....If you end up hunting like I do (steep wilderness on foot), take this advice as well: have a plan. They are hard to get to the truck (understatement). Once I started getting elk, I found that was the easy part. The hard part is getting them out...
That is a fact. You could even shoot an elk where it's too hard. I've left a really nasty valley before realizing it was beyond my means to truly haul all the meat out if I were to shoot one given time remaining, distance, slope, lack of O2, etc. I see where guys say they hauled it all out in one load and my BS flag goes up immediately. Obviously they are not hauling it all out. There will be 225-250 lbs of meat alone. No bones, no antlers, no hide. But that challenge is what makes elk hunting such a unique and rewarding experience!
