Asking strangers for help hauling meat

[Sheepeater]

Say for instance I was walking DOWN the mountain and heading the same way as the asker, yes I would help if I could. However I doubt I would change my route or my hunting plans to help someone carry out meat UNLESS there were circumstances where I felt it would be prudent to help, such as an injured person or other such scenarios.

 

[adill84]

Not trying to hijack the thread or break hunting etiquette. Say you have a new solo elk hunter that gets an elk down 5-6 miles in during September archery. How many trips would the average guy have to make and in what time frame to avoid spoilage if the meat was stored in bags hung in good airflow? Is there an etiquette to locating and paying guys to help pack? Like is it an unwritten rule not to swing into the local outfitter telling him your hunting the same unit and asking how much and if he is willing to use his means to get meat out if your successful? Will local DNR recommend people?

 

[Wrench]

Not trying to hijack the thread or break hunting etiquette. Say you have a new solo elk hunter that gets an elk down 5-6 miles in during September archery. How many trips would the average guy have to make and in what time frame to avoid spoilage if the meat was stored in bags hung in good airflow? Is there an etiquette to locating and paying guys to help pack? Like is it an unwritten rule not to swing into the local outfitter telling him your hunting the same unit and asking how much and if he is willing to use his means to get meat out if your successful? Will local DNR recommend people?

There's no answering this question accurately. Temps can swing enough that an elk could be fine for a few days or skank in 16 hours.

It all boils down to how quick you can get it cooling and what your temperature and humidity are. It can be 80 all day if you can find a cool draw with natural thermal currents that will help keep it cool longer......or you could be in the open sage with no shade and low air flow.

Count on nobody coming to help and if they do come from a state agency and you're not able to get out and you're not injured.....you're probably getting a wanton waste ticket.

Don't hunt where you can't retrieve.....that's rule number one.

 

[Geewhiz]

Not trying to hijack the thread or break hunting etiquette. Say you have a new solo elk hunter that gets an elk down 5-6 miles in during September archery. How many trips would the average guy have to make and in what time frame to avoid spoilage if the meat was stored in bags hung in good airflow? Is there an etiquette to locating and paying guys to help pack? Like is it an unwritten rule not to swing into the local outfitter telling him your hunting the same unit and asking how much and if he is willing to use his means to get meat out if your successful? Will local DNR recommend people?

One single burly man can get a mature bull out in 3 HEAVY trips if you do not bring a cape and not including your camp if you have an overnight camp in there somewhere. Also, a round trip is 10-12 miles so 3 round trips is 30-36 miles which is a lot. Meat spoilage completely depends on the weather. If you plan on needing help I would highly suggest getting that lined out before you need it. I don’t know of any written or unwritten rules but packing elk is work and if you are asking people to help you then just be ready to break out your check book.

 

[BRTreedogs]

Not trying to hijack the thread or break hunting etiquette. Say you have a new solo elk hunter that gets an elk down 5-6 miles in during September archery. How many trips would the average guy have to make and in what time frame to avoid spoilage if the meat was stored in bags hung in good airflow? Is there an etiquette to locating and paying guys to help pack? Like is it an unwritten rule not to swing into the local outfitter telling him your hunting the same unit and asking how much and if he is willing to use his means to get meat out if your successful? Will local DNR recommend people?

I think that outfitters available to pack on a moments notice is thoughts of years gone bye.
Every one is busy now.
You’re literally asking if a reputable, reasonable priced, knowledgeable man that needs to support his family is just sitting around waiting for a call?

They stagger there clients and stay busy making money.

Go buy a couple 60lb tubes of sand while they still have them in stock.
Put one in your bag and go hike 10 miles in the roughest terrain you have available.
Then ask yourself if you can do that 2-3-4 more times back to back.
If you want to try an shorten it to 2-3 trips put both tubes of sand in your pack and give that a go. And ask yourself if you can sleep for 4-6 hrs and do it 2x more.

Hunt closer to the road or go outfitted if you can’t do all that and tell yourself it’s fun.

 

[Wrench]

My pard and I one tripped my roosevelt elk out....but it was just over a mile with maybe 500 feet of vert and our shoulders were bloody. I haven't been that tough since.

 

[Wizzum]

Not trying to hijack the thread or break hunting etiquette. Say you have a new solo elk hunter that gets an elk down 5-6 miles in during September archery. How many trips would the average guy have to make and in what time frame to avoid spoilage if the meat was stored in bags hung in good airflow? Is there an etiquette to locating and paying guys to help pack? Like is it an unwritten rule not to swing into the local outfitter telling him your hunting the same unit and asking how much and if he is willing to use his means to get meat out if your successful? Will local DNR recommend people?

Cant speak to archery season and temps, but it took me 3 trips and around 24 hours solo after downing a bull a little more than 4 miles in. Pack outs were mostly downhill, first 2 were a front and hind quarter each, last trip was camp and backstraps/tenderloin. Respectable winds (air flow) and altitude kept the meat cool, nights turned into a natural refrigerator/freezer where I kept the meat.

