How do you get your elk racks back home in your truck bed? Tips / Pics appreciated.

[lpplayer59]

Looking for the best tips / trips to get two elk racks back in a full size crew cab truck bed. (5.5’ bed)

I have “blankets” and lots of ratchet straps / tie downs. Debating on bubble wrap vs other thoughts on protecting the tines - planning on using braces (trekking poles) between the main beams. There hopefully will be several coolers underneath filled with meat and capes. Heading to WY next weekend

 

[Gman12]

We just ratchet strapped them on top of the coolers. No issues. Did not use any blankets or bubble wrap. Drove from CO to VA and got pulled over in Kentucky by a game warden. Had the proper documentation to prove they were not killed in KY. I think he just wanted to see the racks close up.

 

[buffybr]

Not an elk rack, but when I hunted caribou in Newfoundland, I flew out of Denver. I knew this bull was B&C quality so I didn't split the antlers and paid the extra oversize airline luggage fee for the flight back to Denver.

I don't think that ths rack would fit inside my Subaru without my luggage, so I tied it on top for the drive back to Montana. I got a lot of thumbs up on the drive home, and a couple of people asked if they could take a pic of it.

Before I bought a horse trailer for my horses I just had 2x4 stock rack in the back of my pickup. I built it with a shelf that extended over the cab of my truck. My gear and elk racks rode on that shelf.

 

[Weldor]

Just make sure it is clean, CWD checkpoints. Pool noodles if your worried about the tips.

 

[tradman]

Classic

 

[StupidLightweight]

You should be fine. Good luck on the hunt!

 

[Yooper]

You're potentially going to be crossing a few states that have zero tolerance on skulls from CWD states (Wyoming) without proper cleaning of the skull. I would make sure you know the laws before you start crossing state lines. Would hate to see anything confiscated.

 

[jjohnsonElknewbie]

Just wedged and padded it between two coolers and strapped everything around it down. This was a cap not full skull.

Make sure you bring it in the hotel with you if you plan to stay overnight on the way home.

 

[WeiserBucks]

Chuck em in there and mash the skinny pedal.

 

[Truaxdw]

If you’re not planning on driving straight through, bring them in at night, and don’t leave them unattended, even at a gas station

 

[Seeknelk]

Just throw em in and strap em down if they are up above the edge. I never gave a single thought about a scuff on bone that's all scuffed up anyway.

 

[OMF]

I just read an article on wide spread theft of elk and mule deer racks out west here. I would have to agree with bringing them in if not driving straight through. Thieves and anterl "brokers"....

 

[Steve300xcw]

After seeing some buddies show up this weekend in a shortbed tacoma with a toolbox in it. That also had 3 dirtbikes plus gear in the bed. I gotta think you can get a few coolers and 2 racks into a tundra

 

[Jaker_cc]

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Steve300xcw]

I do wonder whats with the shortbeds on fullsize pickups?

 

[cardiac5]

Most all crew cab half tons had 5.5 beds on the lots in 2017 when I last looked for a used truck. They said custom order for longer bed.

 

[cnelk]

Can’t go wrong with a topper - for a variety of reasons

 

[Felix40]

Just throw it in there and start driving. They use them to wreck trees and fight each other. It will be fine.

 

[bluesulphur]

Had to get creative this season without a pickup.

 

[shader112]

If you have the top half of the skull for euro, I set it on the antlers with the skull up in the air. Put a trash bag or t-shirt over the skull and duct tape it, just to keep the sun off it and keep it from stinking for an extra day or two. One or two bungies to the bed or cooler and good to go. The horns are made of bone, so don't think anything will hurt them in the bed, at least I've never had an issue