Solo: After the Kill

[Toby]

Let's say you are 2 miles from camp/vehicle and 1500' above and have your elk down at 11:00 a.m. The terrain is varied, some ups and downs to get to the vehicle, high temps in the 60's. The elk died on a South facing slope with mixed cover, nearest water is 1000' below and a mile away.

Being alone, what do you do to keep the meat in good condition, get it out, and to avoid attracting predators? No horses or other people available.

Toby

[Indian Summer]

Hi 60s isn't at all unusual. In elk country there's a big difference between day time highs and the lows at night. That high temp won't last long. There's also a significant difference anywhere between direct sunlight and shade.

I'd get one hind strapped to my pack. Birds are really the biggest concern so I leave the hide on using the gutless method. To be honest I really don't worry about hanging them so I'd just lay them on top of a downed log if one were available in the right spot. It's early so I'll be back the same day for another trip. If I wasn't coming back for a 3rd trip I'd leave my stinking sweaty base layer on top of a quarter when I left the 2nd time. The others I might get up in the air over night so predators like coyotes weren't an issue. If the tree I was using for shade had some branches at the optimum height I might get some parachute cord on two of the quarters and hoist them up there. Can't hurt that's for sure. Better for cooling too. And of course... as funny or unnecessary as it may sound: I'd get my flagging tape up so I wasn't scratching my head the next day saying I swear it was right here!

The next morning I'd get a good breakfast in me and start early.

[otcWill]

Honestly, those are about as ideal as conditions as I'd ask for. I'd pull it into the shade, quarter, and pack half (unless a mature bull) in the first shot and be back by approximately 3:00 for the other half. Good day and I'm at the bar in time for happy hour! I'll be back tommorrow morning with my treestand to bear hunt and bring out the head then

[cnelk]

At those temps, flies are a real concern.
Flies and bees will get into the meat quickly.
The less blood you make the better - use the gutless method.
Then quarter it up and put them in game bags, hang in some shade.
Take off your T shirt and hang it near the meat [deters predators - has nothing to do with making the meat tender ]
Carve out your loose and carry that out in your pack in your 1st trip out
Flag the area, mark it on your GPS, drink some water, cut a hiking stick and start humping meat

[Mikeha33]

I have no experience doing this, but I do have a plan for a situation like this. First thing is mark my kill on my GPS. I would also go gutless, and pack out what I could, a hind a hopefully the backstraps in one load. In my kill kit I carry a bag of chili powder that I wold sprinkle on any exposed flesh or blood, including the nose and mouth. I've heard, but not experienced, that the chili powder will keep bees and flies off the animal, as well as deter predators. I'll also hang my extra pair of socks that I have in my bag off of low hanging limbs or sticks to keep predators away. It shouldn't take me that long to get a load out and back, as I'm in good shape, and get back in for a 2nd & 3rd load. Last thing that comes out is the head/cape, since there's no meat there, and if its a bull, I sure dont want my rack in the back of my truck visible to thieves.

[Still Hunter]

This is the situation that's always my goal. Mild temps, not too far to my Jeep, and mid-day.

Working as fast as possible id use the gutless method. Skin and debone the whole animal. I'd use a citrus spay to keep off the flies. Id use a tarp to keep the meat clean, and bagged. I spray the meat, and the bags. I would hang up all the meat in as cool and shady a spot as possible. At least 200yds away from the carcass. I would then take the backstraps and loins back to the Jeep. It's all I can carry in my hunting pack. I'd put the meat in a cooler, put away the gun and pack, and grab the big pack. Take some bear spray, and head back to get the rest of the meat that day. Even if it runs into dark.

For the new guys who wonder about the tag. It would have been filled out and detached right away, but then kept in my pocket until all the meat is back at the Jeep, and then i'll attach it to the piece of meat with the proof of sex. I find this to be the safest way to do it. Just in case someone steals the meat from the Jeep. I don't want them to have the tag too. I've talked to the local warden, and he said it's fine the way I do it.


