What Is Your Agreement?

[Swede]

When you hunt with others do you share the meat? To me it is not good if one person is a meat hunter (cow or spike) and the other(s) is a 350+ class bull or nothing hunter, unless the trophy hunter is exceptional, if you share the meat the same. How do you deal with these things. Do you all hunt the same animals? Do you hunt what you want and share the same regardless, or something else?
Last year was the first in many where we shared, as we were all in together. We were all meat hunters.

[ORelksniper]

My hunting partner is my brother. We share the work and share the meat.

[saddlesore]

The shooter gets 1/2 the elk and the rest is divided.Since my present hunting partner doesn't like to eat elk,I usually get it all.
My other past hunting partner who can't hunt anymore,I give him some if I have an abundance.

As for meat hunter vs trophy hunter. I am a meat hunter, but if a trophy hunter were in my camp and the trophy hunter past up a legal bull, I would not share a cow with him.I would not want any of a bull he shot though as I prefer the better tasting cow .

One big thing,I provide the pack animals on any hunt. Other hunters in camp will either have a saddle mount borrowed or rented.Which means when any elk is tagged I take a part of the day off to pack meat.Which I don't mind.That is my contribution to the hunt, but I expect other hunters to help me lift my elk on the pack mule.

All this is settled before we even reach camp

[Lonnie]

My past hunting partner was very competitive. I did not talk to him about it because I did not want to cause friction in our relationship. After we shot his animal he went back to work I had no help. So now I mostly hunt alone. I like the fact about sharing. As long as it is not my wife. lol I would definitely share my elk with my hunting partner. I am after big bulls unless it is the last day of hunting, then if it has hair it dies. So if he only wanted to shoot a caw and share I would not argue that one bit. I truly understanding the longer I hunt and take different partners with me that a hunting partner is like finding a good wife. I have taken some of the best tasting deer or elk over to friends that did not have any food and gave it to them so they could feed their families. It is hard to give away something that you have worked so hard for and put so much gas money in it. But in the end if I can help a friend out it is well worth it. Besides if we still have one more tag to fill and we have a half a elk in our freezer, because we shared a elk, then that just another excuse to hunt longer. lol

[N2mywake]

We share all the meat it's a team effort.

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[WapitiTalk1]

I guess no formal agreement (or split quantity) has ever been inked at my camps but in the past, meat has always been offered by the shooter to other packers/camp mates after processing/wrapping.

[Lefty]

Split it equally when with others than family. We always got my father in laws elk.

Years back when I was a kid we met up with an uncles neighbor hunting deer in northern Mn. The guys were giving my dad a hard time about the boys not holding their own , me at 15, brother 14 and brother at 12. My dad assured the others "his" boys could shoot or out shoot his group, about that time a snowshoe rabbit busted across the field, and my brother headshot it( yeah a bit of luck) on the full run out at 60 yards. My brother just non-nonchalantly walked up and flipped the rabbit over his shoulder like he did it every day

Geese: I have a hard time with those that want to hunt with me and give me "their" birds.
I make sure if it is a new person hunting with me they know they will be taking "their" birds. Waterfowl possession limits are a hassle and need to be changed. planning hunts, meals and and gifting jerky is challenging on really good years.

The past few years and with 3 moose we have neighbors who will take what ever we give them. My wife works on Fort Hall Reservation,.. easy to find those to eat deer, moose or elk.

[ElkNut1]

For us, you kill it you keep it! I'll help you pack!

ElkNut1

[Heartwood]

We keep our own elk but help our campmates/partners pack out when needed.

[Roosiebull]

For us, you kill it you keep it! I'll help you pack!

ElkNut1

That is how it's always been for me when hunting with biddies. I do share some meat, but I wait until after season is over to decide who I share with.

I prefer if people I hunt with fill their freezers, and I can share some with non hunters (normally my wife's family)

I am always up for packing meat, anyone I know can call me, if I am around, I help...no strings attached, so they don't have to give up meat to people for help.

It has came back around and helped me in the past.

[Indian Summer]

Same here. It's just always been that way. If you want elk meat go kill one. I give lots of meat to non hunters and will give a few packs to my partner if he doesn't punch his tag but i live on elk meat so parting with half would mean a tough winter.

[six]

Last year I shot a cow on the second to last day. Three of us were hunting together at the time. We all pitched in and cut it up and packed it to the truck. Once we got it home we all cut and wrapped it then divided it equally. One of the guys passed on 2 different cows during the week. After all the help I didn't think twice about sharing. Plus I'm sure it made a big impact on their wives which helped in them going back this year.

[Indian Summer]

I just try to make sure my partner kills a bull too!

[Roosiebull]

I just try to make sure my partner kills a bull too!

Roger that, after I fill my tag, I'm still in the woods just as much with friends, calling, or whatever I can do to help.

The ones who help me pack are my top priority to help...sometimes helping is no more than being there, so we can get further away if needed, if you have 2 for sure people to pack, you can hunt further from the rig.

Sure cannot wait for summer to pass....

