Farthest pack out on foot?
Elk
Contributors to this thread:
While planning my elk hunt for this year I started thinking about pack out distances and what I could be capable of achieving without losing meat or killing my body.
What is the farthest you have packed out an elk on foot?
4.5 miles one way. But had a creek to keep the meat cool (in contractor bags) and get the meat out over the course of 2 days. And the hike didn't have a lot of ups/downs so without the weight of the meat it was relatively easy walking.
About 3 miles. Terrain makes a big difference on how bad the job is. 1/4 of a mile from camp at the bottom of a steep, blowdown-choked canyon might be worse than 3 miles from camp with some of it on a good trail and downhill most of the way back.
Last elk was 150 yards, don't make the mistake of thinking you have to be in deep to find elk.
7 miles one way with only about 1 mile of trail. It SUCKED. A few years earlier my buddy and I hauled the biggest bodied elk I have seen about 6.5 miles one way. The hike included 3 big swamp crossings and about 3/4 mile and 45 degree slope right at the end up to the truck. I'm getting too old for that crap. It was fun, at the time and in a tortuous way, but as many have told me,"You don't have to work that hard to kill an elk".
I have never had any meat spoilage. Distance is a poor guideline though, you need to be thinking time and terrain. On both those bad pack outs, my hunting partner and I got all the meat and heads to the truck in under 24 hours of the bull hitting the ground. My buddies first elk was killed 1.25 miles from the truck, but we continued to hunt for the next 4 days with the meat hanging while daytime highs hit the 70s. We kept the meat in a little draw with a nice stream. There was a constant breeze and the meat rarely saw the sun. We didn't lose a bite.
Meat spoilage should always be a concern, but I think people fret about it too much at times. If you are hunting UT archery season in oak brush with no shade, then yes, you had better hurry or you're going to lose meat, but in the mountains in most western states, just take your time and pick a hanging spot carefully and the meat should last a couple days, easily.
You guys are animals. My furthest was about 2 miles and the first 1/2 mile was in thick nasty blowdown and steep terrain with no trail. After the 1/2 mile we did have a good trail and 2 horses, one good and the other not so good. We were not experienced with caping, so we took the whole head and cape out, which was probably 150 lbs alone, which we were able to secure on the good horse. We put the 2 hind quarters on the young horse and it promptly ran off and somehow managed to ditch the load, but still had its pack on (I never did claim to be a horseman; sucker nearly trampled me and my dog). Fortunately it did go back to the truck and some nearby campers caught it and brought it back. We had to carry the 2 other quarters the entire way anyway, but it was only 90 degrees and we were out of water and of course it was all uphill. We did lose a little meat due to some flies getting into it, but it wasn't that much. In those hot temps, you really need to get the meat cooled as quickly as you can. I think if we were 4-5 miles, we would have lost the entire load given the conditions.
A short uphill pack feels like the same as a long downhill pack.
In 2003 we shot 3 elk in 90 minutes 5+ miles back. Unsure of the total miles but it was a looong way. 20+ miles in a 24hrs
3.25 miles one way this past year. It was too much for one day. Reasonable to be done in 2 days if you're in shape.
Your age, health, level of cardiac fitness, and whether the path back is uphill, downhill, or flat have a huge influence on what's doable.
Have you packed an elk out before? Even 1 mile is a big deal - especially if it's uphill.
Have a packer's phone number lined up just in case so you don't have to limit yourself as much while hunting. You never know when you're going to be at the edge of your range and you shoot an elk and he goes a mile downhill in the opposite direction.
3 of us did 6 miles. But we broke it down into 2 trips. We did 3 miles with meat and then went back for our camp. Next day we took out I think camp and then went back for the meat. The hard part was that the first day we had to go up I think 1200 feet twice. The second day we dropped down about 2000 ft to get to the trucks and then went back up to get the meat and then back down. Lucky it was a cold last week of the season. Meat was actually frosty went we got it back to the trucks.
Ed
Depends on the terrain! On a well used trail I would consider up to 3 miles, one way. Bushwhacking and steep (last October for me) 1 mile is too far! I however am old, 56. Keep in mind the terrain also dictates the amount of weight you will want to carry. I might go 90 lbs or more on a trail, bushwhacking 60 or 70.
