Asking strangers for help hauling meat

[WoodlandCritter]

I haven't been asked but probably would help if I was. I don't think I would ask unless I was truly, truly desperate.

I killed my first deer last year 2 miles in. My phone camera was busted, but I was dead set on getting a proper grip and grin. So I removed all the guts below the diaphragm and stuffed that mf whole between my pack and frame.

I know its not the same as packing out an elk solo, but it was plenty miserable nonetheless.

Here's the setup.

 

[Gribley]

I shot a cow this past season. My first solo elk and my first public land elk. So I satellite texted my wife who was so excited that she texted a bunch of friends and family. At one point I got a blip of cell reception and received a few text messages from friends congratulating me. One buddy asked if I needed help. I said “mm I don’t need the help and I’ll probably have it packed out by the time you get to the trailhead. But it’d be fun to have the company.” This was dumb on several levels since I was a couple miles from the truck and wasn’t done gutting the elk. He dropped everything and drove the couple hours to a trailhead he hadn’t been to before. I met him on the trail (at a fork that’s not on the map no less) with my first load out. He helped me pack out the rest of the elk, then helped me break down camp so I could get home to process the meat. And he had to work the next day. He said he didn’t want any of the meat. Not a big meat eater. Just wanted to enjoy a snowy day in the mountains. He did say he’d come over for a steak. I actually still owe him that steak.