I don't remember ever having more then myself and one partner packing elk. I have done several by myself. One thing we did was use 2 pack boards each. That way we could leap frog on the way out and not have to go all the way back the second time. Usually took 2 trips with help and 4 by my self. The last one I did by my self was 3 years ago. But that was only about a 100 yards. I am 74.