Elk Hunting Safety in the Backcountry

[ATC LLC]

What does everyone carry in their first aid packs for back country hunts?
So I just finished my mandatory hunt reporting and sadly had to report no harvest on elk this year. This was not due to a lack of effort but instead due to a medical emergency the day before the season while scouting my hunting grounds. While navigating a blowdown patch I slipped on the snow while hoping off a log and busted my knee up. I was about 2 miles from my camp and had minimal supplies in my pack since I was just on a day scouting trip, it was also in the 20's, snowing, getting dark and I was solo so I was not in a good situation. My paracord and pocket saw was in my kill kit (back at camp) so I didnt have a way to make an immobilization brace. With not many options I had to crawl and hobble, using my rifle as a crutch, the 8 hours back to camp. When I finally got back to camp I examined my leg more closely and came to the conclusion that I should probably message for help instead of attempting the trek back to my truck which was 8 miles as the crow fly's so approximately 14 trail miles. I ended up getting flown out due to the severity of the injury; complete rupture quad tendon, torn ligaments and damaged both meniscus in my right leg. I have a solid first aid kit; disinfectant wipes, clotting agent, steri strips, Benadryl, pain killers and a tourniquet in my belt pouch but I didnt have anything on me to immobilize my knee.

Being in my 30's, great shape, a single dad and a small business owner, this was reality check for me. Here are a few of my take aways.
- I will be keeping my paracord and folding saw in my pack at all times.
- Had to many long delayed messages with my inreach, T-Mobile satellite texting/picture messaging worked instantly and expedited the communication process in no cell service/remote rugged terrain (in my instance).
- Have a plan for worst case scenario, luckily, I had a solid game plan for emergencies and extract was quick
- XLR magnesium folding chassis with the carbon stock is tougher than expected. Im over 6' and 220lbs and every time I put my full weight on my makeshift crutch I thought it was gonna break. Surprisingly it is as tight as the day I bought it.
-Physical Therapy is pretty rough after being in a straight leg brace for 7 weeks post-surgery

 

[BigAntlerGetter]

What does everyone carry in their first aid packs for back country hunts?
So I just finished my mandatory hunt reporting and sadly had to report no harvest on elk this year. This was not due to a lack of effort but instead due to a medical emergency the day before the season while scouting my hunting grounds. While navigating a blowdown patch I slipped on the snow while hoping off a log and busted my knee up. I was about 2 miles from my camp and had minimal supplies in my pack since I was just on a day scouting trip, it was also in the 20's, snowing, getting dark and I was solo so I was not in a good situation. My paracord and pocket saw was in my kill kit (back at camp) so I didnt have a way to make an immobilization brace. With not many options I had to crawl and hobble, using my rifle as a crutch, the 8 hours back to camp. When I finally got back to camp I examined my leg more closely and came to the conclusion that I should probably message for help instead of attempting the trek back to my truck which was 8 miles as the crow fly's so approximately 14 trail miles. I ended up getting flown out due to the severity of the injury; complete rupture quad tendon, torn ligaments and damaged both meniscus in my right leg. I have a solid first aid kit; disinfectant wipes, clotting agent, steri strips, Benadryl, pain killers and a tourniquet in my belt pouch but I didnt have anything on me to immobilize my knee.

Being in my 30's, great shape, a single dad and a small business owner, this was reality check for me. Here are a few of my take aways.
- I will be keeping my paracord and folding saw in my pack at all times.
- Had to many long delayed messages with my inreach, T-Mobile satellite texting/picture messaging worked instantly and expedited the communication process in no cell service/remote rugged terrain (in my instance).
- Have a plan for worst case scenario, luckily, I had a solid game plan for emergencies and extract was quick
- XLR magnesium folding chassis with the carbon stock is tougher than expected. Im over 6' and 220lbs and every time I put my full weight on my makeshift crutch I thought it was gonna break. Surprisingly it is as tight as the day I bought it.
-Physical Therapy is pretty rough after being in a straight leg brace for 7 weeks post-surgery

We did a video on that on my business TikTok @avalancheoutfitters went through our entire pack with first aid and safety gear that we carry


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[ATC LLC]

My first thought is, another person. Being out 14 miles hike in the backcountry alone hunting isn’t a wise move.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

HAHA, that is what my mom told me. Between hunting buddies having kids, lining up work schedules, friends in shape enough to go where I like to hunt... I usually do at least one, one week hunt solo and have for the last 12 years.
FYI And part of those 14 miles I dirt biked in, it wasnt all hiking but that doesnt make it any better because there is a reason no one really dirtbike hunts into the area I go.

 

[DawnPatrol]

I’m glad you made it out ok, recovery sounds miserable.

