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[ChukarUp]

With a big bull have any of you had a situation where you just couldn't get the bull broken down? I am probably over thinking this but I would rather not pull the trigger than waste meat.

I have not personally experienced that, but one story that comes to mind is a couple of friends once had a bull down on a fairly steep slope...long story short...while breaking the bull down, it ended up on top of one of them, and he was stuck like a turtle on it's back. Pretty funny story when you hear them tell it, but the lesson is a good one.... be careful to avoid maneuvering a bull from the downhill side of the slope. It would be a pretty bad predicament to find yourself alone, with 500 lbs of bull elk on top of you.

 

[cnelk]

With a big bull have any of you had a situation where you just couldn't get the bull broken down? I am probably over thinking this but I would rather not pull the trigger than waste meat.

"Was barely able to flip him with half of the meat off. Leverage was tough. Took a lot longer than usual. I carry some para cord and was able to tie limbs up to hold in place. I use gutless method."

Just like "Elkoholic30", I shot a this bull one evening. Used the gutless method, and definitely the leverage can be tough to flip them over by yourself. The antlers keep the neck/head from turning with the body. [Its a good problem to have tho ]

But I eventually got him turned, got the quarters hung up in a nearby tree inn the dark and came back the next morning to pack him out by myself

Its definitely a chore

 

[Ross]

Never had that problem, but having a real chore dealing with them in a bad position can be difficult by yourself. I am always stoked when I walk up and they are on their side and not in some ball, wrapped around a tree or all contorted with antlers wrapped in some goofy position. you simply grab paracord tie them off and get to work removing pieces and if have to gut to make it better and away you go.

 

[NW307]

Im solo more often than not too. I've definitely passed a few animals simply because it was too hot or too far from the truck. I always carry some good rope to help when quartering an elk. That rope along with some real carabiners and the basic knowledge of a z-drag system can really help in straitening the beast out or getting it in a better position. Tying the head off to a tree in steep terrain and penduluming it back and forth to get at the quarters helps a lot too. Having a good pack and knowing your realistic limitations is the most important tho.

 

[Hoot]

Never done it for packing game (plan to) but to expand on the jet sled idea, get a hunters specialties deer drag harness for like ten bucks and hook that to the rope of the sled. Pulling with the harness is easier than with your arms behind your back like the picture further up in the thread. It also makes it easier to control on downhill slopes, just let the sled go in front of you and use the rope to guide it down. I pull about 60lbs of ice fishing gear in my sled and barely know it’s there, even overland on no snow like mentioned above...