Couple new questions from the new flat lander

[BroodBuster]

The first time you kneel down next to a dead elk you'll be stunned at how big he is.

The more deer you've loaded in the back of the truck the more stunned you'll be at how big he is .

Two trips minimum.

 

[ChrisA]

Flat lander here and I would recommend Ross' advice. However, my buddy, also a flat lander, and I packed out a mature cow in one trip when I was 35. I turned 40 last year and four of us packed out two "legal" bulls in one trip one the 6th day of the hunt. That said, I killed a mature bull in the opening minutes of season last year and had only been at elevation for 32 hours. I didn't have any kind of pack with me and just hauling out the head kicked my ass and is the major reason i found this site, and am investing in great gear.

I'm not really a bad ass, just determined.

Chris

 

[cnelk]

Last fall I packed my bull out by myself in 4 trips. Bone in the meat
Shot him in the evening and packed him out the next morning.
First 2 trips were the hind quarters.
Third trip was both front quarters [this was the heaviest one]
Forth trip was the head

Not a bad ass either - 5'8" 170lbs

To debone or not depends on a few factors.
Time of day, temps and time. Distance to pack makes a difference too.

 

[jljmonky]

Last year was my first year but my answer to storage was to take along an old chest style deep freeze that had the compressor go bad. we had it on a hitch hauler on the SUV with no ice. It got cool enough at night to hold that during the day and we were able to go 24+ hours before having to put ice in it (had to keep the beer we found at the local micro brews cold anyway).

 

[sodaksooner]

Tejas, you can't hunt 45. We already have dibs....lol.

We'll be up there 2nd week of sept. Hope you enjoy yourself.

I saw a video where a guy split the ball sack so half was on each quarter(boneless method) and that way he had proof of sex in two spots. I am an elk newb too, so never had to deal with that...yet.

I think there is a locker in leadville but don't quote me on that. Google is your friend....

 

[bz_711]

The first time you kneel down next to a dead elk you'll be stunned at how big he is.

The more deer you've loaded in the back of the truck the more stunned you'll be at how big he is .

Two trips minimum.

Yep - I know the 4 of us last year will never forget walking up on my bull and just staring...
We did in one trip - but 4 guys...

 

[Travis1984]

Yep - I know the 4 of us last year will never forget walking up on my bull and just staring...
We did in one trip - but 4 guys...

Our plant his year is for one trip out per bull, then one with camp, hide, horns...

Also will likely have a bear tag in our pocket

 

[Tejasbow]

reading up on the evidence of sex again.

Excuse my ignorance but how in the heck do you keep the frank and beans attached to an animal that you have skinned, and deboned?

 

[muleman]

reading up on the evidence of sex again.

Excuse my ignorance but how in the heck do you keep the frank and beans attached to an animal that you have skinned, and deboned?

Don't skin the area around genitals, then leave the skin containing the genitals attached to one large muscle group. Trim up the excess skin and you have now complied with the requirement. It is easier to do than describe. When working around the genitals take your time and don't skin it out until you know where you are leaving it attached. This can be done with a bull or cow.

 

[Rucker61]

A co-worker shot his first elk last fall after 10 years of trying. In the excitement, they kinda forgot to leave proof of sex. He was back in camp the next day alone, as his buddies were out trying their luck, when the game warden came by. Didn't of POS, didn't even have any photos (they were on his buddies' phones). He had to hike back to the kill site and haul the cow's head back to avoid the ticket/fine.

 

[cleatus]

Take this for what it's worth. This will be my third trip to CO elk hunting not far from where you are going. I have not been successfull yet. But I do pre arrange with a packer in the off chance that I get an elk down. I like to have a back up plan. Let's say day 6 of a 7 day hunt you and your buddy both tag out. That's a whole lot of pain in a short time. Also depends on how far from the truck you are. If you can swing the cash it may be good insurance.

 

[rodney482]

I think your giving way too much credit to the average mans ability to handle 100# in elk country.


* I would rather go uphill than down.

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.

 

[Bar]

reading up on the evidence of sex again.

Excuse my ignorance but how in the heck do you keep the frank and beans attached to an animal that you have skinned, and deboned?