To answer your question directly, what I carry to deal with a situation like this hydrocodone and a zoleo. But seriously, I don’t think a major leg injury like this is something more gear was going to solve. I mean, how many folks are gonna carry a splint and crutches into the back country? My 40 year old knees know: dont jump off of stuff with a pack on.

Feel better soon and I hope you can file a better hunt report next year.

 

[ATC LLC]

I’m glad you made it out ok, recovery sounds miserable.

To answer your question directly, what I carry to deal with a situation like this hydrocodone and a zoleo. But seriously, I don’t think a major leg injury like this is something more gear was going to solve. I mean, how many folks are gonna carry a splint and crutches into the back country? My 40 year old knees know: dont jump off of stuff with a pack on.

Feel better soon and I hope you can file a better hunt report next year.

Thank you for the well wishes, lucky enough the surgeon said 8 to 10 months to get my range of motion and strength back so I will be putting in for tags in 2026! Gotta have goals!

This is the dialog I was hoping to draw from this. No one is going to pack crutches and an immobilization brace or splint into the backcountry for the potential of getting hurt like you said. Just evaluating others medical tips and tricks. In my case of massive soft tissue damage, if I had my small hand saw with paracord I could have rigged up something to make the 8 hour death crawl less miserable and possibly faster. I also usually carry a partial roll of electrical tape but that was also in my kill kit. Im thinking if I had a full roll of electrical tape with a folding saw I could have rigged something up as well. Like most of you I also keep some prescription pain killers and muscle relaxers in my bag for emergency situations. In this situation I chose not to take any because I knew I would loose my focus and drive and given the circumstances I couldn’t afford to lose that even though the pain was pretty intense.

 

[RWT]

In your situation the only thing that would make it more tolerable are leather gloves to save your hands as I assume there was considerable crawling involved. Hope the recovery goes well. Curious if using the carbon stays and straps on the pack would have benefited you as a make shift splint. Even a multi tool or knife to cut 2 1” branches and use the excess straps on the pack as a splint? Something to immobilize the knee and keep it from swinging as much.

 

[Poser]

I don't think there's much a first aid kit, even an expansive one, can do for that particular injury. If you've torn the tendon that connects your quad to your knee, you are not going to be able to effectively extend the knee, not to mention the pain of a freshly torn meniscus. You can immobilize it, splint it up with SAM splits or DIY splints, but an injury like that will be self immobilized with fluid within a relatively short time.

I once tore my MCL while backcountry skiing. I was maybe 300 yards from the trailhead and the snow was 5 feet deep. I couldn't ride my splitboard out so I laid on it like a surfboard and sort of paddled my way out. Took me 3 hours to go 300 yards.

In your situation, the rescue is the only move that makes sense. Trekking poles, which doesn't sound like you had, could have been extremely helpful.

How did you get your gear out?

 

[rogerdoger]

Like poser said, trekking poles. The only other thing would be a lightweight tarp/shelter, fire starter, and enough clothes you could stay warm overnight if needed. Just in case you could not get back to camp you could shelter at scene of accident while help comes.

 

[bz_711]

Thanks for sharing...always good for everyone to take an inventory and make a plan.

I added a second tourniquet last year after listening to several ER backcountry area docs. I always have trekking poles...so I do think those two poles and two tourniquets could make a decent leg/knee brace quickly. Otherwise most of my kit is to stop bleeding...gauze, bandages, tape, zip-stitch's, pain meds, also pepto for stomach issues...I did add roll of electrical tape years ago and it has come in handy more so for bow, pack and equipment repairs.

Lastly the Zoleo is there for the SOS when that might be the only option.

Snow in the mountains turns up the danger level in a hurry. Glad you made it out and back on the mend.
2024 was my first year hunting elk solo and I'm sure I'll do it again...this is a good reminder to think thru all scenarios.

 

[Wprinkle]

@PNWGATOR @Marbles @justinspicher I have picked all three of these guys brains about this topic and related topics. Its definitely a rabbit hole worth venturing down.

 

[Hnthrdr]

Glad you are okay. I have given up on certain areas because the juice wasn’t worth the squeeze, one in particular had insane deadfall. A buddy split his head open on a snowy morning with a cam off his bow. Long hike out, we kind of decided it was a dumb spot and gave way better spots with less deadfall now haha maybe something to consider?

 

[wpeach1912]

Lifeflight insurance is probably the most effective thing for that kind of injury. I carry a tourniquet and a few other trauma items then super glue, bandaids, neosporin, and electrical tape. That combo makes sense to me to have something to address the most immediate life threatening injuries as well as the most likely injuries.

