Elk quarters and pack size question

[JollyRoger]

I suppose this proves how green I am to this whole process, but I'm ready to get a dedicated hunting pack and want to make sure I get the right amount of space. I've got a few packs for backpacking, mountaineering, military stuff and ice climbing, the most common sizes for me are 3000ci and a 4200ci that I can easily do a week in....but that's not considering the possibility of packing out meat.

I've scoured RokSlide and google but cant seem to find how much space (average) a boned out elk quarter takes up? I will be going solo for archery in September and possibly a late rifle hunt in November (also likely solo). Realistically my trips will be between 1-4 nights at a time, no 2 week excursions for me at this point. I like keeping everything inside the pack as much as possible.

So, bottom line my questions are:
1 - How much space does an elk quarter take up on average?
2 - At first the Markhor or Exo5500 seemed to be good choices, only slightly bigger than the packs I was using for everything else, but with cold weather and hunting gear I'm wondering how much room would be left for a packout. Perhaps the Argali/DT1 would be better choices.
3 - Am I thinking about this all wrong?

I didnt want to necessarily start another pack thread, just didnt see these exact things covered and trying to minimize the trail and error part so I can get used to this new set up over the summer backpacking and scouting. Thanks in advance!

 

[Blackhorn]

A rear quarter will take up about an average pillow case, two front quarters another and miscellaneous in yet another. So figure four pillow sized cases weighing in at around 80-90 pounds.

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[weaver]

You're on the right track imo. A small pack with a load shelf for meat seems to be all rage these days but a large pack were everything is secured inside works the best for me on long packouts. DT1 is what id be looking at or my personal favorite, EMR2.

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[pods8 (Rugged Stitching)]

Bone IN rears will drop into a 3000-4000cuin pack in my experience (in terms of diameter) so boned out surely fits in that size pack. One of the guys that debone might know a better cubic inch size. If you run an detacable pack frame then you don't really need to worry if the quarter will fit into the pack, you just sandwich it between.

My advice with your current pack lineup is load up 70-80lb in one and see how it feels, lots of backpacking packs start flexing a lot after 50lb unless they were specifically designed for heavier hauling.

 

[Felix40]

I think 4 90 pound bags is a little optimistic. I'm no expert but we put a whole boned out elk in 5 12"x28" bags. That's about 40 pounds a bag. I can put two bags in my 4800 ci pack which is probably about one front and one rear quarter.

 

[tttoadman]

Agree with above. The Stone glacier meat bag is about 2500-2800ci. It looks like it would take up about half of a MW and Markhor which are 4800ci bags. Put the meat in a 35L dry bag and flat to the frame. Cinch down all of your gear on top and down the trail you go. The only problem I see with putting meat in the bag with gear is the meat will eventually try to sag and displace the rest of your gear. I have the MW bag with the big built in pocket. It seems to me a guy would be better off compressing the meat in the bag by itself, and using the exterior pockets, lid, and space under the lid to put gear. Snyder should chime in on this with some real world comments. How much chit can a guy really carry anyway. I need to qualify that I have yet to carry meat in the kifaru bag. I only watched my brother do it last year. I know part of the OP had to do with bone in. I don't plan on packing bones any time soon.

 

[JollyRoger]

Thanks all for the replies. I definitely dont want to pack out any bones if I dont have to. Sounds like the Markhor or Argali would both work and allow me to fit all my gear and some meat inside the pack for the first trip out, and be able to carry everything inside for the rest of the trips.

 

[JollyRoger]

My advice with your current pack lineup is load up 70-80lb in one and see how it feels, lots of backpacking packs start flexing a lot after 50lb unless they were specifically designed for heavier hauling.

I gave that a try, the one that did best was a Gregory Denali Pro (105L)...but it was pushing it at that weight. The other packs I generally use are good for only about 50lbs or so.

 

[pods8 (Rugged Stitching)]

I gave that a try, the one that did best was a Gregory Denali Pro (105L)...but it was pushing it at that weight. The other packs I generally use are good for only about 50lbs or so.

Well at least you answered the question if any of your current frames can handle the task.

As for carrying bones out, it all depends on how far you need to carry them and personal preference. I'd carry bones out for a couple miles (unless they were brutal miles) just because for me its not a sloppy load, tends to keep meat cleaner (but good practices either way negate that), etc.

Good luck in your search!

 

[JollyRoger]

Well I finally buckled down and got a pack system ordered. This will be my first new from Kifaru pack and first with a detachable frame. I ended up going back and forth between several different pack bags but ultimately decided that in the end if I dont like the pack bag I can easily swap it for something different (bigger, smaller, more pockets, etc)...once I"ve got the frame, lid and grab-it the bag can easily change.

Hunter 26" frame w/aluminum stays
Argali
Guide Lid
Grab It
Strap kit (to use with the grab it to attach my bow)
Large belt pocket
500d Organizer pocket

Can't wait to try it out!