Going deep solo?

[njdoxie]

It's smooth terrain mainly walking through open area to the hunting spot, it's just that it's mostly uphill on the way out. I do crossfit 5-6 days per week but the elevation(11000) makes it rough. I was going to put the deboned meat in game bags and keep it hanging in a tree until I got it packed out

uphill on the way out.......that is not good, in fact it's terrible, unless you've done it before and know you can handle it.....you might want to consider a couple diff backup plans for getting an elk out

 

[Tony Trietch]

uphill on the way out.......that is not good, in fact it's terrible, unless you've done it before and know you can handle it.....you might want to consider a couple diff backup plans for getting an elk out

Good warnings right here. Mountains and canyons both provide entirely different challenges.



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[dotman]

I just moved to a small town near Durango, so I can definitely go out and hang out if you get me the dates. I'll even have my own tag and gear. Give me a holler and we will get this figured out!

You should take Justin up on his offer, just guard your food! But seriously he will not hold you back and it would help to have someone helping pack meat.

 

[justinspicher]

You should take Justin up on his offer, just guard your food! But seriously he will not hold you back and it would help to have someone helping pack meat.

I sincerely appreciate the kinds words. I do like my chow though....

At any rate, I've had a couple of guys send pm's about various locations and my thoughts. In fact, I think I'll have another person to hunt with out here for archery season. Pretty stoked. I love to hunt, but helping folks out is pretty special as well.

 

[ckossuth]

I'm jacked up about this season! Contacting Justin was the best move I could have made! Just from talking to him, it sounds like we're both on the same level of crazy. It's gonna be a good time!

 

[AdamW]

So cool that you guys are joining up via Rokslide!

 

[justinspicher]

I gotta be honest, it's not the first guy I've met through Rokslide........

That sounded weird.

 

[jspradley]

I gotta be honest, it's not the first guy I've met through Rokslide........

That sounded weird.

Especially in a thread about going deep...

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[justinspicher]

No kidding!

 

[fltlndr]

You can do it, but you better have your sh$t together. I hunt solo all the time without horses and it's fun, but the pack out beats the crap out of you. My toughest solo pack out was in 2012. I was back 4ish plus miles and shot my bull with my bow 1000 ft up the mountain from my camp first thing in the morning. I didn't get everything out till 3pm the next day and didn't take any rib meat. I took loads out all through the night. Fitness wise I was good as had ran multiple 50kms in the mountains. My feet though were so sore from the side hilling. And my quads from all the weighted downhills. It took me 2 days to walk right. Be sure to have coolers full of ice in your truck and keep the meat elevate in a cool area. When you solo, the real work struts when the animal is down. And be sure to bring rope to help hold the legs when you are breaking down the animal. A small block in tackle is good too, as you might be lucky and the elk dies in a blowdown

A small block and tackle will be added to my pack this year for solo hunting. Other lessons learned from last year's solo hunt and pack out:
-good hiking poles, my carbon fiber poles broke with a rear quarter on my back, causing a fall and near impalement by the broken pole
-debone the quarters, this should save 80lbs or more????
-call for help if you can; a solo pack out will break a man

 

[Elkangle]

My dad lives by the blocks....he is super picky on how the meat is taken care of and prefers to go with full bone In quarters.....and then use horses to pack out lol but he packs a block and tackle set up that he can pick up the entire elk off the ground single handedly to skin it

You'd think it takes a lot of time but by himself he had a mature 6 point bull gutted,hung, skinned,quartered,and ready for the horses in exactly one hour

 

[Whip1]

Hi John, I have done it and probably will again this year. I have a 5 mile pack and a two hour drive. I have enough camping gear in my truck to be comfortable and just go for it I don't come back for my camp until the meat is hung at home. I take a big big first load and sink the rest in a creek. The key is having an extra sleeping bag, stove food and water in the truck. If I have enough ass I go back after the first load with an empty pack. I can camp on either end. Maybe someone already said this I didn't read all the replies.
Whip

 

[justinspicher]

Whip,

That's a great idea, one I'm hoping to give a go this year. I live about 35 minutes from where I'm elk hunting, but would rather just stay at the truck with the extra gear I have and go finish the load out the next day.

 

[5MilesBack]

-call for help if you can; a solo pack out will break a man

Or make a man.

I almost always have a base camp set up somewhere, so when packing meat out I'm bringing it to base camp where the coolers are. I can spend the night there, or hike back in and sleep in my backcountry camp if I'm using one.

 

[Jon Boy]

It can be done. Its all mental. If you have an ounce of quit in you I wouldn't consider it though. Good to hear you found a partner, it'll be a much more enjoyable experience.

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[MesaHorseCo.]

PM me

 

[MesaHorseCo.]

I've been hunting that wilderness area for years and have never found a spot I would classify as relatively smooth. Good for you finding one! I've packed 4.25 miles out of there with a bull. When you're done go straight to the hot springs in Ouray. You'll need it. Every year I say I'll never do it agin. But I do. Good luck!

He must park at the top