Depends. When my buddy and I started hunting Idaho, we planned before we even bought tags that we would split a elk if only one of us tagged out. We spent a lot of money on tags and and put in a lot of days together. I got a bull and he didn't so the bull was split. We split the cost for processing as well.
Three of us went out of state last year together and got two elk, We split it three ways. We agreed to this before the trip. We cut up most of it in camp, but took a small amount in for sausage and split that cost evenly.
Sounds like everyone is about the same. We agreed up front about splitting an elk, but had not talked about processing costs. I shot a 4 pt bull and just didn't know wether to ask for half of the cutting costs,
Ive come to the firm conclusion that 1 tag at a time is the best way to elk hunt. Going out on foot DIY with multiple elk tags is, at a minimum, over ambitious and can be downright impossible to fulfill in difficult terrain. If you help with a packout, you are due a share of the meat. Processing fees, however, would be the obligation of the tag holder IMO. Since that is not a required costs and it can be done DIY, I’d feel super weird about asking someone to chip in on that cost.
I think it's different if you live in state or travel. We live in state. Whoever shot it gets it. Before we head out we usually decide who gets first shot. We all help eachother hunt and pack out. No real sharing of meat. If anyone helps with the butchering we share a few packs. So, for the most part your elk is yours, my elk is mine. But, we are all always there to help pack out.
Whatever you decide, I would say make sure it clearly stated before the elk is down. Some people may expect you to share, and you could lose a hunting friend because they aren’t given anything for the time they worked with you. Although my party has come home empty handed two years in a row, we planned to split prior
When we have family come from out of state to hunt elk, we split it up. We process our own and they can do with it as they please. If a few guys all go out of state on a trip and only shoot one, then its split also.
In state, unless it's my direct family member we don't split meat at all. Keep what you shoot. Everyone helps pack out regardless. If someone else shoots a bull, I'll help pack it out but I don't, and won't, expect half of the guys meat, and vise versa. You wack something, its your meat. I do hand out a few pounds after processing to the guys helping.