I packed my bull out a little under two miles last year. But I had a few backs to help. Just was curious how far you guys go. Some hardcore hiking haha
Cow elk, 5 miles solo. 3 trips, 1.5 days.
3/4 of a mile. Could have driven an atv to it, but it was muddy. I didn't want my "tracks" to turn into a road by the following season.
About 3 miles by myself. Shot the bull at 7:00am. Last load at the truck next day 10:30am.
Longest pack was 5 miles that was h#%@l last year 1 yard!
4 miles. It really sucked.
1.47yrs...with TBM on my back.
Yea it sucked
12+ miles in knee deep snow. This past November in Canmore. That day will be the most physical day of my life. Over 10 hours walking. Pack was in the 80-85 pound range.
About 3 miles. 4 would be my limit. That's far enough. 12 miles in deep snow sounds positively awful.
Jack, taking age, physical fitness, terrain, no trails & heat into consideration can help with a solid decision when entertaining distances we can safely handle. For a hunter who is in very good shape he can generally do up to 3 miles in rugged country with no trails. You should be able to bone the meat out & take 1/2 an elk out if not too concerned about stripping off every piece. Most states legal requirements state taking meat off the 4 quarters, tenderloin & backstraps, if you take 10# of neck meat or whatever else that is generally turned into burger you can get out with a 100# or a hair less depending on your elk. This is an average.
Two trips with the needed amount of rests in & out is very doable. If a trail is used in part the distance could be greater.
I've packed elk out one way 7 miles at the furthest distance. But most elk my son & I take are closer to the 1-1/2 mile to 3 mile distance. I would not attempt a 7 mile packout by myself, but with two hunters in day mode & not a bivy hunt it can be done. 3 miles is plenty for just about anyone when considering 2-3 trips tops. With heat being a factor we generally do not have the luxury to haul more loads than that without spoilage. There's plenty of elk to hunt in the 1-1/2 to 3 mile distance when trails are not used for entrance especially if they are heavily hunted!
ElkNut1
My worst was 4.5 miles, no trail and 2000 vertical to gain. Easiest was 1/2 mile.
How many trips per Elk is it taking you guys? the average 6 point is taking me 5 trips.You guys packing out more than 3 miles how are you doing it with no spoilage? If my math is correct 3 miles in is 6miles round trip x 5 trips is 30 miles of backcountry hiking,figure you have two days before it begins to spoil.
If I go in more than three miles I line up a horse packer so I can get it out quick. Not trying to start anything but maybe you can share how you do it. I have had Elk spoil and vowed never to let that happen again.
I think guys underestimate how long meat will keep with proper handling. I am by no means an expert but I believe if you have game bags and can hang it in the shade you should be good to get an elk out in all but extreme circumstances. It is something to be considered but don't overthink it. Maybe we should start a thread asking about guys experiences when they did lose meat and why. Someone above said it should keep a couple days which is generally enough time to get an elk out.
Two bills down 6.5 miles from the truck . Took three guys two trips. Was glad to see the truck. Hunt
idacurt,
Depends on the elk. A spike is easily done in three trips, maybe two. Mature cows in three. Bulls could be anywhere from three to five, depending on how big they are. I shot a bull last year that the hindquarters (bone in) easily went in the 90-100 pound range.
The 5 mile pack 2 of us packed from first light until 1130pm but we had to gain and lose 700 feet 4 times along the way in the best of the Colorado beetle kill blow down mess.
JLS, I totally agree on the size and number of trips,all the Elk I've taken have been 5+ trips. What I hope comes out of this thread is people sharing how to keep Elk from spoiling so first time Elk hunters don't make the mistakes I have in the past due to poor judgement. High temps,no cool running water and extreme terrain is something that should be going through your mind when you're about to let that arrow fly.
My first bull. Dumb as rocks we were. 1 mile uphill steep and then 11 miles downhill. All on a switchback gated road but it still sucked. Too far!