[Swede]

I have followed the different ways hunter here deal with meat sharing after the hunt. In the past I have heard people claim their way is "the way" all fair minded hunters deal with the situation. Obviously that is not true.
Last year was the first time we shared everything equally. One person bought the groceries. In the end we paid him our share and divided the left over things. The elk were taken to a butcher and we split the meat and butchering costs. We even drove half way to meet for the meat distribution.
I personally don't care how things are done, but like an understanding before the hunt. I give most of my meat to family and friends. I have not missed a meal in years.
Does it make a difference for you hunters that team call? If one hunter calls and the other is the shooter, do you share the meat equally? I generally only call after I have killed my elk, so we don't share anything except the butchering and packing chores.

[saddlesore]

I always have non hunters ask me to give them some elk meat. My usual answer is that it would be like me going down to the super market and buying meat then giving it away, except the elk tends to end up costing a lot more per pound. Elk,deer, antelope meat in the freezer is like money in the bank.

I would have to spend at least $1000 a year on beef if I didn't have elk in the freezer.However,it cost me about $1200 a year each to keep these two hay burners and that doesn't include tack, trailers , bigger truck,etc.

For over ten years,I hunted with a few guys and I was the only one that consistently killed elk every year. They expected their share of thee meat even thought their contribution was only helping lifting the meat on the pack animal
So I would work my butt off tagging an elk and then end up me with 50-60pounds of meat. That got old and that is when I finally changed my allocation of the shooter gets1/2 the elk and the others can divy up how they want to.

One years when I have both an"A" tag and a "B"tag and I fill both.The second one goes to my past hunting buddy that can't hunt anymore or I divided it between him and a young fellow that needs the meat.
I don't give it to these charities because they stipulate that the meat has to be processed commercially and I am sure not going to pay $300 to do that and give it away.

I guess when you get older and live on a fixed income you tend to get crotchety

[wunder6]

We share it pretty much equally but tye shooter does get a bit more. We kind of look at it that we drive 26 hours out to hunt for 7 to 10 days and when some one gets one done you lose a day to hunt. Every day you have when you are on limited time is precious and we all know that. Everyone helps out packing and we split the costs of everything done the middle so to is it only makes sense. Also like some one else said coming home with something makes it easier for the wife to understand.

[Fridaythe13th]

My momma told me to share

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

Agreement???? If I have to make an agreement, I'll find a different partner!

If you want to offer me a package or two of meat, that's fine. Maybe I'll take it and maybe I won't! If I offer you some of my elk, you are welcome to take it. But I sure as hell don't need an agreement.

[Swede]

The lack of a clear understanding on matters like sharing costs and benefits has caused a lot more hurt feelings than a polite discussion ever did.
Even with my son Oly, we talk about what our plans are. If he said he wants all of the elk he shoots and half of mine if I get one, I would know he is short on meat. In the past he has said he has plenty and does not want more. Normally, we both give some away.
Most of the folks I hunt with arrive and leave all at different times. Since my elk goes to a butcher and is two plus weeks there, we are often all gone from camp when it is ready. We live several hundred miles apart. We usually agree to keep what we shoot and forget the sharing.
When I hunted last year with my cousin and his cousin, we had a complete understanding on everything before we left home. There were no problems or hard feelings. We are still cousins, and will hunt together again.
I am not sure why anyone would object to having a clear understanding about sharing.

[Indian Summer]

Wunder6 you got me thinking.... times have changed for me. Back in the day if a guy killed an wlk it did mean a partner or two lost a day of hunting. They also busted their butts packing quarters. In those days we did split the meat. But these days we all ride a horse and carry riding saddle panniers and drag another horse just to pack. So my partners know i got one when they see it laying next to the tent. Totally different situation.

[Wahpeton]

Team effort, team results are shared. We plan, travel and camp together for the entire elk camp. Chores are shared and so are the spoils of the hunt.

[Beendare]

SAWZALL right down the middle so each of us gets an Elknut......

[saddlesore]

Wunder6 you got me thinking.... times have changed for me. Back in the day if a guy killed an wlk it did mean a partner or two lost a day of hunting. They also busted their butts packing quarters. In those days we did split the meat. But these days we all ride a horse and carry riding saddle panniers and drag another horse just to pack. So my partners know i got one when they see it laying next to the tent. Totally different situation.

Same here, but I don't carry the saddle panniers, which would mean I would have to walk if I did.I don't do that. Since others in the party usually have rental horses, I'll pack a half on my pack mule,but they get the saddle panniers and can walk.

[Elkhunttoo]

Completely agree on the communication part. If everyone agrees in the beginning and does there part, all is great. We usually don't share with the family members in my group, if someone gets one we all help and they get the meat. Unless someone makes some jerky, then it's a requirement that we all get to try it . We do share on years of plenty with family or friends we know need some.

I shed hunt almost every year with some of my cousins, we split everything equal. Food cost, if we share food and then everyone makes he same and there is no argument over who saw the horn first or what area anyone goes to

[BrentLaBere]

Pretty similar to others here. But we don't expect to split the meat. The person that got the elk is usually willing to share some steaks or burger with the people that helped pack it out. It was something we talked about before we went hunting together.

[TimeOnTarget]

We share all meat 50/50. We also split all expenses of getting to and from the west as well as any processing costs associated 50/50. We do this simple because we both don't always draw a tag, but we both go on the hunt every year. We split all meat as well as expenses 50/50 no matter which of us has a tag. Doing this keeps both of us in elk meat each year.