Meat Pack Out Distance/Elevation

[seananigans]

Heyo,

Wondering how far and elevation gain/loss folks packed out animals this year? Lessons learned? Insights?

The buck I ended up getting was about a mile and half from the road as crow flies but +/-1500 to get to hunting spot. Had to pack out camp first then come back for the buck. Turns out I want to hold out for something a bit bigger when hunting in areas like that. Doesn't seem like much on paper but with terrain, rock and vegetation that can be brutal.

 

[Brendan]

This year's Elk: 2.5 Miles. Previous Elk: 3.5 Miles (plus camp). Before that: .75 miles.

One thing I'll offer, not all miles are equal. I've done all three of those bulls solo, 2 or 3 trips, but was blessed with easy packing conditions: Downhill and flat trail or easy terrain for most of the packout. I hunted some areas this year that would have thrown in uphill and deadfall. Would have been bad if I'd gotten one there.

 

[ArcherAdam]

I did one elk quarter that later weighed 65# 6 mile downhill pack out from 12,200k to 8100k. Took me 6 hours. It really kicked my butt!

Sent from my SM-G970U using Tapatalk

 

[cnelk]

This year - 1.1 miles in Wyoming. 8500' rolling elevation. Not too bad
Last year - 1 mile in Colorado. 11,000' down to 10,000'. A real beeatch

Closest ever was 200yds to the truck

 

[Trevor96]

1/2 mile up the mountain. NM bull.
Fairly easy pack out except for the weight.
90+ pound pack

 

[Murph1]

1400 feet elevation drop. Took 24 hours and 25 total miles to Get the elk and camp all packed out. I'm 59 and my partner is 64. You just have to keep moving.

 

[seananigans]

1400 feet elevation drop. Took 24 hours and 25 total miles to Get the elk and camp all packed out. I'm 59 and my partner is 64. You just have to keep moving.

Wow! Beast. Take your time and take breaks and keep up the grind. Nice!

 

[Moserkr]

I was 6.5 miles in and 2500’ elevation up/down canyons from the truck this year and passed on a 2x3 young mule buck. Did not want to haul that guy out from that distance and was looking for his grandad who is a monster... They cant get old n big if you shoot em young.

 

[seananigans]

This year's Elk: 2.5 Miles. Previous Elk: 3.5 Miles (plus camp). Before that: .75 miles.

One thing I'll offer, not all miles are equal. I've done all three of those bulls solo, 2 or 3 trips, but was blessed with easy packing conditions: Downhill and flat trail or easy terrain for most of the packout. I hunted some areas this year that would have thrown in uphill and deadfall. Would have been bad if I'd gotten one there.

Yes, not all miles are equal at all. That elevation and weight is a mind changer.

 

[seananigans]

I was 6.5 miles in and 2500’ elevation up/down canyons from the truck this year and passed on a 2x3 young mule buck. Did not want to haul that guy out from that distance and was looking for his grandad who is a monster... They cant get old n big if you shoot em young.

Yes! Makes me wanna hold out for a bigger animal for sure. Make it really worth it.

 

[Moserkr]

Yes! Makes me wanna hold out for a bigger animal for sure. Make it really worth it.

I started out hunting within a mile of the truck. Then after a 14 mile trek into an unlimited sheep unit in MT with friends, everything changed. My buddy shot a b&c goat opening day 14 miles deep, and 3 days later we had a bighorn sheep on the ground 3 miles from the truck. I went along just for the experience and to help pack. That was my longest haul out, and we did it all on foot. Fast forward to today, 10 years later, Im in even better shape, with proper gear, and can go deep solo if I want for deer. My favorite pieces of gear are swaro binos on a tripod, a hot tent, and good boots. Those alone make going deep safe and enjoyable, while maximizing success. Im already planning for next year as my deer season is done. Onto bear now...

 

[seananigans]

I started out hunting within a mile of the truck. Then after a 14 mile trek into an unlimited sheep unit in MT with friends, everything changed. My buddy shot a b&c goat opening day 14 miles deep, and 3 days later we had a bighorn sheep on the ground 3 miles from the truck. I went along just for the experience and to help pack. That was my longest haul out, and we did it all on foot. Fast forward to today, 10 years later, Im in even better shape, with proper gear, and can go deep solo if I want for deer. My favorite pieces of gear are swaro binos on a tripod, a hot tent, and good boots. Those alone make going deep safe and enjoyable, while maximizing success. Im already planning for next year as my deer season is done. Onto bear now...

Great share! Great points too. Can tell you are excited and experienced.

 

[Jn78]

I shoot 2 or 3 whitetail deer per year. I am never more than 100 yards from the truck. It is not hunting, but they taste good.

I am elk hunting next week, so who knows how that will go, but last year I shot 2 cows one morning about 2.5 miles as the crow flies from the truck. It took 3 days to get them out. My fitbit told me that I hiked 46 miles, which I know is too high because my steps were shorter than normal due to carrying a load, but still it was a lot of miles. 2.5 miles as the crow flies is not 2.5 miles, thats for sure. Regardless, I learned that hauling 2 elk solo, with snow, and elevation gain sucks. Road deer are way easier.

The biggest thing I always learn during a packout is that I need to force feed myself. I forget that lesson every year.

 

[ahlgringo]

I always seem to find elk in spots where I know the pack-out is going to be a beatch. Tell myself to not go where you don't want to pack-out from, then the next day/season I find myself right back there- ha. Just got back from a 3rd season hunt, minute I pulled the trigger I was like "well, this is gonna really blow". And...... it did.

I would do it all again tomorrow.

 

[Packin_packout]

Wyoming bull two and a half miles from the truck. Shot it at last light.... broke it down and got the first three loads out by 2am. Slept till 6 a.m. went back and got the remaining load and skull. Was off the mountain and back in town in time to do my 11 a.m. conference call... I promised my boss I would not miss it! 100% agree on the force-feed, because otherwise you can bonk especially if you've been hunting all day and then now have to do a pack out overnight!

Both mule deer this year were 2 miles in Coulee country. Those I can do in two trips.

This is the closest I've ever shot an elk to the road. Seems like I'm always three and a half to 4 1/2 miles in.

Going to try and go punch my Montana tag this weekend and will see what happens.

 

[KHntr]

This years bull moose, about a mile from the truck. 4 trips with a Stone Glacier Krux frame. Wasn't much for elevation gain though, just brush and wet ground to contend with.