Suggestion: decide in advance who gets how much meat if anyone scores. How to divide the meat has broken up some good partnerships. Be sure it's all clear before you go. The way my 2 partners and I have done it for years is if one gets an elk, he takes half and the other 2 split the other half.
To the OP, I think last year you hunted in CO??
If you do again, be careful how you divide up the meat, CO has very specific regs on that. If you divide it up after it's been processed or at home, it's not a problem but if you do it in the field the limit is 20 lbs. unless the person you give the meat to has a "like license" and punches the tag. And in that case you need to give them a "donation certificate" with your license information on it. Your buddies without tags don't want to be checked in the field with more than 20 lbs of meat and no tag punched. Or, toting your rifle because you have a pack full of meat on your back.
PS, I agree on the numbers in yuour hunting party, no big deal if you strike out on your own but two on a stalk would be the max I'd go with, and the other guy better be good. And depending on the season and wher eyou hunt, your best elk hunting area may not be your best deer hunting area, something to consider. There are a few deer in my favorite elk spots but if I was deer hunting I'd go somewhere else.
That would be a pain in the rear. Here in Idaho, you can give meat to anyone as long as you give them a written statement as follows:
"Any person who transports any wildlife for another or receives any wildlife for cleaning, processing, as a gift, or for storage must have a written Proxy Statement signed by the taker of the animal showing the name, address, and license number of the taker, and the number, kind, date taken, and the name of the person transporting (see page 78 of Big Game Seasons and Rules).
The taker of the animal can keep the antlers but the tag must accompany the meat. The proxy and tag will be required of a commercial meat processor."