If the distance was longer. I'd get as much meat as possible, and leave whats left hanging over night, and be back at first light the next day for the rest. I'd bring the tag with me to get the remainder of the meat.

[Toby]

How many trips would you anticipate making?

Is citrus spray the real deal?

[otcWill]

How many trips? Is it a bull or cow? I can get any cow and most bulls in two trips minus the rack if the head is attached. I will get the rack the next day usually. Shot my bull this year at 4:45. Had it broke down completely and deboned by 6:00p and got back to camp with the last load at 1:00 am the next morning. It was about 2.5 miles in.

[Toby]

OctWill, can I call you for help if I shoot one

That's impressive! I will turn 64 years old when I will be elk hunting this fall, I am in good shape, but no way can I pak 100#'s at a time over that distance.

My biggest concern is that a bear or cat will claim the kill site. If I carry the meat away from the carcass a couple hundred yards, will that keep most predators away?

My son in law killed an elk last year and hung the quarters in a tree, we went back the next day and packed it out. The next day we happened to walk by the kill site again and the carcass was covered with dirt and grass. I'm guessing a cat????

[Still Hunter]

How many trips would you anticipate making?

Is citrus spray the real deal?

3 trips since it's boned out.

Yes, it's the real deal.

[ctdad]

Does citrus spray affect the taste of the meat? I've had the same concern about chili powder

[>>>---WW---->]

I do the gutless method. I have seen Fred Eichler do an entire cow in less than 10 minutes. I'm nowhere near that fast. But I can get in done in 30-40 minutes not counting a break or two. I hunt with a day pack. But I can get the back straps and loins out on the first trip out to retrieve the pack frame, horse, or ATV, which ever works on that particular hunt!

Each quarter goes in a game bag. I like to place the quarters on logs that are laid across a running stream if one is close by and I place my T-shirt over them. If no stream is available, I'll either hang them or place them over small logs to get them up off the ground good enough to get good air circulation under them. I don't know if it helps to keep critters away from the meat or not. But so far nothing has touched any of my elk. Maybe I'm just lucky.

As far as the tag goes, I detach and mark it and keep it in my pocket. If I have a cooler in camp I leave a note in it for the game warden explaining that I am out packing in the rest of the meat. I sign it with my name and license number. All this is because I know that wardens will check camps, count quarters, and open coolers even if no one is around.

[rowdycwby1]

I would use the gutless method as well andput quarters, briskit,and neck neat into game bags then I'll take 550 cord and my small population pully out of my daypack and find a cool place to hang like the northern sides of trees for shade. I'd then load backstrap and tenderloin in my day pack and head out and get my external frame pack and head back up for the rest.I won't make the mistake of carrying out both un boned hind quarter's out in one load

[Swede]

Cnelk and others mentioned "flies". This is another situation where you really need good game bags. Those cheese cloth things do not protect the meat. Since I won't pack bone out for 2 miles, I to would use the gutless method and would bone out the meat before I made my first pack out. With good bags I don't need to coat the meat with anything. I will separate all meat from the hide, guts etc. and hang what I will be coming back for in the shade. I like to get the hide off ASAP.
I am surprised that Indian Summer would go through all of the trouble he describes in preparing to come back to the kill site. After seeing some of his packs, I expected he would just put his day pack back on, throw the bull over his shoulders, grab his bow and hike out that way. No fussing with this little matter.

[>>>---WW---->]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X4kJIrW1IDM

I think this is the unedited video of how Fred does his elk. I use the same method.

[elkmtngear]

Gutless method, hide off

Bag quarters with ladies panty hose (very light and packable)

Find a tree (away from the carcass), break off lower branches on the shady side

Hang quarters / loin and neck meat bags on broken staubs

Pee around the tree

Start humping! The remaining quarters will be good for 3 days in those temps

[Sawdust]

Fred is the real deal. Excellent video!

[Toby]

Where can I get some citrus spray, or is there a way to make it?

