Couple new questions from the new flat lander

[Tejasbow]

Where are all the best places to kill ELK.... I kid I kid

Lets say the very very unlikely happens and on our first elk hunting trip me or my buddy kill an elk early in the hunt.
1. can two men pack an elk out in one trip? If not what do you do with the tag? You pack meat to the truck with tag on meat, then have to return for second trip. You take the tag with you and tag what your carrying or do you leave it with meat at the truck? Should I take the head with me on the first trip to truck or second?

2. We get the meat to the truck in one or two trips and need to keep it cool for a few days while we continue our hunt. Are there any meat lockers in the Aspen, Buena Vista, Leadville area that we can leave our meat at for a few days and pick up on on way out of town?

Sorry of these are dumb questions.

 

[dsclowers]

Good questions. Unfortunately, I'm new to this too so I don't have the answers. Sorry to hijack but I thought of an additional question that I think might be good to have answered. If you bone oout the elk to make it easier to carry back to the truck, how do you leave evidence of sex (especially if you aren't bringing out a head full of antlers)?

 

[Bar]

Keep the tag in your pocket after you fill it out, and detach it. When you get back to your truck attach the tag to the chunk of meat that has the proof of sex. Then go back for the other loads of meat until you have all the meat out. If you run into a warden while getting the 2nd or 3rd loads you tell him the tag is attached to the meat at the truck. More than likely it will be near where he parked anyway.

This method was told to me by a warden decades ago.

 

[Bar]

Good questions. Unfortunately, I'm new to this too so I don't have the answers. Sorry to hijack but I thought of an additional question that I think might be good to have answered. If you bone oout the elk to make it easier to carry back to the truck, how do you leave evidence of sex (especially if you aren't bringing out a head full of antlers)?

You leave evidence of sex on the big chuck of meat it's naturally attached to. No different than just quartering out the elk.

 

[rodney482]

Im guessing most folks cant pack out 1/2 elk in 1 trip.

Plan on two trips.

Read the meat care thread! Lots of great tips.

Make sure to read your states rules and regs on tagging.

 

[Hunt'nFish]

Yes each guy should be able to handle 1/2 a boned out elk. But you have to add in the cape & horns which is a fair bit in it's self. And camp. This usually means a couple trips apiece. Meat is always the priority, camp & cape last. Just lay out cape raw side up over a log and it'll air just fine. Horns go w/ me and a major load of meat.

Regulations for each state clearly spell out requirements.
Here in Oregon I believe the tags stays w/ the major portion. I interpret the major portion to be the portion w/ me. We also have to retain proof of sex on one of the qtrs. Sorry but I won't say I comply 100% of the time there. First thing I do is get the sex parts as far away from my meat as possible. We also are also supposed to keep the eyes w/ the skull plate, so they can inspect pupils for night poaching. If they want the sex parts & eyes to prove I'm following the rules, here's the GPS coord's, go convince yourself I'm not a liar or poacher.
Hunt'nFish

 

[elkeaterco]

A med sized bull elk is roughly 200 lbs of boned out meat then add another 40 lbs for the head. All states have different rules on tags so read the regs. If you properly bone out and cool the meat you can go a few days in the woods with it before you need to worry about finding a freezer. You can also pack a large tarp, wrap the meat in the tarp (after it's been cooled over night), and then add several blocks of ice with the meat as a make shift cooler. (wrap the ice in trash bags so you don't get the meat wet) and always keep out of the sun, use the bottom of your truck if need be for a shaded spot.

 

[fillthefreezer]

for evidence of sex, just leave a square of skin and the penis sheath on part of the quarter. its also not a terrible idea to take a small piece of colored cordage, like zline and tie it to the top of the game bag that has your tag in it. if you have 5 bags full of meat, and have to produce the tag, its just that much easier. tag and evidence in same bag.

 

[crumy]

I second the idea that two guys can pack out an elk in one trip. It won't be fun but it is doable.

 

[littlebuf]

I second the idea that two guys can pack out an elk in one trip. It won't be fun but it is doable.

