How to find meat haulers

[theycallmemud]

Hi. Just wondering if anybody had any advise on how to find someone to hire to haul elk meat in my area. I've packed out a bunch of animals on my own over the years. But if I draw this utah elk tag this year I really don't want to limit myself on where I can hunt. Thanks.

 

[CodyAK]

it’s been a while since they had the M4M sections on Craigslist.

All joking aside, I’d reach out to work acquaintances or start being active with hunting/outdoor groups to network and make connections. Splitting your harvest is the way to go and that’s what I do.

Worth while reading;

Post hunt etiquette: Splitting/sharing meat

I'm usually a solo hunter when I have tags in my pockets, but I did a group hunt this weekend with 4 guys where 2 of us were tag holders and 2 were not. I has the only one to fill a tag. It was an antelope so not a ton of meat to go around and I absolutely love antelope. We shared the heart that...

rokslide.com

 

[Dos Perros]

If you're hunting public, like BLM or National Forest, only licensed outfitters can be used. The forests typically public lists of their licensed outfitters. You can search them up and reach out.

 

[Baddog]

Swing by your local Home Depot in the morning and find some day labor

 

[BBob]

Call the taxidermists in and around the area you plan to hunt.

 

[11boo]

If you're hunting public, like BLM or National Forest, only licensed outfitters can be used. The forests typically public lists of their licensed outfitters. You can search them up and reach out.

This is true.
if there are any cattle about, it would not hurt to find the cowboy who is probably around and be nice to him.

 

[PNW bow hunter]

From my experience in the different states I have hunted, this is nearly impossible.

Typically, they have to be a licensed guide/outfitter to pack meat. They are really busy guiding clients, and or doing drop camps.

During the hunting season, it’s really tuff to find one that isn’t too busy. Call the outfitters in your area now, and ask. Most when I have asked just so no, they will be to busy.

Once in a great while, you might get a maybe.

Out of all the maybes I have ever got, my buddy and I got 2 bulls packed out one time. We got really lucky the outfitter wasn’t busy, and happened to not be to far away from our trailhead when we texted. He said if we could get the two bulls packed to a certain spot on a trail by 8am the next morning he could be there. We did our part, and he did his worked out great.

Every other time an outfitter said “maybe”, we either got the bull packed out, and never heard back, or had it packed out by the time they were able to get back to us.

If you get a “maybe” just be prepared to get it handled your self. They are super busy during the season.

 

[theycallmemud]

From my experience in the different states I have hunted, this is nearly impossible.

Typically, they have to be a licensed guide/outfitter to pack meat. They are really busy guiding clients, and or doing drop camps.

During the hunting season, it’s really tuff to find one that isn’t too busy. Call the outfitters in your area now, and ask. Most when I have asked just so no, they will be to busy.

Once in a great while, you might get a maybe.

Out of all the maybes I have ever got, my buddy and I got 2 bulls packed out one time. We got really lucky the outfitter wasn’t busy, and happened to not be to far away from our trailhead when we texted. He said if we could get the two bulls packed to a certain spot on a trail by 8am the next morning he could be there. We did our part, and he did his worked out great.

Every other time an outfitter said “maybe”, we either got the bull packed out, and never heard back, or had it packed out by the time they were able to get back to us.

If you get a “maybe” just be prepared to get it handled your self. They are super busy during the season.

Thanks for the advise. I try to stay within a 2 mile radius of all my access points this has been working for me. I know I can get any animal out if I have the time that is.

 

[UncleBone]

I was offered help last year by some other hunters with horses ans mules. I was solo and my bull was 5 miles in so I figured I would take them up on their offer. They said they had plans to run to town that morning and then would be back to help. Showed them where to meet me on onx, and they never showed. So they figured out where I killed it then ghosted me. Lesson learned on that one!

 

[theycallmemud]

I was offered help last year by some other hunters with horses ans mules. I was solo and my bull was 5 miles in so I figured I would take them up on their offer. They said they had plans to run to town that morning and then would be back to help. Showed them where to meet me on onx, and they never showed. So they figured out where I killed it then ghosted me. Lesson learned on that one!

Dude that is messed up lol. I dont let myself go 5 miles if im elk hunting solo lol.

 

[Marble]

The forest service is in charge of issuing licenses to every outfitter in an area. When we wanted to know who was assigned what what area, we went there and got the info really easy.

You can also find out if there are complaints on any of them, or file a complaint if you need to.

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[MallardSX2]

Honestly, you're likely wasting your time.

95% of the time Outfitters are too busy packing people back in to hunt public land for $4000 a pop to give you a call back for a cool $500-$1000 to pack out an elk....

There's just not enough money in it for them. Thats why 95% of them don't bother returning phone calls. Several years ago, I called around 5-10 different places ahead of my trip and only had one person who I thought was going to be reliable.

When my buddy put a bull on the ground, I called the guy, he didn't answer, and he never bothered to call me back. Not necessarily knocking the packer/outfitter, just more of a heads up that DONT RELY ON OTHER PEOPLE TO SAVE YOUR MEAT.

 

[Scoot]

If you're hunting public, like BLM or National Forest, only licensed outfitters can be used. The forests typically public lists of their licensed outfitters. You can search them up and reach out.

Dos, I'm guessing this is only true if you're paying them cash for the help? What about if you reimburse them by sharing the meat from the bull? Just curious...

 

[Dos Perros]

Dos, I'm guessing this is only true if you're paying them cash for the help? What about if you reimburse them by sharing the meat from the bull? Just curious...

I think offering meat as compensation would violate game laws 100%. You can't buy, sell, or barter wild game meat.

 

[Dos Perros]

Honestly, you're likely wasting your time.

95% of the time Outfitters are too busy packing people back in to hunt public land for $4000 a pop to give you a call back for a cool $500-$1000 to pack out an elk....

There's just not enough money in it for them. Thats why 95% of them don't bother returning phone calls. Several years ago, I called around 5-10 different places ahead of my trip and only had one person who I thought was going to be reliable.

When my buddy put a bull on the ground, I called the guy, he didn't answer, and he never bothered to call me back. Not necessarily knocking the packer/outfitter, just more of a heads up that DONT RELY ON OTHER PEOPLE TO SAVE YOUR MEAT.

This has been my experience as well. There was one outfitter in Colorado I think would have helped me if I killed, but other places I've been they were way too flaky to trust. You'd never know until you hear horse hooves coming up the trail.

 

[LongWayAround]

I have never had the opportunity to ask an outfitter for help packing.

There was one that I used to run into on the trail and he said that he would help, "if" I could get ahold of him at go time.

I wouldn't count on it, unless it's very convenient for them.

 

[cnelk]

Dos, I'm guessing this is only true if you're paying them cash for the help? What about if you reimburse them by sharing the meat from the bull? Just curious...

I bet they already have plenty of elk meat.

34 years ago I got a warning from the Forest Service for packing elk out (without a permit)
Absolutely no compensation is allowed.

 

[Idaboy]

Recruit strong young hunting buddies for your trip

 

[Crawfish]

I start with talking to an outfitter licensed in the area I’m hunting, ask them if they’ll do it, sometimes they will sometimes they won’t, but they always know someone else for me to call. Lot of time on the phone, and I find what I’m looking for.


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