Solo day hunts

[Takeem406]

Seems like my so called buddies have all bailed on me for another Saturday!
I'm goin huntin and thats that!
But I plan on going in about three miles. But in the off chance I get an elk down how do I go about getting it out with me my self and Eberlestock? Do I load up a quarter and the head and stash the rest in a tree and mark it on the gps? Would I do better to take the time and just bone out the entire animal?
Should I plan a shorter hike? Do you plan on calling it a day at about 1pm and start heading back?
I'd really love to get back to my goose spread for a day but I told myself no fun until I get a tag filled.
I'm fairly in shape enough I can handle the trips I'd just ate leaving meat in a tree overnight with all the lions tigers and bears oh my's around.

 

[Jason Snyder]

Bone the meat out, put it in bags, hang bags in tree. Mark tree with GPS if needed. Carry bags out until all bags are at truck. Drive home. Drink a beer. Tell your buddies what a great hunt it was.

 

[muleman]

Do like Jason said. I shot a decent bull Wednesday a half hour before dark. I put the word out to buddies I had a bull down. Only one was able to help. My brother hiked in, in the dark. I was boning out the bull when he arrived. He helped me boning the rest out. I'm doing a european mount and my taxidermist will give me credit for capes. So we made two trips each overnight to get all the meat and upper jaw and cape out finishing early Thursday. For him it was strait to work and I had to get the meat to a cooler and preseve the hide for the taxadermist.

See if your buddies will help when you get one down. If not make sure the meat is cool, out of the sun, kept dry and protected from scavengers. Then keep packing it out till your done. The upside is with the time of year you shouldn't have a hard time keeping the meat in good condition. Good game bags help a lot here. I have used both Caribou and TAG. Both work but TAG is my prefrence.

You can do it solo, but it is much nicer to have help when the elk hits the ground. Pace yourself and be careful and you can get it done.

 

[squeekieslayer]

I will pm you my cell number. Hit me up if you need help. I will be happy to help so long as I am available. I have a couple horses if things get too grueling.

Joe

 

[Trumpkin The Dwarf]

Shoot em uphill from the truck and in snow (easier said than done, I know). Then split the animal in half right down the spine and you have two sweet gliding elk sleds. When feasible, I will happily drag half an elk through snow before going to the work of quartering the beast. As a side note, probably best to leave the head for last trip to avoid legal issues.

p.s. are there a lot of geese down from the north yet?

 

[Jason Snyder]

Pace yourself and be careful and you can get it done.

Key right here, big time. Getting in a hurry is where folks get hurt, either slipping with a knife, or taking a spill. Take lots of food and water and take breaks. An extra person is nice, but I sure as heck wouldn't waste my time trying to plan my hunts around flaky people.

 

[elkmule123]

I have used both Caribou and TAG. Both work but TAG is my prefrence.

Just out of curiosity, why do you prefer TAG over the Caribou.

 

[2rocky]

Just out of curiosity, why do you prefer TAG over the Caribou.

I'll offer my perspective

I carry the TAG ( 5 24x44 in) and gave my BIL the Caribou (7 bag pack) . I like the smaller package in my pack.
Both bags perform well, the Caribou has more Bells and whistles
The TAG are all the same size. While the varied sizes in the Caribou are nice, I like to just grab a bag and not have to wonder if it is the right size.

I'd be happy with either but see no reason to change as of yet.

 

[2ski]

I will pm you my cell number. Hit me up if you need help. I will be happy to help so long as I am available. I have a couple horses if things get too grueling.

Joe

Mighty cool of you Joe.

I would make you the same offer if I was in Gfunk this weekend like my buddies would like me to be for the Harvest Howl. But I'm not going to be. Good luck to you. Which Mountains are you headed to?

 

[squeekieslayer]

Mighty cool of you Joe.

I would make you the same offer if I was in Gfunk this weekend like my buddies would like me to be for the Harvest Howl. But I'm not going to be. Good luck to you. Which Mountains are you headed to?

we were planning on going to that... but i knew i would never get out early on saturday if i did. I am headed to the little belts... which reminds me, i better go stock up on some more flo orange, you can never have too much in those hills. I should probably rattle can my horse orange too...

Joe

 

[Takeem406]

I've got the quality game bags and chute cord.
Awesome! I'll hit you up if I need the help! Might have to plan a hunt together this season. I need an elk mentor, I'd trade a goose hunt t for an elk hunt.
Not sure! I think they are starting to move down. Pretty hard to beat the trigger time of a good goose shoot.
Thanks guys!

 

[muleman]

Just out of curiosity, why do you prefer TAG over the Caribou.

