Old guys packing elk!!,

[Scdogman]

llamas

 

[TAGPUNCHER]

llamas

I haven't found any close enough to rent,central MT.

 

[Indian Summer]

Trekking poles are your best friend. They are like 4 wheel drive and carry a good percentage of the load. But like anything you’ll develop your own techniques of using them so don’t take them out of the package at base camp. Use them during the summer.

 

[RedRaider007]

Future old guy packing out elk. I just found out I have degenerative disk disease in my neck and lower back 35 yrs old, going out for my first elk hunt this fall. How hard on the body is it packing out an elk? should I just get a horse?

 

[chindits]

Future old guy packing out elk. I just found out I have degenerative disk disease in my neck and lower back 35 yrs old, going out for my first elk hunt this fall.

Wow. I would definitely refer that to your trusted medical professional. You must already be having issues if you have that diagnosis at your age.

Long term health and prolonged healthy activities would be my personal priority over man packing an elk out.

 

[Taudisio]

Future old guy packing out elk. I just found out I have degenerative disk disease in my neck and lower back 35 yrs old, going out for my first elk hunt this fall. How hard on the body is it packing out an elk? should I just get a horse?

Ouch. It’s a LOT of work as a healthy young person. Might be a thing to try once for you and then go with a guide/horses/friends/llamas in the future. Elk habitat is usually always steep and even a calf is bigger than any whitetail/mule deer/blacktail. Good luck to you!

 

[Backyard]

Future old guy packing out elk. I just found out I have degenerative disk disease in my neck and lower back 35 yrs old, going out for my first elk hunt this fall. How hard on the body is it packing out an elk? should I just get a horse?

I would focus on actually getting one on the ground first. That can be harder than the packout.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Kolton10018]

After a certain age, pooling $ together with a few friends for one of these bad boys begins to look like a good idea...

View attachment 728479

lol! Thanks for the idea.

 

[RedRaider007]

Ouch. It’s a LOT of work as a healthy young person. Might be a thing to try once for you and then go with a guide/horses/friends/llamas in the future. Elk habitat is usually always steep and even a calf is bigger than any whitetail/mule deer/blacktail. Good luck to you!

Man that scares me. I'll deal with it after I get one on the ground tho.

 

[3325]

Debone and leapfrog loads. Other than getting some help, there’s not really any way to make it easier.

 

[5MilesBack]

I just found out I have degenerative disk disease in my neck and lower back 35 yrs old, going out for my first elk hunt this fall. How hard on the body is it packing out an elk? should I just get a horse?

I've had DDD in my spine for decades, I'm almost 59 now. Was told in 2016 by the neurosurgeon that I needed a 4-level fusion in my neck.......coincidentally after packing out the bull in my avatar. My neck and upper back have been an issue for a long time. Three herniated discs between C4 and C7, all compressing the spinal cord. Another one right in the middle of my back, and a big problem at L4-5 since 2019. I just keep putting off surgeries as long as I can.

In 2022 I was hunting about 1.5 miles above my camp one cool drizzly morning. I was working this bull when I apparently twisted the wrong way and I went down like a sack of potatoes. I laid there for at least 10-15 minutes face down. I couldn't move. The whole time I was thinking "man, I was prepared to have to crawl out at some point in my life with a broken leg or something, but sheesh......I can't even move, let alone crawl out". I eventually was able to get to my feet and then limp my way out. After a couple days of pain pills, steroids, muscle relaxants, and rest, I was back at it for the rest of the season without any issues.

Thankfully I've never had this kind of issue while actually packing one out. In 2016 the issues rose up about a week after I got home. But I'm pretty sure that was from carrying the whole head, rack, and cape out on my shoulders that year. It just put too much forward pressure on my neck for an extended time.

Just put 50-100lbs of weight in or on your pack and see how that feels.

 

[TAGPUNCHER]

I've had DDD in my spine for decades, I'm almost 59 now. Was told in 2016 by the neurosurgeon that I needed a 4-level fusion in my neck.......coincidentally after packing out the bull in my avatar. My neck and upper back have been an issue for a long time. Three herniated discs between C4 and C7, all compressing the spinal cord. Another one right in the middle of my back, and a big problem at L4-5 since 2019. I just keep putting off surgeries as long as I can.

