Packing elk in deadfall timber

[danarnold]

that crap is tough with an empty pack....
It would have to be one of the hardest things I've ever done, we went down a steep long river bank,several hundred yards the route we took, then across a beaver dam to quarter up a Bull one of our guys got the night before. it was pretty obvious we couldn't return the same way with meat so we took a route that had deadfall as high as your waist that you had to sit on and get one leg at a time over, after an eternity of that we started uphill which turned into some areas on your hands and knees grabbing roots and small trees, there was a 16 year old Cree guide with us that was leading the way, he had a rifle and a meat bag over his shoulder with no pack and made the downhill and beaver dam look easy(it wasn't) and even he ran outta steam....it was a BITCH!
Good times I'll never forget for sure.
Near Grande Cache Alberta

 

[5MilesBack]

The suck level is just about maxed out in places like this.

That pic is wide open. I wish I hunted that. I'd actually have a shot more often.

It helps when you're 6'6" with the deadfall. And I normally head out with or without meat in a "shortest distance between two points" mentality. Deadfall IS elk hunting for most of my hunts. Wouldn't know what to do without it.

I hunted the beetle kill stuff for the first time this year, and actually experienced less downfall than I normally do.

 

[cnelk]

Here is the 'whole story' of the deadfall

At 1:06 - That is the stuff that took the longest to pack out thru.
There were times we never walked on the ground.
Very risky

The Deadfall Bull - YouTube

We will be back

 

[Elkfitness]

That pic is wide open. I wish I hunted that. I'd actually have a shot more often.

It helps when you're 6'6" with the deadfall. And I normally head out with or without meat in a "shortest distance between two points" mentality. Deadfall IS elk hunting for most of my hunts. Wouldn't know what to do without it.

I hunted the beetle kill stuff for the first time this year, and actually experienced less downfall than I normally do.

You're just like those darn moose!

 

[5MilesBack]

You're just like those darn moose!

That probably checks out. When my buddy goes with me, he's crawling under everything that I'm stepping over.

Everything is definitely exemplified when you have a load of meat or a head with rack on your back. 7 or 8 years ago I was packing a load out. I stepped over one blowdown and lifted my other leg. The foot that was down slid down the slope and into another blowdown. There was a broken off branch with the 3" stub left on the blowdown about 3/4" in diameter that impaled into my leg next to my shin. That was a peach!

 

[KMT]

Great thread. Helps show the difference between "google earth" miles and actual "packing an elk out through the woods" miles. If you haven't done it, it's hard to comprehend the difference. Then you need to add the effects of 5k-10k of elevation compared to where you normally live.

 

[Happy Jack]

+1 Jason

Sent from my LG-K425 using Tapatalk

 

[Hayguide]

This bull took us 3 days to pack down hill out of a hell hole in SW Colorado in 2010 . I had the tag, my son who was on Army leave went along for the hunt. I would not have hunted that area without him. I actually lost a gun from my back when the sling broke. We didn't realize it until we had gone another 1/2 down hill. Luckly-he had the track set up on a GPS- the next day going up we followed the crumb trail and found that gun- it was a needle in a haystack without the GPS. My biggest bull ever- Public land 1 mile from a well used trailhead- no one went in that mess-but we did.b

 

[xziang]

Great thread. Helps show the difference between "google earth" miles and actual "packing an elk out through the woods" miles. If you haven't done it, it's hard to comprehend the difference. Then you need to add the effects of 5k-10k of elevation compared to where you normally live.

lol
I've got 'waypoints' with skull and cross bones on my GPS via deadfall I was able to see on google earth. (know not to go down/up that way if at all possible)

 

[Beendare]

These is the stuff I hate



Steep AND downed timber is a double whammy!



Downed timber is just going to be something elk hunters are going to have to deal with more and more;

1) The elk love to bed in it as security cover
2) Its a prolific amount of beetle kill ....with more and more falling every year...

 

[5MilesBack]

Steep AND downed timber is a double whammy!

Now you're talking my language. That looks more like what I'm used to.

 

[gelton]

All looks familiar to me...I just know that when in deep dark deadfall, I will just make a meatpole and call a packer. Especially when solo, I have certain places where I just know I will need help. Not too proud to admit it.

 

[Don K]

Amazes me how them elk walk right through and over this stuff like nothing......

 

[cnelk]

Then there is the issue of just GETTING to your elk areas, or even getting out.

Chainsaw is a must

How about it 'newbies' or first-timers?
Helpful?

 

[5MilesBack]

I have a buddy that killed a bull up in one of my areas a few years ago. He twisted his knee coming out and called a packer to come haul the elk out. He said it took the packer 6 hours with a chainsaw just to get the horses to where the elk was. Then it took an hour coming out.

 

[SlimWhitman]

When being 6'6 finally starts to pay off..... as a "newbie" I've learned that elk love it and people hate it. I'm cool with that.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Tex68w]

I am thinking that I need to invest in a good chain saw after seeing some of these photos. If I am lucky enough to get the Ranger close to the downed animal to assist in getting it back to camp it looks like one might be needed just to clear the trail to a way point.

 

[njdoxie]

Loving this thread, got my fingers crossed that SH#T never comes to CO where I hunt Steep country is enough, I don't need snow or blowdowns to increase the difficulty level.

 

[fngTony]

Got my fingers crossed that SH#T never comes to CO where I hunt Steep country is enough, I don't need snow or blowdowns.

It's a challenge for sure. Especially finding a camp site when you want to spike out. Oh and the ground can have so much debri you can sink while stepping over and take a nub in the wrong place. But in the end if it isn't challenging its not fun, IMO

 

[Don K]

Cnelk

Looks llike you need a mini dozer