You don't need the frank. Just save one bean.

 

[muleman]

In my experience, elk especially bulls are big and heavy. Here is my experience from last year with two average+ bulls.

The first was packed out with three guys in one trip. This was all moderate downhill through a long rocky slope without a trail. This elk was quartered and bone in with all neck, brisket, rib meat, etc... Full head, rack and 2/3 the cape also went.

The second bull was a little bigger and was boned, with all neck, brisket, rib meat etc... Head minus lower jaw, rack and 2/3 cape was packed out also. The second bull was packed out in two trips by two of us. This pack out had moderate up and sustained down hill with a lot of bushwhacking, no trail again.

Neither of these pack outs were longer than a few miles one way to get to a road. In either case it wouldn't have been possible to pack them out in one trip with just two guys.

 

[jmez]

I think your giving way too much credit to the average mans ability to handle 100# in elk country.


* I would rather go uphill than down.

I think way too much credit is given to the average man's ability to handle 100# in any country.


As for proof of sex, I always keep a quart sized ziplock bag in my kill kit with a small zip tie. Put the ziplock over whatever you leave attached and then ziptie it. Keeps is separate from and off of your meat while still being attached.

 

[gelton]

Ahh, its nice to see people asking questions that I myself was worried about 4-5 years ago. Proof of sex being one of them, as people have said its easier than it seems.

One of my hunting partners killed an elk last year about 350 yards behind our basecamp where 3 groups of hunters (about 15-18 people) had been camping for 4-5 days. (lots of loud noise and camp smell didn't bother it a bit.)

We endured a freak snow storm that blew in 3 days before 1st rifle. After 3 days of snow that piled up to nearly 2 feet right before the season opened, which totally screwed up our high country backpacking in game plan, we opted for horses. On the first day of first rifle, while on the way into civilization to meet up with an outfitter to pick up our horses, the one guy who stayed behind went about 200 yards behind camp and set up. By the time we were back with the horses he had a 5x5 on the ground. We didn't bone it out but it did take two trips with a pack horse and one of the hunters from one of the other groups helped carry out the head. Luck would have it that that would be the only elk we laid eyes on all week.

Now we could have probably made that trip out with one loaded pack horse and one backpack full but instead we took it out in two trips (particularly because it was so close to camp). With that being said, and especially due to the snow, I don't think that two of us could have gotten out that 5x5 in one trip even though it was only ~350 yards from the truck and basecamp. So if one is talking about the true backcountry where you are miles away from the nearest road, much less basecamp, then at least plan on two trips but be prepared for 3 so that you can get camp packed in. Especially if it is your first or second packout.

 

[JFKinYK]

A 52 min video from Alaska fish and game on breaking down a moose. It's worth anyone's time and applies to any big game animal. I watch it before every season to get in the mood!

Fast forward to 22:30 for the evidence of sex part.

http://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=hunting.meatcare

 

[elkeaterco]

reading up on the evidence of sex again.

Excuse my ignorance but how in the heck do you keep the frank and beans attached to an animal that you have skinned, and deboned?

easy, keep them attached to the quad and fillet out the whole thing, if you cannot do that leave the one quarter whole and bone out the rest, it'll save you roughly 30% of the weight and allow the meat to cool faster.

 

[tipsntails7]

The biggest determining factor for me is terrain, which I have not seen mentioned. If it's through open meadows with good weather I'm loading it up till I can barely stand. If it's raining and I expect a lot of downhill the packs is gonna be much lighter. If there is a ton of blow down along the way, it's also gonna be lighter. Each situation is different and should be judged as such. Understand your abilities and where you need to get to. When in doubt make another trip. Breaking an ankle or blowing out your knee is not something you want to have happen, and if your solo you may no make it out at all.

 

[jdmaxwell]

Flatlander here. No expert.. but 2 of us carried my colorado bull off mountain 3 miles in one trip..
Never try that again. Each had 100 lbs and we took turn carrying head with horns..
It can be done but imo it isn't the smartest to try.. I probably fell 5 times..

I will make extra trip from now on.. Good luck