In 2022 I was hunting about 1.5 miles above my camp one cool drizzly morning. I was working this bull when I apparently twisted the wrong way and I went down like a sack of potatoes. I laid there for at least 10-15 minutes face down. I couldn't move. The whole time I was thinking "man, I was prepared to have to crawl out at some point in my life with a broken leg or something, but sheesh......I can't even move, let alone crawl out". I eventually was able to get to my feet and then limp my way out. After a couple days of pain pills, steroids, muscle relaxants, and rest, I was back at it for the rest of the season without any issues.

Thankfully I've never had this kind of issue while actually packing one out. In 2016 the issues rose up about a week after I got home. But I'm pretty sure that was from carrying the whole head, rack, and cape out on my shoulders that year. It just put too much forward pressure on my neck for an extended time.

Just put 50-100lbs of weight in or on your pack and see how that feels.

You are as JACKED ASS UP as me, BIGGEST thing to prolong them is to hang as long as you can. Do it on a pull up bar. Also an inversion table is actually a Miracle worker. I'm gonnakeep giving it my all.i got All winter to heal.

 

[3325]

In considering this question, I would note the importance of something retired special operations soldier Pat McNamara likes to call the “combat chassis.” I suppose we could call it the “hunting chassis” here. You can always stop and catch your breath, but if your body is breaking down under the load, having a faster 5K time isn’t helping you.

 

[RedRaider007]

I've had DDD in my spine for decades, I'm almost 59 now. Was told in 2016 by the neurosurgeon that I needed a 4-level fusion in my neck.......coincidentally after packing out the bull in my avatar. My neck and upper back have been an issue for a long time. Three herniated discs between C4 and C7, all compressing the spinal cord. Another one right in the middle of my back, and a big problem at L4-5 since 2019. I just keep putting off surgeries as long as I can.

In 2022 I was hunting about 1.5 miles above my camp one cool drizzly morning. I was working this bull when I apparently twisted the wrong way and I went down like a sack of potatoes. I laid there for at least 10-15 minutes face down. I couldn't move. The whole time I was thinking "man, I was prepared to have to crawl out at some point in my life with a broken leg or something, but sheesh......I can't even move, let alone crawl out". I eventually was able to get to my feet and then limp my way out. After a couple days of pain pills, steroids, muscle relaxants, and rest, I was back at it for the rest of the season without any issues.

Thankfully I've never had this kind of issue while actually packing one out. In 2016 the issues rose up about a week after I got home. But I'm pretty sure that was from carrying the whole head, rack, and cape out on my shoulders that year. It just put too much forward pressure on my neck for an extended time.

Just put 50-100lbs of weight in or on your pack and see how that feels.

It's refreshing to hear that you were still able to hunt elk with those issues.

 

[tttoadman]

It is refreshing to see I am not alone in my resistance to quit hunting solo. I am currently 1 week into knee replacement recovery(ouch). I have switched it up in the recent years to see what is working best for me. I like the leap frog plan if I can hump loads up a steep climb to a trail head or ridge line. You can make more light loads to climb steep and then load a little heavier to go across the ridge tops to the truck. I also would do leapfrog no matter what if I was in wolf country. In 2013, I was close to sharing my elk with the wolves because it took me all night and 4 trips to get the animal packed away from the carcass. That is when i adopted leap frogging.

 

[Brushroach]

I like to leap frog if it’s more than a couple miles or tough terrain. I just walk until I need a break. Find a cool spot to stash meat, then the hike back is usually what I consider my “break”. And so on and so forth.

 

[Buckshotaz]

66 years old, I have a 3000 foot roll of mule tape and a set of radios

 

[JMCarrol]

I would see if there were horses available

 

[Beendare]

I got a chucle out of my post this summer- no more heavy loads- ha.

I shot a bulk this year 6 miles in- I had to do as few loads as possible as it was hot in early archery elk. I did 2 loads the first day, then ran iut of daylight ( and energy!)

Plus, I had to leapfrog it because there are grizzlies rolling through some of that country so I needed to get it away from the carcass.

Last load

3 bags 70# each plus water and camp stuff- that 85# easy.

What helps me is earbuds with a good book and trek poles

 

[cnelk]

I posted this on the Over 60 Forum also.

Embracing the Suck is getting harder and harder with a
95lb pack out