|
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 46,074 Likes: 5
Campfire 'Bwana
|
Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 46,074 Likes: 5 |
Yep, I've heard about that dog. Mine would love to go, but he hates packing, always wants to bring llamas....
A wise man is frequently humbled.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 69,390 Likes: 4
Campfire Kahuna
|
OP
Campfire Kahuna
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 69,390 Likes: 4 |
This first is an old pic that I've posted before. Those panniers are full of elk meat. It was a lot harder getting up there than getting down. The day before, it took me over 2 hrs to climb up to where the elk were. We'd spotted them from camp down near the road. Going down was a slow zig zag through sagebrush and rocks and most of it was a lot steeper than this pic shows. Backpacking down stuff like this is hard on the knees, especially knees that have been doing it for well over 50 years. For a contrast, the 2d pic is a deer that I packed for one of my partners this year. It was 3 miles in but all on a good trail with only about 3/4 mile being steep. It was a piece of cake.
“In a time of deceit telling the truth is a revolutionary act.” ― George Orwell
It's not over when you lose. It's over when you quit.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 11,273
Campfire Outfitter
|
Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 11,273 |
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. I couldn't disagree more, based on my experiences with well taken care of adult elk. Tanner
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 46,074 Likes: 5
Campfire 'Bwana
|
Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 46,074 Likes: 5 |
No offense Rock Chuck but I'm pretty sure that when the OP asked the question, when he said "yourself" he meant without pack animals.
A wise man is frequently humbled.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 3,723
Campfire Tracker
|
Campfire Tracker
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 3,723 |
Rock Chuck I'd have llamas if the wife's horses weren't deathly afraid of them. I compromise and own mules. I won't look down on anything that will take the load off my back
|
|
|
|
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 1,712
Campfire Regular
|
Campfire Regular
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 1,712 |
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. 6-7 trips for a bone-in (per regulations) alaska adult 50" + bull moose is more like it.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 46,074 Likes: 5
Campfire 'Bwana
|
Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 46,074 Likes: 5 |
I won't either. I'd love to have a few pack goats myself. But pack animals are an entirely different subject than the one the OP asked about.
A wise man is frequently humbled.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 69,390 Likes: 4
Campfire Kahuna
|
OP
Campfire Kahuna
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 69,390 Likes: 4 |
No offense Rock Chuck but I'm pretty sure that when the OP asked the question, when he said "yourself" he meant without pack animals. I AM the OP. I was just posting that OP pic of the guys using and selling those packs and we got to talking about how to get the meat out. I have no problems with the hijack. I'm always interested in how other guys get it done.
“In a time of deceit telling the truth is a revolutionary act.” ― George Orwell
It's not over when you lose. It's over when you quit.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 69,390 Likes: 4
Campfire Kahuna
|
OP
Campfire Kahuna
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 69,390 Likes: 4 |
I won't either. I'd love to have a few pack goats myself. But pack animals are an entirely different subject than the one the OP asked about. Horses very quickly adjust to llamas unless the horse is an idiot. They're just something different. Some guys ride a horse leading llamas although you need a slow horse or they can't keep up. Llama speed is the same as a medium speed hiker. Our neighbor has horses in the next pasture from mine. They were spooky at first but got over it in a day. We've had them together many times with no problems.
“In a time of deceit telling the truth is a revolutionary act.” ― George Orwell
It's not over when you lose. It's over when you quit.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 46,074 Likes: 5
Campfire 'Bwana
|
Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 46,074 Likes: 5 |
My mistake, how 'bout those llamas?
A wise man is frequently humbled.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 69,390 Likes: 4
Campfire Kahuna
|
OP
Campfire Kahuna
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 69,390 Likes: 4 |
I have a couple goats that I'll be training this winter. I lost the use of 2 of my llamas this spring so I only have 3 now. That's good for packing a cow but not a bull. I don't know if I can use the goats and llamas together. I can't turn the goats loose because they interfere with the string. I might be able to string them together but it might not work.
“In a time of deceit telling the truth is a revolutionary act.” ― George Orwell
It's not over when you lose. It's over when you quit.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 4,213
Campfire Tracker
|
Campfire Tracker
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 4,213 |
A couple of my pack out photos that I've prolly shared before. Nice to have 5 guys to carry a cow down from above timberline. The rest of the story is that there was also a bull killed there that needed to be brought down as well. This large green army duffel my partner is wearing has shoulder straps and has been handy. In hot weather you can get some evaporative cooling by wetting it. The thermarest pad makes it a bit more comfortable. Blue heeler is hauling his share hidden in the scrub oak.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 69,390 Likes: 4
Campfire Kahuna
|
OP
Campfire Kahuna
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 69,390 Likes: 4 |
I guarantee that that leg would have been left behind.
