Solo Pack Out Question

[IdahoElk]

Assuming you can actually do it without dying, are you gonna have time to do 13 miles 4 times before it all spoils?

That would take me at least 2.5, probably more like 3 days. That's a long time for meat to hang in September.

Nobody ever brings up the fact that all that meat sitting at your truck while you make more trips is spoiling. When hunting solo and having to pack it all out by myself my hike in limit is 1-2 miles for this very reason.

 

[ResearchinStuff]

Nobody ever brings up the fact that all that meat sitting at your truck while you make more trips is spoiling. When hunting solo and having to pack it all out by myself my hike in limit is 1-2 miles for this very reason.

not necessarily true. my truck has ~400# of ice in coolers just sitting there ready to go, that meat is fine for a few days with zero attention once it gets there. getting through the 2 day drive home means 1 top off with dry ice and a couple of stops to drain out blood/condensation.

however, that does not change the fact that a solo elk, in wam weather, is a major time/distance problem. Everyone has a unique limit in that situation, hopefully they know what it is before they take a shot.

 

[Maverick1]

What frame pack do you use?

Kelty Cache Hauler.

 

[mike.adams.467]

2 trips for the elk. Front, hind, and meat bag. Second trip front, hind ,and head. Third trip camp

Few guys are going to pack half an elk 6.5 miles, twice.

 

[dreadi]

Bone it out and maybe you'll get down to three round trips.

 

[cnelk]

Some perspective in real weights.

Last year’s bull - head and one hind quarter = 95lbs
( I weighed it)

 

[TripleJ]

I have packed out a lot of elk solo, but never that far. I've been able to get a bull out in 3 trips a couple times, but that was boned out smaller bulls. I also had a big bull that was 5 heavy loads boned out. I think to pack a bull out that far solo, you will have to get lucky with the weather to not lose meat. In warm weather, you are not going to be able to get it all packed out before spoilage sets in. Packing 80-100+ lbs 6-1/2 miles one time is hard, but not really a big deal. Making 4 or 5 heavy trips for that distance over the course of several days and not hitting a physical wall will be an enormous task.

 

[velvet muley]

45 miles round trip packing an elk out solo is crazy, even if its cold out. I see there is people on here saying we are being negative or a downer but that is not true. We are just trying to help you make a good decision, if you have never packed out an elk there is no way of knowing how rough it can be. Not to mention the meat spoilage.

If you are dead set on it though have at it and I wish you the best.

 

[Dave0317]

OP,
What’s your training and experience like?

I know you said you ruck with 70 pounds, but what kind of distance/time, and how often?

What pack do you use?


It’s probably too late for you, but my strategy this year partly involves picking a rifle season, due to being solo. I like the archery season better in many ways, but I feel more confident taking care of meat in cooler weather. Less rushed.
I may cover 5-7 miles each day and be that far from the truck at times, but I’ll never be more than 2 miles from a road. So my plan will be to carry to the road, and then drive to it. I also may or may not bone the meat out, depending on how far I am from the road.

 

[TheCougar]

Not to be a math nerd, but 6.5x8 is 52 miles. Half of it loaded with meat and gear. In Colorado, which means elevation and steep climbs and descents. This is beyond the capability of most people, myself included without risking injury or losing meat to spoilage. I am hunting in Idaho with my son this year. Our limit is 4 miles. And I know a guy who can help in a pinch. If you don’t 100% know you can do what you are proposing, don’t go down that road.

When I pack out, I’m doing a hindquarter per trip (sometimes with some trimmings in there too), the goody bag with a front, and a head with another front - 4 total trips, over 2 days, assuming permissive terrain, weather, etc.

 

[Coveyleader]

It’s one of those pack outs when you come back for the next load you hope a bear is on it. I went up in a new unit last night, trail going in, 4 miles will be my limit before I call the horses. Dozen bulls seen 2 that would be worth the hell. All way back.


My experience in Colorado says if you’re hunting up at timberline, you have a lot more time to get an elk out than you think if you know what you’re doing. Night time temps drop considerably. If you’re down in the low stuff, oaks, yeah, you’re on the clock.

 

[IrkedCitizen]

Step one: start a fire and cook then eat both tenderloin.

First load is both hinds and backstraps
Second load is both fronts and camp
I'm leaving the head unless it is over 330"

 

[Crowmangler]

Step one: start a fire and cook then eat both tenderloin.

First load is both hinds and backstraps
Second load is both fronts and camp
I'm leaving the head unless it is over 330"

I knew Sasquatch was real

 

[IrkedCitizen]

I knew Sasquatch was real

Its not the first time I've been called that. Check the pictures on the post below

I

Post in thread '7mm PRC short barrel?'

Feb 10, 2024

I thought ELDM bullets were for shooting paper and steel not game??? can you point me to somewhere I can learn more about this?

The ELD-M has been coined the ELD-MURDER by @Ryan Avery and I would agree.

I switched to 162gr ELD-M in my 7RM starting in the 2021 season. My previous bullet was killing animals but not to my liking so I decided to change it up. My rifle has killed three elk and one mule deer since the switch. All of them were one shot kills. All were dead in seconds.

2021: 200 yards quartering towards. Entrance right side behind shoulder exit left side...

• IrkedCitizen

• 

 

[Bobrobheimer]

As others have said terrain is probably more important than mileage. It sounds like the area you plan on is not heinous terrain but 8800’ is also pretty low for Colorado and so might be fairly warm. I have packed out two bulls solo, one about 2miles one way and the other 4miles one way. I am on the 4-5 trips bandwagon and moving fast(er) Both had pretty great terrain overall too. We have also hunted elk in places that were only a mile from the truck and would have involved a 2300’ climb out in that one mile - I am thankful we never killed in there. Honestly I have disliked the solo quartering more than the solo packouts.