Asking strangers for help hauling meat

[mad_angler]

We were headed into a steep CO unit in 2019 and there was a guy at the trailhead offering to show people where he saw some other bulls in exchange for helping him pack his several miles. We declined but he managed to get 2 guys on board.

We got slammed by a gnarly hail / electrical storm when they would’ve been on the trail. Always made me wonder what a raw deal / nightmare that turned into. Point being I saw him half-begging at that TH and it always reminds me how you can get past your limits if you’re not careful.

I have often wondered about this...

If someone just asked me to help, I probably would. I haven't elk hunted a lot and I wouldn't mind some experience carrying meat.

And I have often wondered if folks would help me if I asked. And I've wondered what those folks would want in return.


What experiences have you had asking for help or being asked to help?

 

[JJ1179]

If someone asked me and it was within a reasonable distance, I would help not expecting anything in return. I’d do it in good measure as a pay it forward kind of thing in hopes that someday someone would help me if I was in need.

One year I was hunting Colorado with some friends. We were all gathered around a bull that one of us had shot and talking about getting it quartered up and getting it out the 2 miles with the other two cows we had down. All of a sudden, a warden popped up out of nowhere and started asking for our licenses and checking everything out. Once he knew we were legit, I asked if he wanted to help pack out some meat since we were headed back the same way, and he said yes. He put a hind quarter on his pack and carried it out for us.

Really goes to show that not all game wardens are bad and they do care about hunters. I’ll never forget him doing that!

 

[Weldor]

We had an outfitter help load out back in 1990, deep snow bad news. He was great, his clients even helped. We did some beer drinking back at the truck in 20 degree weather, beer was cheap payment.

 

[Ucsdryder]

Zero chance I help if someone asks. Not saying I wouldn’t offer depending on the situation but that’s not something you ask for, that’s something you take someone up on if offered.

Get your own effing meat off the mountain or don’t go.

 

[SuperDUECE22]

If somebody offered to help me, I would politely decline and there is no way I'm asking anybody for help. I'm just too stubborn and I'm the kind of person that needs to get myself out of a mess I created. If a complete stranger asked me to help pack out at a trailhead i would consider depending on situation. Actions have consequences, if you can't get your meat out of an area with the resources you have, you have zero business hunting back there and some people need to learn that. Don't get me wrong I have helped a handful of strangers pack out, but that's me coming across them on my way to truck or something and they seem like good genuine people and I offer.

 

[Turkeygetpwnd38]

I’d have to be just about dead before I asked a stranger for help but that might just be a character flaw….
I’ve packed meat for a few strangers but they didn’t ask, it was just right place right time and I offered to take a load out.

 

[graniteghost]

I’d been watching a younger buck that I decided not to take when another guy dumped him right in front of me. I was less than 100 yds and he couldn’t see me due to the curve of the hill. I waited till he got up to the buck to approach him and congratulate him.

Upon getting up to him I realized he was all alone, he was slightly older, and we were about 3 miles in. Felt like I should offer to help him pack it out which he graciously accepted, and then I learned that he intended to drag the entire deer out 3 miles. Took us at least 4-5 hours and my back gets sore thinking about it

Made me way more cautious about volunteering myself for help, however he’d been hunting the area for a while and gave me some good tips about it

 

[Winnie]

Circumstances play a role. If the elk ran up and over a mountain and died in a hellhole on the other side and the weather is getting warmer than anyone expected and the guy is 92 years old and has a sprained ankle.....that is a completely different situation than a guy who shot one in a meadow up the mountain and just wants help hauling it downhill in cool weather.

 

[Weldor]

Some good deeds turn into good information. I live at 6000 ft so giving directions has become a habit for guys looking for a shorter pack out. Most appreciate it, and are genuine.