Help me gear up....Topic 5...PROCESSING

[bald9eagle]

Last year I bought a Havalon knife to help me clean my game. Nice buy. It beats trying to keep a knife on the whetstone. I'll cut to the chase here.

What all do I need to process an elk in the field?

The outfitter has said they will pack out the critter in the event that we take one. For us here in Alabama we drag a 150 pounds of field dressed deer to the truck which is never more than a quarter mile away...if that far. (I have driven right up to where they were shot and loaded em in the truck).

[pointysticks]

i prefer a big knife.

first i am kinda a wuss when it comes to hiking. to help me, i keep things light. sucks that i always seem to be the mule for the spotting scope and tripod. hahah.

anyways. i like a "real" knife. heaven forbid i get a sprained ankle or something and need to hammer a knife thru some wood..strike a ferro rod, etc. if i have a havalon, i would carry a bigger knife anyways..so for me, forget the havalon.

i can break down an elk to essentially four big piles. the quarters and that random meat bag of things like the straps and neck meat..and whatever else i can scrap off the bones. (oh, the heart and liver which are really really heavy). then divide the load by the number of backpacks and off we go. last time it took 2 trips because we really got economical and took every bit of meat.

at the truck, i pull out a real butcher knife. a vintage forgecraft bull nose knife. i break the meat down further into roast and stuff..and divide evenly amongst the participants.

[BrentLaBere]

You can break down an elk with just the havalon, no problems. But, like pointysticks mentions, a "real knife" is a nice survival tool to have. You just dont get that from a havalon. Unless you are really confident in breaking down big game animals, I would opt for a more reliable knife.

[zpd307]

have you watch the video on the gutless method yet? if not, its a good watch.

[bald9eagle]

have you watch the video on the gutless method yet? if not, its a good watch.

Not yet...but it's on my list if things to watch. One of the guys I thought was going has studied dressing game pretty hard.

[Elkduds]

Really like my Wyoming Saw, great for cutting lower legs off bone-in quarters. Plus, I always have a wood saw as well as a bone saw whenever I carry it. Also I carry a quick sharpener for my 2 folding knives. Big pillow cases are not as nice as most canvas game bags, but the price is right and they work. +1 on gutless

[Fridaythe13th]

Gutless +1 .. Last year, 1st archery elk, I brought with me 10' para cord, 2 pillow cases, 2 white garbage bags, chili powder, and a knife.

This year 40-50' para cord, 4 pillow cases, a small tarp, Wyoming saw, chili powder, knife and sharpener.

[bald9eagle]

Pillow cases....interesting. I'm guessing you guys bought some instead of using the flowery monogrammed ones that the wife uses on her throw pillows?

[Brendan]

My Kill Kit fits in a small Kifaru Baggie:

Havalon + 3 extra Blades
Set of Tag Bags (More expensive, but better than pillow cases)
2 Black Contractor Bags
50' of Paracord (Probably only used 10-15')
Flagging Tape
Small bottle of Cayenne Pepper.

[Elkduds]

I found large, stout pillow cases @ Goodwill for a couple bucks. They easily hold bone-in quarters. If I get ambitious I may put a drawstring in the hem around the opening.

[Huntrgathr]

For me :
Havalon bolt ( thicker blades)
FIVE Alaskan game bags ( there's more than 4 quarters on an elk)
2-3 pairs THICK nitrile gloves
50' of 550 para cord
2- 1 gallon plastic bags. One for heart/liver and one for trash ( used gloves, blades, etc).
Optional - short handled screwdriver for ivories and caping.

Learn the gutless method. Watch the video over and over. Watch it again right before you leave for your hunt so that it is fresh in your mind. In my opinion, pillowcases are only good if you can cinch the top. Your enemies are flies and heat.

On the first go round you might consider carrying a Havalon and a " real" knife so you can try both. Carry NO LESS than 5 blades for the Havalon.

[Indian Summer]

I use a Havalon a lot. But there's no way it would be my only knife to break down an elk. For that a Buck 105 Pathfinder is the bomb. I don't even own a folding knife and wouldn't. Accidentally push the lock tab down while you're putting pressure on those and they fold down on your finger. If they are as sharp as they should be it will go to the bone. So for me it's fixed blade only and a Buck holds an edge very well. The 119 is too big. I also use the Buck 102 Woodsman. Same knife but smaller and very light to pack. I carry all 3 and never stop to sharpen while breaking down an elk.

Depending on where I'm going and if I use a horse to cover some ground I will also take a Wyoming saw to cut the legs off below the knees. Same as Elkduds. They can't be beat for that.

Gutless all the way and I use TAG Bags. Just bought them. Read up on the benefits of the synthetic material over cotton. I can't believe how light they are and how well they fold down to such a small size. They are the newest addition to my gear. Two thumbs up to the TAG Bags!