 

[Bulldawg]

I listened to one of the S2H podcasts recently, and it was brought up a medic told them there are only three first aide items you need, tourniquet, Israeli bandage, and a big bag of weed. Combine that last one with an inreach message and wait for the calvary.

 

[ATC LLC]

I’m glad you made it out ok, recovery sounds miserable.

To answer your question directly, what I carry to deal with a situation like this hydrocodone and a zoleo. But seriously, I don’t think a major leg injury like this is something more gear was going to solve. I mean, how many folks are gonna carry a splint and crutches into the back country? My 40 year old knees know: dont jump off of stuff with a pack on.

Feel better soon and I hope you can file a better hunt report next ye

Thanks for sharing...always good for everyone to take an inventory and make a plan.

I added a second tourniquet last year after listening to several ER backcountry area docs. I always have trekking poles...so I do think those two poles and two tourniquets could make a decent leg/knee brace quickly. Otherwise most of my kit is to stop bleeding...gauze, bandages, tape, zip-stitch's, pain meds, also pepto for stomach issues...I did add roll of electrical tape years ago and it has come in handy more so for bow, pack and equipment repairs.

Lastly the Zoleo is there for the SOS when that might be the only option.

Snow in the mountains turns up the danger level in a hurry. Glad you made it out and back on the mend.
2024 was my first year hunting elk solo and I'm sure I'll do it again...this is a good reminder to think thru all scenarios.

Trekking poles are something I’m definitely going to consider packing in the woods next season. You bring up a great point to use the poles as stiffeners in a brace, I didn’t think of that benefit, I thought they might help prevent or lessen the injury. Thanks for that input.
You said Zoleo for SOS, so this was the first year I ditched the Inreach. I have had a lot of problems getting and sending messages in a timely manner. I switched to T-Mobile cell provider this year and the T satellite messaging is surprisingly fast and reliable. I did test it out on a couple hikes and an earlier hunt before I decided cancel the inreach plan. The down side to that was my phone doesn’t have the SOS button on the side but I made sure to have an emergency list in my contacts. Don’t know if this is the right call for everyone or every situation but it worked very well in my case.

 

[North of 60]

Absolutely on the trekking poles...they have kept me from falling many times especially with a pack and ascent/descent of elevation.

 

[RockAndSage]

We did a video on that on my business TikTok @avalancheoutfitters went through our entire pack with first aid and safety gear that we carry


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Not on tiktok, would appreciate the link though.

 

[ATC LLC]

Lifeflight insurance is probably the most effective thing for that kind of injury. I carry a tourniquet and a few other trauma items then super glue, bandaids, neosporin, and electrical tape. That combo makes sense to me to have something to address the most immediate life threatening injuries as well as the most likely injuries.

Yes, I would definitely recommend life flight insurance. I didn’t have it and I found out about life flight insurance after the fact from the paramedic. After looking into life flight insurance, it is region specific, not a nation wide thing so make sure you do your research before purchasing. I did have Two Bears helicopter rescue in my contacts but unfortunately they were down for maintenance ant that time and couldn’t help.

 

[Marbles]

Man, there are some things that just can't really be manager in the field.

Something to pad (jacket, tarp, Etc), something to stiffen (knife to cut sticks, split, trekking poles, Etc), and something to fasten (tape, string, webbing, Etc). Mainly because with stability comes comfort.

In theory, with that injury you can still put weight on the leg if you have it stabilized so the knee doesn't collapse. I'm going to guess that would be miserable and if you had to walk out (you made the better call getting help), fabricating two crutches would likely be the most important.

10 feet of ducktape wrapped on a trekking pole would likely be more useful than Paracord.

 

[ATC LLC]

I don't think there's much a first aid kit, even an expansive one, can do for that particular injury. If you've torn the tendon that connects your quad to your knee, you are not going to be able to effectively extend the knee, not to mention the pain of a freshly torn meniscus. You can immobilize it, splint it up with SAM splits or DIY splints, but an injury like that will be self immobilized with fluid within a relatively short time.

I once tore my MCL while backcountry skiing. I was maybe 300 yards from the trailhead and the snow was 5 feet deep. I couldn't ride my splitboard out so I laid on it like a surfboard and sort of paddled my way out. Took me 3 hours to go 300 yards.

In your situation, the rescue is the only move that makes sense. Trekking poles, which doesn't sound like you had, could have been extremely helpful.

How did you get your gear out?

Thanks for sharing, luckily I haven’t been too horrible of a person on my life’s path and have friends, shout out to Kainen, who dropped what they were doing to come give a cripple feller a hand.

 

[Yaremkiv]

Crawling out with an injury like that for 8 miles sounds absolutely brutal. Calling for help was a smart move. Nothing like a serious injury while recreating to put things into perspective. Wishing you a speedy and complete recovery.