Roger on the packing. I don’t like to bone anything aside from backstraps, have packed elk and other critters out of some serious hellholes over the years places like you say that a mule couldn’t go. I quarter everything and gutless 90 percent of the time. I just had never seen anyone split one before quartering.
Unless you got there with a repelling rope...there is no place you can go that a mule can’t...provided you have the right mule.
I grew up hunting mule deer and elk off of horses with oack mules, and was always told this.
I've seen a few die in places I sure didn't feel comfortable getting my stock into though...and I don't even care much about their welfare.
Deadfall hell holes come to mind, as does some of the Selway. How in the hell elk can live in some of those areas is beyond me.
