP the mountain.

[lineman53]

Thanks a ton guys. Leaving next Wednesday from Missouri to go scout all weekend. Beyond excited to get out there.

[Elkduds]

Good luck, keep posting so we know how you made out.

[CurlyTail]

I count on five 80 pound loads per elk. Load 1,2 - Front quarter + 1 backstrap + 1 tenderloin. Load 3,4 - hind quarters. Load 5 - neck meat, rib meat, bits n' pieces, brisket, antlers.

One guy - 5 trips

Two guys - 3 trips

3 guys - 2 trips

A huge reason for hunting with a partner or group. Just agree to split the processing fee and the meat and everyone is thrilled to help haul.

Last season I shot my elk at 7:30 pm. 2 loads out by 4am. 3 hours of sleep, last load out by 9am. To the processor by 1pm. Nothing but happy memories.

The meat is worth it!

[elk.addict]

^^ agree. I used to try and get my elk out is as few of trips as possible - and sometimes that is absolutely necessary due to warm weather. If not, I just go light and do 5 trips (obviously less if I have help). It's just a lot easier on the body. And I'm in no hurry to get out of the woods

Don't laugh, but I also have packs for my dogs. Between the 2 of them, they haul about 20 lbs at a time (not a lot but it's something). I do a lot of backpacking in the summer and they have got pretty used to wearing loaded. This probably isn't practical for most people though.

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[lineman53]

Elk.addict lol that's some ingenuity right there. However I don't think my Jack Russell would be of much help. Cool pic tho. I'll be sure to post pics. Excitement level is building everyday.

[Gypsumreaper]

If you want to go with the horse idea call the outfitters in advanced, they will charge you more money since you aren't hunting with them usually and most guided hunting services won't pack cause they have clients. My advice find a guide that does drop camps in the area, they will make trips to camps every few days of there good to check their hunters and you may hit them on a day they are doing a check, they love making money on the way out cause they are usually coming out empty. In Colorado though if you find a random person with horses and they pack meat for you, it is against the law to pay them. They look at is as illegal outfitting and they can get in serious trouble as well as you. Especially if they're is an outfitter in the area and he catches wind of it that's money it of their pocket. Used to happen the the business I worked for and we constantly had guys "trail riding" into the area and packing meat. If it's ur buddies it's fine don't pay them it's a favor or do it away from the mountain. It got so bad in our area the forest service used to hike in and pretend to hunt and ask people to pack their animals out and see if they would take money and hit them.