Hauling an elk out of the woods?

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Big Bill --

thanks for the words of wisdom, and the warning:

BigBill said:
"And, for anyone over 50, I recommend your doctor checks you out (heart wise) to determine whether you/or whoever is/are fit for such a rigorous hunt in the first place. Both of my heart attacks came while I was hunting or out in the mountains. I was lucky the second time to get to the hospital before I died."
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I'm over 50, and thats something I've not done the past few years that I should think about for the next few.

Also, thanks for the photos - that certainly is some beautiful country. I think views like that are some of the reasons I head out there every year.

Regards,

Doc
 
Thanks Doc! I appreciate your kind words. As I look back, I just failed to see the obvious signs: shortness of breath during exercise; overweight (I was working for Dell at the time as a technician and was confined to a tiny cubicle for 10 hours per day; under loads of stress; etc., etc.

If you are over 50 and live a high stress lifestyle, smoke or drink or both; drink lots of coffee (caffeine is bad for the heart); are sedentary in you job and lifestyle; and, are short of breath during exertion - then you are a prime candidate for a heart attack or stroke.

Get checked out! Then change some things in your life quickly. BTW, I was in good health before I went to work for Dell! I guess the fried chicken and pizza they fed us when we were forced to work through our lunch hours was part of the problem. I gained 100 lbs working for Dell.
 
bring strong buddy along, and mess with his sights before you start hunting. important; never let him know you adjusted his sights. also make note of your sight setting in case your buddy is a low down.
 
Packing an elk out alone can be done, but man what a chore. One thing to consider is the difference in size between mature and immature animals. I wish that I could give you exact weights, but I have never put my packs on a scale. I can tell you this. Last year I killed a yealing cow with my bow. My hunting partner, my fourteen year old daughter, and myself carried the boned out elk in one trip with very heavy packs. (Took two hours to reach our vehicle.)

Two years ago I killed a young four by four bull. It was a two and a half hour hike into the wilderness where I got him. My daughter (then twelve, and a hard core bowhunter!) and I packed him out in two trips, which took an entire day. I know I could have packed out this bull alone. It would have taken two full days.

Here's the problem. A mature bull will have a body mass double of these young animals.(My brother-in-law's 320 bull weighed double my bull) Assuming I would have the stamina to pack meat for four days, (a large assumtion) The meat would surely spoil by then.

So the question is, how far in, and how big is the elk. If you are more than a couple hours in, would you have the restrain to pass on a mature animal? Count on a minimum of four trips for the boned out meat of a young animal. Can you make these trips in two days?

One more point. It is imparitive to get the animal boned out and the quarters hanging immediatly! Getting the heavy hide off and letting it cool is imparitive. If you leave the animal on the ground while you pack it out, you will have spoilage! I carry light weight game bags with me, and get the animal on a pole as soon as I recover it, than work from there. Make sure you hang it in all day shade. If you are hunting in an area with a lot of bears, you've got a whole other problem!

Choose your hunting area carefully, hunt no more than a couple hours in, and be willing to let the big one go, and you could pull off a solo hunt and a great accomplishment to boot. Good luck, hope you have a great hunt
 
Duckslayr is right on there with the bear and difficulties of packing an animal out. If there is a bear within 10 miles of your kill it will find it. If the temps are down to low 30's then you wont have a problem leaving the meat to pack out if you get it cooled down quick enough. But getting the animal opened up and cooled off is very important. Give it a try, you never know what will happen. I have been in on horse before and decided it was not worth shooting a cow, so we turned around and left.


A trophy animal isn't always the one with the biggest head gear. If it represents a goal that you worked hard for, then its a trophy no matter what it is. Some times its in the eye of the beholder.
 
There's another danger in packing out an elk by oneself especially in Montana, Idaho and Wyoming. WOLVES!

In central and northern Idaho some of my hunting buddies have told me that wolves are a real problem. There's a houndsman from Worley who recently lost several of his bear dogs at Elk River to wolves during a hunt.

http://www.fieldandstream.com/blogs/hunting/2009/10/wolves-kill-bear-dogs-worley-idaho

Read the comments...

Here's another story...

http://sports.espn.go.com/outdoors/hunting/news/story?id=2054720

Here's another great article...

Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation calls out groups for use of data on wolves, elk

Years ago wolves weren't even a consideration. But now, they spook me silly. I think they pose more of a danger than people think. Anyway, I'd hate like heck to be alone in the deep woods processing my elk, getting that elk blood all over me, and then strap that bloody mess on my back and go for a 10 mile hike. It just doesn't seem sensable! :confused:
 
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A few years ago my dad set up an elk hunt with 5 other people, everybody else backed out at the last minute.

He went solo. Shot a nice bull elk just after sunrise, took him till 3am to haul it all out. it was all up hill, heavy brush, and 4 miles to camp.

He said its still one of his favorite hunts.

Also said coyotes were fighting over the gut pile last few trips.
 
Yeah right. As he claims, he climbs 12K high mountains in 18" of snow! Wow, I'm impressed. You know what? I can't do that
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Skydiver,,you have an open invitation to my camp this fall, I will set you up, feed you, and tell you when and how to put in for a license.


Oct 15-26. Bring it.
If I'm not lying,,,you have a 5K check for me when you kill your elk.
elkman06
 
After I packed out my first elk all by myself, I swore that I would never do it again. But I still find myself going elk hunting by myself, far from cell service, planning on packing one out by myself. It isn't easy, or fun, you will probably be tired from boning the thing out, you won't want to move for the next few days, but it probably won't kill you.
 
florida

do they even have mountains there. Oh i here there are lots of ranches and high fenced hunts over there in montana. I really don't think some people understand the passions that others have for hunting nor understand what a true trophy hunter will do a chance at the unknown or what if he's up there.
 
passions that others have for hunting
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Knox,,,you really get it..
Many would call me stupid, pigheaded, or maybe just determined but I have never, ever, not pulled the trigger due to where the animal was standing. For some, it just is what it is, you don't question it, you just live it.
It's just like some of the dog,,hoghunters here, I don't really understand it but I don't question it nor belittle it(them). Good luck to all
elkman06
 
Quartered, boned, whatever it takes. Sometime out in a frame pack, sometimes on a kiddie sled. It is exhausting work. And now with wolves around in my area, I won't do it alone.
 
ya high country mulies for the first time in wy, i'll post some pre-season scouting pictures and show skydiver what a mountain really looks like from 12k
 
And now with wolves around in my area, I won't do it alone.
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Wise idea there huntergirl....don't forget the S&W Airweight as well..I don't advocate blasting them but when it comes down to them or me.>>>>>>>I win.

elkman06
 
knoxville - elkman - how old are you guys? I could do anything when I as in my 20s - 40s. However, now it's a different thing.
 
Knoxville:

No, you don't get it (as your buddy Elkman states). As a matter of fact, I have never hunted high fence in my life (not that I disagree with how anyone chooses to hunt) and we do a hell of a lot of climbing mountains in Montana. Also have hunted Arizona and New Mexico in past years. You are young so these things are different to you. But at my age, I need some assistance hunting and bringing out an animal as large as an elk.
Nobody said there were mountains in Florida, its just where I choose to live.

p.s. I gurantee you that I have just as much passion for hunting as anyone else, including you.
 
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Skydiver posted,
Yes, I saved my money and for me, I did it the right way. I HIRED A GUIDE! Whats wrong with having a professional help you anyway?
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Yes for you it may have been the right way, however for some it is not even a consideration.
I was willed a($5,000) guided elk hunt by a dear friend that i took care of in his last years. I had hunted Colorado 3 times and never brought home a carcass. He thought I was wasting my time and didn't realize I was having the time of my life on each hunt just being in God's beautiful creation.
I had no idea this hunt was willed to me until my friend passed.
I tried to set up a hunt in Montana with a guide and hunt out of his camp, but not be guided. We were close to scheduling the hunt and the guide found that he could loose his license if I was checked in the field without a baby sitter with me. That was the end of that and I do miss the wonderful old timer, but I hunt my way (within the Law of course). Never once have I looked back and questioned that decision. Its what I would call a "No-Brainier". For me it was the right way.

As for conditioning before hunting, I have done that every time except the last hunt i was on. That year, my 1st year retired I just had to much time on my hand and like all my life, that didn't work for me. I probably didn't train more than, Scratch that, what little I did couldn't begin to be called training.
I have more about it HERE on my web site if interested.
 
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