It would be a rare first timer that will be able to do it . And an even rarer flatlander. We all want to sound real bad ass on line, I understand that. I've packed a half elk with cape and horns and I'll only do if I have to

 

[crumy]

I'm far from a badass. But his question was is it doable and it is. There are a lot of variables but since he is asking I am guessing he is training. And since he is considering it I'm guessing he doesn't weigh a buck twenty wet either. So let me clarify my answer.

Cardio is important. Take your time, use trekking poles. I train by alternating 40 lbs and fast walk/shuffle and 80 lbs at a casual walk for 3 - 4 miles alternating with a 7 mile walk on weekends twice a month I weigh 200 and am 41 Also run during lunch.

So I'm not a bad ass. Im just prepared. At least like to think I am I wouldn't think about adding cape and horns to it. I'm guessing with just meat the packs were about 100 and it was all down hill. Any up would be horrible.

 

[gelton]

I'm far from a badass. But his question was is it doable and it is. There are a lot of variables but since he is asking I am guessing he is training. And since he is considering it I'm guessing he doesn't weigh a buck twenty wet either. So let me clarify my answer.

Cardio is important. Take your time, use trekking poles. I train by alternating 40 lbs and fast walk/shuffle and 80 lbs at a casual walk for 3 - 4 miles alternating with a 7 mile walk on weekends twice a month I weigh 200 and am 41 Also run during lunch.

So I'm not a bad ass. Im just prepared. At least like to think I am I wouldn't think about adding cape and horns to it. I'm guessing with just meat the packs were about 100 and it was all down hill. Any up would be horrible.

In littlebuffs mind anyone east of the Rockies is a fanboy softie...if East of the Mississippi you are an uber fan boy softie and if you are a flatlander you might as well stay home. In fact I bet he even has a map on his wall whose legend spells out how big of a wimp you are and the only people with intestinal fortitude are those born on his block.

But I do agree with littlebuff that it will take more than one trip and thats before even thinking about packing in camp.

 

[littlebuf]

some of the biggest fan boys i ever met i met in the cascades....

 

[Matt Cashell]

Shoot LB,

I always pictured you throwing your bull over your shoulder!

1/2 an elk each? boned? Piece of cake. A couple years ago me and a buddy packed out two bulls in one trip:

 

[Ross]

In this venture especially for the inexperienced flat lander when in doubt error on the side of caution and make more trips with lighter packs versus risking injury and a minor catastrophe.

 

[Matt Cashell]

In this venture especially for the inexperienced flat lander when in doubt error on the side of caution and make more trips with lighter packs versus risking injury and a minor catastrophe.

Wisdom here, Ross.

 

[crumy]

Shoot LB,

I always pictured you throwing your bull over your shoulder!

1/2 and elk each? boned? Piece of cake. A couple years ago me and a buddy packed out two bulls in one trip:

Is that little buf on the left No wait that's a horses ass. .

Said with a smile and in a joking manner.

 

[littlebuf]

Is that little buf on the left No wait that's a horses ass. .

Said with a smile and in a joking manner.

horses and i do have two things in common. ones packing, the others probably not family friendly to talk about, far be it form me to offend any one after all...

 

[dotman]

You offend, no way .....

 

[Tejasbow]

I'm far from a badass. But his question was is it doable and it is. There are a lot of variables but since he is asking I am guessing he is training. And since he is considering it I'm guessing he doesn't weigh a buck twenty wet either. So let me clarify my answer.

Cardio is important. Take your time, use trekking poles. I train by alternating 40 lbs and fast walk/shuffle and 80 lbs at a casual walk for 3 - 4 miles alternating with a 7 mile walk on weekends twice a month I weigh 200 and am 41 Also run during lunch.

So I'm not a bad ass. Im just prepared. At least like to think I am I wouldn't think about adding cape and horns to it. I'm guessing with just meat the packs were about 100 and it was all down hill. Any up would be horrible.

buck 20... In middle school LOL

6-2 210 I assure you I know I am no badass in those mountains I have spent enough time at high altitude and steep mountains trying to get to an elusive trout stream to know I am no badass.


Thanks for the helps guys. I will def plan on two trips. The legality of the tag was the biggest question. I will check out the meat care thread. I have never deboned an animal in the field these Texas Whitetail ain't much to load in the truck dressed.