JLS, idacurt- when you say 5+ trips. . .1) Does that mean 5 round trips for ONE-man = each round means ONE trip out with a load of meat? 2) How much do you figure each load weighs? 3) Do your loads include bone in or boned-out?
Thanks
Worst pack out I can remember was in Wy. Only about 3 miles from the truck but 2000 vertical in the wrong direction. Took 2 of us 2 trips. Killed around 6:30 and got back to camp with the firsy load around midnight in a snow storm. Next morning was 1 mile and 1000 ft. to the truck. Drove around to get the truck closer and dropped 2000 ft. and 2 ish miles. It felt like 80 and sunny that day. Distance is not always the limiting factor.
2.5 miles all downhill to the truck was the longest and easiest, I took 2 loads boned out. The worst was a calf I killed less than a mile from the truck but it was a 1600 ft climb over some pretty bad deadfall to get him out. I boned him out and thought it was a good idea to take him out in one load..... wont try that one again!
2.5 miles relatively up hill 2000 up grade, 4 trips solo. Cool weather and shade to keep meat. Alaskan moose was the toughest, 3 miles one way, 9 trips on game trails and river bottom. Cool weather. Solo. Mike
Dan, 5 trips, one man,boned out with antlers.I probably don't carry more than 60-70 lbs a trip.
Worst pack out was 8 miles one way, by myself. I was on my knees crying after the last trip. Don't think I could do that any longer, but packed another elk out 5 miles just a few years ago. Also a brutal trip, and somehow I just keep getting older (not smarter.)
A properly boned elk can be packed out in three trips, This is roughly 90 pounds per trip, and does not allow bringing out the cape, but does include the antlers and some minimal gear. If you shoot smaller elk (spike / raghorn) it can be done in two heavy trips, but almost any good 6 point will require 3 loads.
I'm sure there are some of you "real men" who can carry over 100+ pounds per load, but I find anything over 90 pounds to really take it out of me and starts to become dangerous. I don't want to snap a knee or take a tumble in rough terrain with that much weight on my back.
Assuming you are prepared to carry out on load on the day of the kill, that means two more days of solid packing. Probably only one round trip per day, depending on distance.
If an elk is quickly dismembered and hung / supported so it can cool in the shade, meat will last 2 days in almost any temperature. Obviously the cooler the better, and all the meat has to be skinned / boned to allow cooling to begin soon after harvest. If the elk isn't found until the next morning, etc., all bets are off.
Plan to work your butt off, carry a lot of weight, and be dead tired at the end. You have all year to recover before you kill another good bull next year. The temporary pain of a few days packing out will dim as you look at your trophy bull and retell the stories in the years ahead...
Bill
Dan,figure the average 6point has 250-300lbs of boned out meat.
A bull for me is 6 trips. I won't carry 100 lbs. In fact, for my frame and strength, I don't like to carry more than 70 - I just feel it wears me out faster and I risk injury far more with every pound added. I'd rather take one extra trip than bust up my knee/back/ankle.
If I completely boned it out, I might be able to do it in 5.
I get all the neck meat up to the skull, take all the briscuit/rib meat, and take some organ meat as well.
I prefer to pack the bones as well as they're good for soup/dogs.
idacurt- Thanks again. Sounds about right for me too- 60# per load.
Three of us did one a few years ago that was 3 1/2 miles in and 6 miles out another canyon in 18" of new snow on a JET Sled. We thought it would be easier to go downhill the longer distance. In the end of the day we realized we should have called in reinforcements and packed it back over the ridge the way we came with 5 or 6 guys.
Cheers, Pete
I've done a few 13 milers towing pack animals...
Backpacked an elk 4 miles
My worst was a 2 miler that was down in a nasty hole
Beendare, too funny, mine was only 2 miles or so as well, however it was also 2 steps from hell. I might get blasted for this, but I bet more of those 100 lb packs are more like 80 if you actually put a scale on them, which is no slouch. A 100 lb is really heavy and will rip the straps off most packs! I think I retired my Dana Design pack on that trip, because it looked like the seams were going to burst.
On my 3-Corneres Utah LE bull it was a 13+ mile day round trip hunt in--pack out.
