Solo Pack Out Question

[fatlander]

I was part of packing out a bull about 7 miles once in September. No chance I’d attempt that alone. I had 96 pounds of elk, plus my day hunting gear, binos, and bow. 2800 foot of net gain to get the truck. I’ve run some marathons, done some other difficult pack outs, and that effort absolutely takes the cake. Couldn’t imagine getting to the truck and turning back around for 3 or 4 more trips. Good luck!


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[awcopeland]

@BigLou check out this thread. It can be done.

 

[Alpinedrifter]

I usually do the skull and backstraps/tenderloins in one load, neck meat, etc along with one front quarter, then each subsequent quarter by itself. I would definitely keep camp set up near the kill site for a place to sleep and re-charge while you pack out. And I would have a bedroll or another car camp set-up for when you arrive at the vehicle with a load. You may not feel like hiking all the way back up. Also consider packing out your loads halfway from the kill site to the vehicle and concentrating them there. Then go back one last time for your camp and set up and sleep at your halfway point. In the end it’s all the same distance, but it seems to make the trips more bearable. And absolutely use trekking poles. 4WD will save your joints.

 

[DFloTN]

We were headed into a steep CO unit in 2019 and there was a guy at the trailhead offering to show people where he saw some other bulls in exchange for helping him pack his several miles. We declined but he managed to get 2 guys on board.

We got slammed by a gnarly hail / electrical storm when they would’ve been on the trail. Always made me wonder what a raw deal / nightmare that turned into. Point being I saw him half-begging at that TH and it always reminds me how you can get past your limits if you’re not careful.

 

[roosiebull]

Hey friends, fired up about another elk season and wish you all great luck. I start next tuesday...my first camp will be 6.5 miles deep, solo. Curious about the number of trips you make solo packing out a bull and what combo of loads. At this distance, I think I'm gonna have to make a trip for each of the hind quarters (with straps and tenders), one trip with both front quarters and a last trip with antlers and camp gear. That's 4 total trips. You got a better way? My ruck training is usually with about 70 pounds, but don't think I can make 6.5 miles with a front and hind quarter without killing myself...

Sounds like you have a pretty realistic plan, but don’t be terribly surprised if you decide to make 5 trips. Generally, I try to do it in 4 but don’t have camp to pack. I leave bone in always by choice, so that matters too. I’m also dealing with roosies and don’t know for certain how much more weight is on one vs the same age rocky. I remember a couple really big bulls I have decided to do it in 5, and on the flip side, I’ve got spikes out in 3 trips.

The dilemma being 6.5 miles in is do you keep the pack weight more manageable and do 5 trips (extra 13 miles and a few hours) or try to tough it out and do it in 4 heavy trips?

Have you ever carried elk quarters several miles? Packing a bull that far, 4-5 round trips is going to take a long time, and half of that with a heavy pack. It’s going to be 2 full hard days of packing if you can do it in 4 trips, just know the reality of what you’re getting into, but sounds like a fun hunt

 

[Bobrobheimer]

We were headed into a steep CO unit in 2019 and there was a guy at the trailhead offering to show people where he saw some other bulls in exchange for helping him pack his several miles. We declined but he managed to get 2 guys on board.

We got slammed by a gnarly hail / electrical storm when they would’ve been on the trail. Always made me wonder what a raw deal / nightmare that turned into. Point being I saw him half-begging at that TH and it always reminds me how you can get past your limits if you’re not careful.

In our early years I would probably have taken that trade and enjoyed it. Partly just to experience what packing out an elk is like.

 

[elkliver]

Um... i will chime in with the others.... Why are you planning on 6.5 miles in? as others have said, its not about trying to put you down but being reasonable., You get a good size bull down in a hole with a steep climb and pole patches intermixed, a mile will feel like forever. A lot depends on the size of the bull, but 5 trips is certainly reasonable. In reading a lot of the previous answers, im thinking some folks may not love elk meat as much as i do.

Have a plan and a backup plan if needed. Going in with the idea of "im pretty sure i can do it" is not a plan. Seriously. Please listen to those of us who have suffered and know

 

[Stache Attack]

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

You’re an animal.

I’ve done this load once boned in. I’m in good shape but 3.4 miles wore me out. Doable and likely dumb enough to do again. Guess it depends how many days you’ve hunted prior. That load was around 115lbs in 16” of snow.

I like the OPs plan and depending on terrain and bone in or bone out 3 is doable depending on camp.