Best practice for backcountry early season elk meat care

[HaveBowWillTravel]

Hey guys...

if you’re several days into a backcountry archery hunt for elk and the weather is hot, how do you keep meat from spoiling if you are a couple days from being back to your truck? If two guys are hunting and one gets an elk, can you hang meat in shade over water and continue hunting or do you need to hike back to car and ice chest? How high up do you have to hang it to keep other predators away? Thanks!

 

[WCB]

If it is hot...hunting is usually done until you get the meat taken care of. Also, how far from the truck do you plan on being? You might have to take half a day or pack through the night to get the elk out and get back to hunting. Go into the hunt with the mentality that 1 elk is the goal and any hunting past that is bonus.

Some times you can stick meat in contractor bags and dunk in a river/creek...also depending on how cool it gets at night and how well of a shaded spot you can get it into...hanging/elevating may work. How high depends on what predators.

 

[Ucsdryder]

Continuing to hunt is a rough proposition. What if you get another elk. Then you’re talking multiple days of hiking 10 miles a day to get elk back to the truck without spoiling. Handle the first one, then go back and hunt. Usually you’ll lose 2 days of hunting.

 

[Kansas_Husker]

Continuing to hunt is a rough proposition. What if you get another elk. Then you’re talking multiple days of hiking 10 miles a day to get elk back to the truck without spoiling. Handle the first one, then go back and hunt. Usually you’ll lose 2 days of hunting.

+1 Take care of the first animal before continuing to hunt