Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Elk Hunting Can you pack out 1/2 of an elk yourself?

But, can she make coffee?

That looks like a good one, if pricey. Cheaper than back surgery, though.

I have a cheap 2-wheel, but discovered that the plastic, roll-up toboggans are easier to pull. Of course they don't push very well. The 2-wheel is hard to balance and the proper balance for level ground ain't necessarily the right one for uphill.

No, at 66, now I'm all about horsepower like here, whether in piston form or with the four-footed version. At this stage of life, it's tough enough to stay in decent enough core shape to battle an altitude change of 8000 ft for a week let alone carrying very heavy loads over very uneven ground. But in my early 40's I would do a hind quarter + while taking my time and over not very long distances.

I'm 6'0" and still 205 lbs but this year going from 1460 ft to 10k and then spending about 40 hours in the saddle in rough country over that week I somehow tore/strained a back muscle/ligament, and strained a groin muscle both of which took almost a month to heal. I hobbled around home and the hospital grimacing most of the time. Ironically, you gotta get tougher as you get older.

Not anymore.

2 wheel carts are pretty much useless here. It's too steep, too rocky, and the trails are too narrow. I have packed a couple in a wheelbarrow, though. It's easier than a cart but you really don't want to go uphill with one.

Myself and two great friends packed out my bull in one trip just three weeks ago.

3 miles as the crow flies according to google earth

Down one steep rock and deadfall covered mountain

Accross a deadfall covered canyon then up and down one more mountain to the truck

It was a hell of a test of mental and physical strength and it hurt badly

We completely boned him out



I had the light load





I was glad to rest now and then



Back at the truck after over 3 hours with meat and horn.....cheers!!!

But I sppose it depends on your physical abilities

Your mental state......are you crazy?

How big the elk, how far and your help

In my case

We were in great shape
We are completlely insane
He was indeed pretty big
It was a long way to the truck
My help.......there truly is no better friends on the planet then my buddies

The Three Amigos and ol' sleepy

It takes a really tough man to own an Appy, yet alone an Appy mule. I'm just not that tough.

I have packed bone in, hide on, 1/2 elk (whole elk 2 trips total) out plenty of times on my back. These are at high elevation, often in pretty rough country. I never enjoy it, but at times I need to get meat out quick. I use a Bull Pac when engaging in said torture. The worst I remember was two hindquarters, some trim, survival gear, pistol, and spray. Quarters weighed 98 and 97 pounds respectively.

90% of the time my elk come out on the horses though. In all the elk I have been on in the last 20 years, I only remember 1 comming out whole, the rest were in quarters. I would rather carry an entire elk out on my back, barefooted over a bed of coals, than disgrace myself and my elk by slinging it on a llama.

Here's one for the quotable quotes...

You must be in your 20's or 30's. Us old guys like to do it the easy way. Besides, I've never heard of anyone getting busted up by a llama. Read the thread on horse accidents.

You missed the point. Using a Llama is the same as driving a Subaru...

Not at all. Subaru has spent a lot of money advertising in queer magazines. The American Llama Assn. has not.

In addition - I've found that pack llamas are chick magnets. I can seldom take them anywhere and not have women stop me to ask questions and take pictures. They're great ice breakers. If I was young and single again, they could be used to great advantage.

I like using my llamas.............I think I'll take a look at those Subaru's.

Lefty C

3-tripped a bull and my camp 4 miles and 3000' down to the river a few years back. Not a monster bull though. Elk are a cakewalk compared to moose.

Well I carry my elk on my back and drive a Subaru. I don't put my elk in the Subaru though. It goes in the Ford PU. I don't have a 270 either. Now what?

I believe Rock Chuck is right. Llamas are chick magnets. However I would still never defile an elk by putting it on a llama.

Looking at the loads, I keep seeing a thought balloon over Christopher Peterson's head that says something to the effect of "...[bleep] short straw..."

Never yet had an elk turn down a llama ride. I've been very convincing.

Well taken care of adult elk are 5 to 7 trips on good pack frames. Unless you are a monster, then 3 to 5 trips. Any other method leaves to much for the Ravens and Magpies. My dogs love Elk Bones.

My dog loves elk bones too. And the next time he shows up to help pack one out, he'll get some.



Unless you're in good shape, with a good pack, and willing to bust ass.

Mine pitches in to lend a hand. These little dog packs are handy for him to him to carry some loin or backstrap.