Partner bailed, now what?

[blicero]

Sitting on a ridge at 11,000 ft. Partner bailed this morning due to exhaustion (mental and physical), leaving me to press on solo. It took 30 miles of intense deadfall treebashing over the past 2 days to find them, but found the drainage with the bugling bulls, and called one in to about 25 yards yesterday before he spotted my moving partner and bolted.

If I go up and over into there again and put something down, I'm looking at a solo pack out of 4.5 miles or so, times however many trips it takes, plus taking out a camp for 2 by myself. Right now I feel a little like puking everytime the pack goes on, but maybe a night's sleep will do the trick.

What do you say Rokslide? Give it a try or better luck next year?

 

[hflier]

You start to feel better on day 3 might want to wait until then to decide.

 

[MT_Wyatt]

If it were me I'd make the decision based upon how many days you have left and weather. If you can sink meat in a creek to keep it nice and cool for a couple days, and you have the time in your schedule, might be do able....

Rather than bail, nothing wrong with enjoying the wilderness some more. You can do yourself a lot of future good just by sticking with those elk and learning from them, calling, etc. Not exactly how you punch a tag, but if you're worried about logistics, it's an alternative.

Good luck out there.

 

[HuntHarder]

I would try to line up a meat packer.. 4.5 miles and a camp for 2 is a disaster waiting to happen.

 

[HunterHawk]

I know every time my hunt is over I'm wanting more and wish I could have stayed longer... Just remember when it's done you have to wait a whole year... If it was easy everyone would do it... Get a new hunting partner for western hunts! Sorry for your luck! At least you found some elk! Check your map again maybe there is an easier route for pack out or some guys hunting close by! I know I would help someone pack out if they asked! For beer or elk

 

[dotman]

I would try to line up a meat packer.. 4.5 miles and a camp for 2 is a disaster waiting to happen.

X2 unless your Aron Snyder but considering you almost puke thinking about it I'm gonna guess your not an Aron.

 

[Shrek]

I wouldn't make that decision while exhausted and still acclimating. Get some sleep and rest and see how you feel about it then. If you have bushwhacked 30 miles in two days I'm betting that with a day hunting a small area and resting will get you charged back up and you can get an animal out. As you acclimate you will get stronger and an animal on your back with definitely lift morale. That's three 9 mile round trips with only half of it loaded. A creek or careful hanging of meat in a cool place should give you three days. If you just did 15 miles a day with no acclimation I don't think you will have a problem digging deep and getting an animal out with more acclimation and a defined goal to achieve. Also , if you get one down you might post up here for help. Camp can wait to last of course. Post the unit and maybe north or south end and see if you can get a fellow rokslider or two to promise backup help packing. I'd at least keep camping , stalking , and learning until the clock runs out. You will be getting stronger as time goes by. Good hunting !

 

[dotman]

I wouldn't make that decision while exhausted and still acclimating. Get some sleep and rest and see how you feel about it then. If you have bushwhacked 30 miles in two days I'm betting that with a day hunting a small area and resting will get you charged back up and you can get an animal out. As you acclimate you will get stronger and an animal on your back with definitely lift morale. That's three 9 mile round trips with only half of it loaded. A creek or careful hanging of meat in a cool place should give you three days. If you just did 15 miles a day with no acclimation I don't think you will have a problem digging deep and getting an animal out with more acclimation and a defined goal to achieve. Also , if you get one down you might post up here for help. Camp can wait to last of course. Post the unit and maybe north or south end and see if you can get a fellow rokslider or two to promise backup help packing. I'd at least keep camping , stalking , and learning until the clock runs out. You will be getting stronger as time goes by. Good hunting !

It's doable as long as he doesn't try to get it all out in two loads and has to make a long drive immediately. Lot of factors to think about. I'd do it but also know my limitations and that would be a min 4 maybe 5 trips with meat, antler and 2 camps worth of gear for me.

 

[Ghost]

Get a really good nights sleep, heck if I were you I might even sleep in till 8 or so. Your body will thank you. Then make the decision.

BTW when I got home, my hunting partner might fall down a few times, but thats just me.

 

[Shrek]

I agree that it's four trips but the last is camp and bone which can wait another day while you go to town and ice the meat down and rest. Careful pacing to not burn the legs. He just did 15 miles a day without acclimation so he's no pansy.

 

[dotman]

I agree that it's four trips but the last is camp and bone which can wait another day while you go to town and ice the meat down and rest. Careful pacing to not burn the legs. He just did 15 miles a day without acclimation so he's no pansy.

That is true but I've seen guys do that before only to quit right after, had a buddy a few years ago not pace himself and it caught up to him hard 4 miles in and he barely could pack himself out, cut my hunt short 3 days, haven't hunted with since.

 

[Where's Bruce?]

Rest, shoot a monster and be glad the elevation works in your favor and it is cooler up there. Pack out slow and steady or use a horse packer and rub it in your former partner's nose FOREVER!

 

[dotman]

Just noticed your from CO, has to be a few buddies you can call to help with a pack out. Keep on hunting.

 

[rodney482]

Mules

 

[Shrek]

Blicero , I'm just going to say also that you and your former partner suck at pacing yourself . If you do get one down don't burn yourself up on the first load ! Pace yourself and don't ruin your legs ! Slow and steady wins the marathon not a sprint.

 

[Biggs300]

30 miles in 2 days climbing over deadfall….I would have bailed as well. But then again, I'm 64 years old. Six to eight miles a day is my max. This year I will be using a lighter pack, slowing down, and spending more time glassing, rather than climbing and hiking aimlessly. Altitude will be somewhere between 10,500 and 12,000 ft. Last year, we pitched our SO Tipi at just over 11,000 ft. I am really hoping our drop camp will be under 10,000 ft this year.

 

[rayporter]

i guess it is just the the public nature of this forum but it sure does seem like a lot of partners are FAILING!!!!

good luck, man, ya need it.

 

[Shrek]

It's not just that they quit hunting but they completely bail on their partners. WTF ! Not , I'm done hunting but I'll stay in camp and support you best I can. I'll go to town and get ice and at least try to help pack. Nothing ! I quit and screw you ! Wow ! These trips are a year in the making with a big investment of time , money , and sacrifice. You can't just walk away if you have another man depending on you. Not everyone can do it but it doesn't have to be all or nothing.

 

[Schnagelbagel]

If i was your partner and you said that there was elk over there i would drag myself by my chin to get there!!! What the hell is wrong with people??? My partner aka dad got stomach flu the first four days after having me drive Damn near the whole way to colorado. Then from laying in bed his hip went out making him not be able to walk. So i had to hunt solo and then keep up a base camp on top of that. So while he slept the whole trip i tried to hunt but felt very limited in goin far do to packing logistics and keeping care of him somewhat. Bad year for me!!! Didnt see a elk beside on a private ranch to boot.

 

[ST52v]

Some good info and advise!!!! READ POST #3 then read it again!!! Rather than go home , slow down, enjoy the mountains, and learn as much as u can for next year!! You will want to return next year so why not learn everything you can. If you don't want to risk meat loss to find out if you can do it solo, load up some rocks and pretend you just killed an elk. Pack 3-4 loads out to the truck. You can always stop the test, if you succeed then you can roll in there next year with a plan and the confidence to get it done or a plan B.