“In a time of deceit telling the truth is a revolutionary act.” ― George Orwell
It's not over when you lose. It's over when you quit.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 2,886
Campfire Regular
|
Campfire Regular
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 2,886 |
Here's another hijack for you.
There's some pics on here of guys packing elk heads out. Why aren't you caping it out first? Don't want to, don't know how, no saw to cut off the horns anyway, just like it that way, think it packs better?
My question really isn't a slam I just prefer to cape them out first thinking that I can lose weight and think they pack better with the cape off the head. And sawing the horns off saves the weight of most of the skull. I'm usually using horses or mules.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 69,390 Likes: 4
Campfire Kahuna
|
OP
Campfire Kahuna
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 69,390 Likes: 4 |
If you have pack stock to carry it, a battery recip saw works great for sawing the antlers off of a head. I wouldn't backpack it, though.
“In a time of deceit telling the truth is a revolutionary act.” ― George Orwell
It's not over when you lose. It's over when you quit.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 5,844
Campfire Tracker
|
Campfire Tracker
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 5,844 |
When I lived in elk country I usually used the leap frog method. I'd go a few hundred yards with a load, set it down and go back for another. When I finally got to the truck it didn't seem so bad only having to go a few hundred yards for the remaining loads. It always took me about 3-4 loads (bone in) to pack out a spike or a cow. I never took big bull so don't know how many loads it would have taken me.
I do the same for caribou if I'm alone and not able to use a four wheeler.
The rule of thumb on packing moose is, "one moose, one man, one mile, one day."
Chronographs, bore scopes and pattern boards have broke a lot of hearts.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 4,213
Campfire Tracker
|
Campfire Tracker
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 4,213 |
I guarantee that that leg would have been left behind. This ranch dog would disagree with you. "Got Hoof?"
|
|
|
|
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 4,213
Campfire Tracker
|
Campfire Tracker
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 4,213 |
Here's another hijack for you.
There's some pics on here of guys packing elk heads out. Why aren't you caping it out first? Don't want to, don't know how, no saw to cut off the horns anyway, just like it that way, think it packs better?
My question really isn't a slam I just prefer to cape them out first thinking that I can lose weight and think they pack better with the cape off the head. And sawing the horns off saves the weight of most of the skull. I'm usually using horses or mules.
Speaking just for me it is mostly a time thing. At the time I'm faced with that task I also need to get a bull dressed and transported. I've field dressed a whole lot more of them than I have caped. I prefer to cape them back at camp where I am not pressed for time and can do it sitting comfortably. Often I don't plan ahead to be faced with a potential trophy. Even afterward I'm often still not decided whether to do euro mount, shoulder mount, or just hang antlers on the barn. I hate feeling like I have to decide right now. Location and distance have a whole lot to do with it as well.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 10,832
Campfire Outfitter
|
Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 10,832 |
Yes....time
After we hiked in this year to pack out my bull we did a complete bone out and packed bags 1x1x1x1 ect
After the 3 hour hump in then the meat prep we had less than 4 hours of daylight left with a 3 1/2 hour hump left
Maker of the Frankenstud Sling Keeper
|
|
|
|
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 5,335
Campfire Tracker
|
Campfire Tracker
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 5,335 |
Didnt read thru the whole thread, but the best i've done is 3 trips. Totally deboned,cape left and antlers removed with a little POS saw. Removing the scull cap with that POS saw probly burned 2x the calories than packing it out would have.
This years bull took 6 trips, but it was only about a mile so i didnt cut the meat off the quarters.
The above is solo. Ive helped pack out spikes/cows where me and a pard got them out in one trip..Sometimes elk really aint any bigger than a mature mule deer buck,such things are relative the conversation also.
Last edited by rosco1; 11/25/15.
|
|
|
|
594 members (10gaugeman, 1_deuce, 17CalFan, 1Longbow, 10gaugemag, 160user, 59 invisible),
2,483
guests, and
1,341
robots. |
Key:
Admin,
Global Mod,
Mod
|
|
Forums81
Topics1,192,188
Posts18,484,884
Members73,966
|
Most Online11,491 Jul 7th, 2023
|
|
|
|