Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Elk Hunting Helping pack out a stranger's elk

I'd go with the small one, that big one won't get you "way back in."

You will lose some cooler space though.....

point taken.' Way back in', it is...

But I'll miss the roof if it rains.....

You are lucky you have a guy like me to explain all this to you.

Any more questions, fire away. Did you get that scent-loc jumpsuit I told you about?

I've helped a few people pack elk that I didn't know a few times. I was already on my way out, no good reason to not help out.

A few years back I killed a good 6 point in Montana and was going back the next day to pack it. So, we decided to glass some deer country from the road on the way in for the next days or later that evening deer hunt.

Sure as heck, I glass up 3 bulls. When I got to the place I was going to park and head back in to pack the last half of my bull, 2 guys and a younger kid pull up and ask if we'd seen any elk. I told them about the 3 bulls I'd glassed about 30 minutes earlier.

They were in a place that was difficult to describe, so I just offered to take the guy with the bull permit back to the spot and put him on the bull. So, I drove back and we put about an hour long stalk on them and peeked over the hill...bedded right where I'd left them at about 250 yards. The guy was shook up a bit as he'd never killed a bull as big as the one he was about to. I talked him through it, told him to take his time, squeeze the trigger. His shot was gold, which I saw through my binoculars...but the bull did manage to stand up from his bed after the first shot. I told him to shoot it one more time and he did, shots were about 3 inches apart, right where they needed to be.

The guy and his son were very grateful I showed them where the bull was. Normally I would have stayed and helped them quarter and pack that bull too, but had my own to deal with. He didn't seem to mind that I was leaving him and his son to deal with the bull he just shot. He asked me before I walked back, "Why did you tell me about this bull, and why did you help me?". It was sort of an unexpected question, but I just said, "Because you asked if I'd seen any elk, you had a tag, and I knew where a good bull was, the better question is why not help you out?". He replied that most people wouldn't do that...we shook hands I congratulated him on his success and took off to pack the rest of my bull.

Maybe he'll get a chance someday to help someone else out...who knows.

Anyway, here's the bull I helped a complete stranger take, his best bull and likely still is his best one...



Me with the guys elk:

You are a good man BuzzH ! Thank you for being so kind...I am sure you made his day and his sons !

Last year,I met two guys riding in just starting to hunt. I had already killed a cow and was packing it out.I told them go peek over the ridge about 300yards away.They did and sure enough they killed a cow right there.That was in ML season. In rifle season,there were four hunters back packing in plus two of one fellows kids.I told that guy I would pack the kids bull out if they got one.However, the one boy and his sister went to town and that day his father shot a really nice bull.
Since there were four guys to pack that bull out I went on my way, but the kid was sure disappointed when he got back that he went to town because his dad had told him he would get first shot at a bull should they see one.

I have packed several a youngster's animals out or lent them a mule to do it.If person is in a bind ,I don't mind helping, but as mentioned above, everyone is your friend if you are leading two pack mules.
Most NR's are not aware that a person without an outfitters license can not accept money to do this. I have sure had quite few hunters beg me though to pack their elk out for several hundred dollars.

Where I hunt the going rate for an outfitter to pack and elk out is $400

A shot at something close in could get a nice zinger off the roof.

Are you kidding? Don loves the skip shot. Tears up less fur.

call me Rick (Bankshot) O'Shay......

I friend and I helped get a guys 6pt out that took the rest of our hunting day. They had gotten stuck in an icy creek with their Bronco and their broke. We took a couple hours moving the elk and trying to get them unstuck. ~10 years later a buddy shot an elk and then sprained his ankle on one of the trips to get it out. Without hesitation some other hunters helped me get the rest of the elk out. Very appreciated.

BuzzH wow! That's one amazing story. I'd like to think I'm helpful but giving away the goods on a bull like that--- that's a whole 'nother level of heart of gold.

Good on you and if they guy was appreciative and thankful, I'd bet it was a great day for both of you.

The Curman's are always anxious to do things like this. It's quite annoying actually.

A lot of people find this surprising but I tend to look out for #1 until I accomplish my goal. Then I take care of myself.




Dave

Haha. I bet that's very true.




Clark

Great story Buzz!

Beautiful story Wizzer. Thanks for posting it.

So I shouldn't have you on speed dial for this fall?

The Lord rewards kindness, generosity and selflessness. Paying it forward always comes back. This story is a great reminder, to me anyway, that helping others with a humble heart is always the right thing. Thank you for sharing this Buzz... good to have this in our minds as we all star heading into the far reaches as hunting seasons start up.

I tend to offer to help, if it's needed - it's taken. If not needed, we congratulate and part ways.

I've helped some and been offered or helped by others that didn't have anything to gain, or wanted anything in return.

There have been a few that I've passed by, generally for reasons that were my own, usually reflections on meeting the person, their manners (lack of), or their lack of common sense in executing their hunt.

Very well said and I guess that was my point in starting this thread. Helping another hunter is a great thing, but it's a gift bestowed, not something anyone has a right to expect. If you choose not to help, no one is in a position to call you lazy or greedy. I hunt away from the road because the hunting is better "a few miles in." It's better because most people aren't willing to haul animals out on their backs. We all have stories of helping and being helped and that's how it should be. But no one is entitled to expect that kind of help. If you kill an animal in a spot where you need help to get it out, you're not taking any personal responsibility.

I've seen that more than once, and it doesn't sit well.