Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Elk Hunting Elk Pack Out...What’s your hauler?

Since my last thread about winching out elk went colosseum style Fire fighting. Thought I would check in on the latest and greatest meat hauler you badasses are using to pack your animals out.

I have several, but my main hauler is a 25 year old pack frame I bought from Cabela’s. This pack has carried untold thousands of pounds of deer and elk. It’s been an excellent frame that provided me a balanced load with adequate weight distribution and good tie offs to secure the meat. A google search found my frame being sold at Walmart for $55 bucks. 25 years ago, I paid $99.99 on sale.



Last elk season I tried a different hauler that I hoped would work as a dual purpose gear pack and meat hauler. I wanted a pack I could load day hunt essentials and when I knocked an elk down, I could get a load of meat out on my first trip. Then come back on the next trip to the kill site with my older Cabela’s pack frame.

The Alps Outdoorz HybridX would have worked, except I couldn’t get it to fit me properly. After wearing for two initial scouting trips hiking in 6 miles each trip. I couldn’t escape the pain across the top of both my shoulders. Piercing pain that left me sore the day after wearing it.







This last picture shows the steep “bend” in the top straps that ride on the top of my traps. I’m hoping they’ll change their memory in time to fit me. If not this pack will be up for sale after antelope season.


Let’s hear about the types of pack frames and hybrid packs you all are using to get it done and what you like or hate about them. 😎

I mostly use one like the first one. Hoping Thor, Odin, Ragnar, Gunnar, Loki, Ivar and Nigel will handle those duties for me in the near future. Will try these pack goats out on deer for their first one.

Screw backpacks. I'll leave that to you kids.

I use a military board.


Or mules.

RC, You Seriously Suck! Yet brilliantly awesome...😎

I run the Cabelas like you Mark. Growing up I remember using those green military ww2 packboards, oh shiit those sucked!!! Still got a couple out in the shop.

Kifaru duplex frame/cargo panel till I can get it to the honey badger wheel......

Mystery Ranch 6500 for my last 3 bulls.

I use a mystery ranch: Crew cab, Metcalf, and 6500 depending on the hunt.

That did turn into an "I'm better than you" thread. I have killed a buttload of elk and although I like getting them out whole in a truck, you can't always do that. When I can't, a drag harness works, or I find the best pack is whatever your son uses...

Crazy like a fox.






Shrapnel, you were wise to have two sons.

I bought a Seek Outside Saker last year for my heavy duty humping. This pack separates from the frame to load the game bags of meat in between the pack and frame. Not one time did I separate the pack from the frame. I just piled the game bags of meat inside the pack and got to packing out. She hauled out a lot of meat this past fall.

Grew up using horses, and still do use them, but lately most of my elk have come out on my back. I use a Kifaru Reckoning (before that an Elberleestock X2) but once the first load is out I switch to a frame almost identical to the OP's, though the belt on mine is an older design.

My new Mystery Ranch Pintler performed well this year. I've also used an Eberlestock Main Frame and a Badlands 2200, the Pintler definitely earned a permanent spot.

Kifaru Reckoning for me too....

Bullpacs “Big Bull” frame.

It’s old-school suspension (not great), but it’s the toughest made in my opinion and I got tired of breaking other frames over the years so I tolerate that shortcoming for an otherwise great product.

Just picked up a Mystery Ranch Mule. Hoping to make it my “go-to” pack hence forth.

Dave

Elberlestock MainFrame carry my goods in a dry bag or two on the way in. Nice light easy to manage no frills but works.

Have a Metcalf that has worked great as well. But prefer the MainFrame super simple.

Sometimes I wish I had those!

Start out with Teton Sports Explorer, switch to a generic freighter that I bought at a garage sale. Someone told me it looks like a Stansport freighter.





And yes, that is baler twine.