Napped for 4 or 5 hours after my first pack out in the dark following quartering and getting everything into bags... was just flat out exhausted. Then went primal the next 19-20 hours over the last 2 trips so I wouldn't have to sleep in the mountains, taking no breaks. Then I had a long drive into town to get ice, and a very long drive home in the dark. Around 48 hours in total from trigger squeeze to being home in bed with meat on ice in my garage.

 

[Poser]

Not trying to hijack the thread or break hunting etiquette. Say you have a new solo elk hunter that gets an elk down 5-6 miles in during September archery. How many trips would the average guy have to make and in what time frame to avoid spoilage if the meat was stored in bags hung in good airflow? Is there an etiquette to locating and paying guys to help pack? Like is it an unwritten rule not to swing into the local outfitter telling him your hunting the same unit and asking how much and if he is willing to use his means to get meat out if your successful? Will local DNR recommend people?

If you want to have a packout service available to you, you need to contact them ahead of time and put down a non refundable deposit to reserve availability. Even then, they ares servicing their clients who are spending $5000+ for outfitted hunts as a priority over you who is spending $1000 for a packout, so it may be 1-3 days before they show up.

The truth of the matter is the "average guy" likely cannot handle this pack out scenario alone. You need skill, knowledge, fitness and grit.

 

[Tobe_B]

If you want to have a packout service available to you, you need to contact them ahead of time and put down a non refundable deposit to reserve availability. Even then, they ares servicing their clients who are spending $5000+ for outfitted hunts as a priority over you who is spending $1000 for a packout, so it may be 1-3 days before they show up.

The truth of the matter is the "average guy" likely cannot handle this pack out scenario alone. You need skill, knowledge, fitness and grit.

Extra heavy on the grit.

 

[MallardSX2]

I wonder how much elk meat goes to waste from people who get in over the heads during archery/muzzleloader season.

 

[wapitispokes]

I wonder how much elk meat goes to waste from people who get in over the heads during archery/muzzleloader season.

Lots. YouTube has created a generation of folks that have no idea what they are REALLY getting into.

 

[MallardSX2]

I consider myself a pretty seasoned hunter and there are LOTS of guys have way more experience than me hunting the west.

BUT, I know this, FOR SURE....5-6 miles is a LONG DAMN WAYS in the mountains. Especially with an elk 1/4 strapped to that ass....

 

[adill84]

No doubt it will be difficult makes me wonder how much meat is lost that guys do not talk about. I will factor in UTV access in my future plans.

 

[Pacific_Fork]

Lots. YouTube has created a generation of folks that have no idea what they are REALLY getting into.

Yea but if you just keep hammerin 8 miles deep solo packing an elk out really isn’t a big deal

 

[Cschoonover90]

The situation depends, if they are fat and out of shape, I’m not helping someone who isn’t prepared. Otherwise I’d help.

 

[I90west]

2019 I kept running into these two guys on the road who were just getting into archery elk hunting. Every time they ended the conversation with “if you need help packing one out, come get us.”

Later in the hunt, my dad had left to go home and I woke up feeling terrible. I ended finding a bull within half a mile from the road and killing him in a hell hole. After quartering and packing the first load out in the pouring rain with a high fever, I went to the camp of the two strangers. They were happy to help. 7 years later, I’ve became good friends with the one guy and shared quite a few memories in the elk woods with him.

 

[Wizzum]

No doubt it will be difficult makes me wonder how much meat is lost that guys do not talk about. I will factor in UTV access in my future plans.

One of the benefits of hunting in wilderness areas is that there aren't a lot of people in *your* space; Outfitters dominate and often won't start hunting dropping camp till solo/duo backpackers are at their end range. I always see a handful of people on foot, but not many, and never off the trail. Most all of them are masochists who know what they are getting into.

Outside of wilderness areas.... who know what type of people you will run into...

 

[Rich M]

Id expect a piece.

Used to shoot ducks for guys collections and no-one even covered shipping. Illegal to pay for “services” theyd say. Fine eff them and the next 10 guys and more. Tired of the selfish crap. Someone does something for you, you reciprocate. Bunch of entitled dorks out there.

You want something - make me an offer i cant refuse. 6-inch hunk of backstrap, sure. “Free Experience” uh, thanks anyway - enjoy your two trips buddy. I’ll leave an unopened beer behind the twisted pine on “the rock”. Enjoy. See ya next time and i wont leave a beer then.

 

[Huntnnw]

I watched 2 guys down a cow elk in hells canyon on a deer hunt. I had spotted a nice 6pt elk shed on that same hillside. I hiked over and grabbed it and then went by the guys with the elk and it was 2 guys in their late 70's early 80's with hip and knee replacements. I offered to throw a hindqtr in my pack and I would leave it under their truck. They declined and I went on my way. Took them 2 days to get that cow out. I would never ask and I have offered in right situations.