I am guessing that the panty hose won't keep the flys from laying eggs in the meat, is that correct?

[Still Hunter]

Where can I get some citrus spray, or is there a way to make it?

I am guessing that the panty hose won't keep the flys from laying eggs in the meat, is that correct?

http://www.outdoorsdirectory.com/magazi ... c_acid.htm

[Swede]

Jeff: Peeing around the tree may give you some relief, but it won't discourage critters.

[elkmtngear]

Where can I get some citrus spray, or is there a way to make it?

I am guessing that the panty hose won't keep the flys from laying eggs in the meat, is that correct?

http://www.outdoorsdirectory.com/magazi ... c_acid.htm

Incorrect...that is exactly what they do! The mesh is too fine for them to lay eggs through.

[elkmtngear]

Jeff: Peeing around the tree may give you some relief, but it won't discourage critters.

I learned it from an outfitter many years ago.

Bears ALWAYS drug/ ate on the gutpile...but never touched the bagged meat (this is over 25 years in bear infested Colorado elk woods).

If it works, stick with it!

[WapitiTalk1]

Jeff: Peeing around the tree may give you some relief, but it won't discourage critters.

Coming from a known tree stand, bear wizzer I also wizz around meat left for any period of time and leave a stinky T shirt. Haven't had anything chewed on yet (knock on wood).

[Still Hunter]

Where can I get some citrus spray, or is there a way to make it?

I am guessing that the panty hose won't keep the flys from laying eggs in the meat, is that correct?

http://www.outdoorsdirectory.com/magazi ... c_acid.htm

Incorrect...that is exactly what they do! The mesh is too fine for them to lay eggs through.

You quoted the wrong person.

[elkmtngear]

You quoted the wrong person.

Ah, my bad. Sorry about that Stillhunter.

[Huntrgathr]

I use gutless method also. I think back to the animals I gutted and think "What the heck was I doing?!". I don't bother with hanging the quarters. I can never find a tree that will allow me to hang the meat out of reach of scavengers so I just build a kind of platform out of branches to allow good air circulation around the meat. Like others, I leave as much scent as possible around the carcass. I'll usually drag or roll the guts and skeleton away from the meat since animals will focus on it first. I use those "Alaskan" game bags and have always been happy. I wash them after use and get 3-5 animals out of them before they get holes in them.

Don't be afraid to ask for help. With elk, I always call in at least one friend to help pack out. The elk I shot this year would have taken me 4 days to pack out. Instead, got it out the following morning with a couple friends. Sure I had to give up some meat and I can never call those friends again but it was worth it !!

[cnelk]

A pic of my elk last year. I was solo.
I used low branches and my Tshirt is near the gamebags

[Toby]

Cnelk, nice pic, beautiful bull, thanks for sharing.
Toby

[Still Hunter]

Brad....It looks like we hunt similar areas. Tough getting meat out, but elk seem to love being there.

[stringunner]

Took my dad and I near all day to pack out my bull this year. He drove 3 hours after I shot him to help me pack the bull out. It would have taken me two days to get him out by myself. It was going to be hot the day I shot him (shot him around 715 in the morning and we had the last load of meat to the truck around 6 that evening). I was on a SE facing slope with little opportunity in the spot he fell to keep him in the shade all day. I tried to pick a spot where the meat would be shaded in the heat of the day. Here is what I rigged up to keep the air flowing. The sheet did block the direct sun, but that is not the primary purpose, I keep it compressed in my pack with my game bags to lay the meat on while I'm quartering. Note: before packing out the meat I did cut the legs off to eliminate some weight.

resized3.jpg (296.83 KiB) Viewed 8769 times

[Indian Summer]

[quote="Toby"]OctWill, can I call you for help if I shoot one quote]

Only if I haven't called him first Toby. You're an animal dude. I guess that's boned out huh? I'm a bone in hide on guy so I don't have to worry about dirty meat. 1500 feet in elevation and the whole thing in two trips... reminds me of that movie Lee Majors starred in: The Bionic Man.