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

While stalking and sneaking through the elk woods, I hate having a pack on my back.
I believe it really helps my stealth mode to hunt that way.

When I make a kill, I'll prep the animal and haul a ham or shoulder like in the above photo on my way back to camp then return with my backpack to take out the next load.

Maybe not right, but just my way of doing it.

I do however need a better pack than my old metal framed hauler.

I never leave camp without a light day pack with enough gear to spend a cold night out if necessary. If I score, I'll gut and skin it, then leave it whole to stiffen up. Meanwhile, I go back to camp for my llamas. For more tender meat, I give them as much time as possible to cool and go into rigor. It's better if they come out of rigor before boning, but that can take several days. I've left them whole in the field overnight many times and that makes the best meat of all. Of course there are bears and wolves to consider but so far I've been lucky.

I have a good sized fanny pack with all of my butchering utensils and fire starting/survival gear in it.
I've just never liked stalking or sneaking through the woods with a big noise maker on my back.
I've sacrificed the luxuries of what I could possibly bring with me for what I feel is an added edge of stealth.
True, I may regret it someday.

Small day with cleaning and fire making necessities.

I've packed a couple sheep and a few caribou, and a couple moose out with mine. But never an elk.

I might have found my huckleberry in a day hunting pack/hauler. Past couple seasons I’ve burned a few packs that either didn’t stabilize a load well enough or lacked bag capacity for the must have items I carry hunting off grid.

It’s a lot to ask of a hybrid pack to handle a heavy load out of some difficult terrain, where a stand alone, well built freighter is preferable.

It came down between Kifaru or Mystery Ranch. I went with a MR called “The Mule”. This pack has the upgraded frame instead of the “Nice” frame. Main difference is a little smaller footprint and better ability to snug up a heavy load to the frame and my back then the older frame.

I did order up a couple of “belt pockets” that slide on each side of the waist straps for access to noc and scope wipes, etc.

Only thing it lacks that I wish it had is a “hoist handle” to grab to help lift it up and on to my shoulders.

I got lucky and found this pack on eBay used but as new for a good price...Next fur season will tell me it’s truth if it works for me.

This has been a helpful thread. Gave me a lot of information on some really good packs and haulers to read about...Thanks! 😎

I really like the Kifaru cargo panel with pockets for hauling....

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I've never bought a Kifaru bag. The cargo panel and meat bags or a duffel do everything I need.