I like the weight, smaller package, and easier clean up of the TAGS. Caribous are nice and wouldn't hesitate using them or run out to replace them, just my preference.

The older I get the more I want to bone out animals. On the elk I helped pack out on Saturday we did quarters in Caribous. On Wednesdays bull we used an old 28x31 Caribou for the cape and 14x34 TAG for the boned quarters. A boned large rear elk quarter fills the 14x34. I wish the mouth was a couple inches larger to easily slip the big muscle groups in the bag when alone. With two people it hasn't been an issue, maybe I should try and shoot a monster bull and see. I've also found out that a 24x44 bag will hold way too much boned out meat for me to carry.

 

[Ross]

Once the elk is on the ground, I prefer to make a meat pole and work him in stages moving from quarter2quarter, then skin and bag. IMO when by yourself this helps to keep things very clean and saves time in the end. I have left most of my elk hanging overnight returning in the morning with never an issue. Just keep in mind how far you can handle a pack out alone or with help. Good luck.

 

[birdman1]

Im with Ross, I make a meat pole and hang the quarters as I rarely get an elk down in one day. Ive left meat hanging in the early sept heat and have never had any spoil. I like to bring down the head and as much boned out meat like the backstraps as possible in the first trip. Enough guys have lost elk to bears that at least you get the head.

 

[ScottR_EHJ]

I do just about what Ross said, except i use my poncho on the ground. Some of the areas i hunt don't offer great trees so, elk is quartered, boned out, then loaded in pack.

 

[2rocky]

Please forgive me. I never answered the OP. I have a highball here an I will address each of your questions...

But I plan on going in about three miles. But in the off chance I get an elk down how do I go about getting it out with me my self and Eberlestock?

-3) Notch tag completely and sign tag.
-2) go through the range of emotions for 15-20 minutes similar to grieving. Link to detail about the stages... Denial, Anger, Bargaining, Depression, Acceptance.
-1) Take multiple pictures. a minimum of 25, since 24 will absolutely suck, and 1 will be ok.
0) Call strong buddies if in cell phone range to come help pack elk. DO NOT tell them anything other than you have an elk down at point XYZ.
If they want to know details, they have to come help pack meat. This can wait but the sooner you get them started, the sooner they arrive.

1) skin one side (I like the side facing up first.). Either split up the back or belly depending on if you are saving a whole hide or just a cape.
2) take off ham at ball joint. Hang in nearby tree. Bag immediately if insects still flying. You can wait, to bag if it is after the first hard freeze.
3) take off shoulder. Hang with ham in tree.
4) bone out Loin from hip to shoulder. Bag or hang with paracord
5)bone out neck meat. Bag.
6) Fillet off Rib meat from sides. Don't forget Brisket. Bag with Rib meat (Trim Bag for burger and sausage)
7) Roll over carcass. Rolling downhill recommended.
8)Repeat process on the other side.
9) Remove tenderloins, heart and liver if desired. Bag for first trip.
10) Remove head at Axis Joint or saw off antler cap (this can be on second trip if you don't have a saw).
11) If you have room, Boned out loins go first. You will probably overload your first trip. Mark where you stash the over load with flagging tape. (usually 500 yards from carcass.) Rig all meat and cape and antlers in tree as if you will not be back for 24 hours.
12) Flag all the way to trail. Look back to be sure you can see previous flag. Flag profusely at trail.

Do I load up a quarter and the head and stash the rest in a tree and mark it on the gps?

Head comes out last. Flags work for your buddies who might not have GPS.


Would I do better to take the time and just bone out the entire animal?
Meat hangs better on the bone. If multiple friends come help pack out a bone in ham might only be 80 pounds. Tell your buddy it will lash to his external frame better. If they don't come help you and you have to haul it all go ahead and bone it.

Should I plan a shorter hike? Do you plan on calling it a day at about 1pm and start heading back?

Depending on whether it is a circle or an out and back path. I try to be looking at where I want to hunt the next morning at sunset.

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[bobhunts]

I am kinda wondering how your hunt turned out? I will doing solo the first two weekends of next Archery Elk next year at home in Colorado. My hunting buddy has a new girl friend that eats and sleeps hunting so he will be with here the start of the season. I will be going solo so I have no problem with that as I see more that way when I hunt.. but having a caller- shooter set has been treating us well. I hope you did good! Bob.

 

[2rocky]

Bob, Just be out there and do what feels right and don't let an opportunity pass. early Season I'd blind call, then shut up and nock an arrow. :Listen to the Jim Horn CD on early season elk calling.