Last year on 1 of my Wyo elk it was just shy of 11 miles hunt in--pack out...
I bone the meat off for sure.
Good luck, Robb
"A bull for me is 6 trips. I won't carry 100 lbs. In fact, for my frame and strength, I don't like to carry more than 70 - I just feel it wears me out faster and I risk injury far more with every pound added. I'd rather take one extra trip than bust up my knee/back/ankle."
Ike,
I am a big guy and to be honest with you I don't want to carry more than 70 lbs either. I have arthritis and had a L4/L5 and L5/S1 microdiscectomy around 8-10 years ago. I don't plan on having another. Personally....if spoilage is not an issue, I am taking my time and will take as many trips as needed.
Longest and hardest group pack out was a late season cow elk hunt with my son. 4 miles across rolling hills through 1 foot of crusty snow. I thought my hunting partner was going to die! Tempature with wind chill was -32 F. Without the snow it would have been a cake walk.
Solo or with help? I've had some good ones ;)
On this topic Will is like the kid in school who always blows up the grading curve. I can't imagine what his worst pack job might be.....
If you take a decent bull & decide to mount it the cape & rack is a load in itself, so add an extra trip there!
ElkNut1
I don't understand how anyone can pack a bull elk, solo, further back in than even three miles and get it out before it spoils (assuming average sept temps).
The average boned out bull will produce anywhere from 250-300 pounds of meat.
Last year, my buddy and I packed a small bull for 24 hours straight at 2.51 miles in. We made two trips each for a total of 4 trips. The butcher weighed the meat at 246 pounds boned out -- not including small head and horns.
1.5 miles was on a trail.
The other mile was oak brush laid over steep rock slides.
If I was solo, there is no way -- literally zero -- I could have packed out that bull in time.
Come on Will...Let's hear it. Your worst pack out ever.
I've done 3 elk hunts of my own and one ran and died on a road, another one I could drive the quad right up to, and the third one I could only get the quad to within about 150 yards. That one was pretty rough. Worst one was a buddy of mine shot a real nice bull we took the first trip back OVER a half mile guys. Then I was able to get my Hilux to within 200 yards for the other trips. These were Manitoba public land.
Ooooh my back still aches.
2.54 miles as the crow flies. (I am not a crow)
Big difference if you have help. I have turned around and not pursued elk because I knew even if I could kill one, it might kill me!
Chasewild I belive you are one of those who underestimate how long properly cut meat will last in the backcountry with proper care. 2 days is on the low side IMO if you take a few precautions.
Elkaddict,please share your precautions so no Elk is wasted this season,Thanks
"I don't understand how anyone can pack a bull elk, solo, further back in than even three miles and get it out before it spoils (assuming average sept temps)".
Chasewild...I have left quarters shaded for up to 3 days many times over my 20 years of elk hunting, and never once have I experienced spoilage. That is in daytime temps over 70 degrees in many cases. Elkaddict is spot on.
Basically, if the quarters are clean, and allowed to "skin over"...they will remain cool to the touch IF put in the right place. I prefer dark timber where the sun rarely hits. Sometimes that means a bit of "relocation"...but getting the meat away from the carcass is a good thing...bears will hit the carcass and leave the meat alone in most cases.
Best of Luck, Jeff
1 mile straight up hill with a 1000 ft. gain in elevation. It was about 35 degrees and rainy. I was near hypothermic by the time I reached the truck.
Mad_Angler's Link
To prevent meat spoilage, a little citric acid will help. Spray the entire outside and then let it crust over. Meat will stay good for quite a while like that.
Mad_Angler's Link
The Alaska fish and game also recommend citric acid.
On some trips, it might be a week or more before you get your meat out of the bush.
Good game bags, shade, and citric acid will go a long way to keeping meat good.
Elkmtngear,
LOL, most cases but not all!
Sorry for your loss, JLS :^(
@idacurt,
Common sense mostly. Cape and debone immediately. The longer the meat is wrapped in cape and has bone inside it the faster it starts to break down. Get it off the bone and hung on deadfall branches and it will cool extremely fast, even in warm temps. Rotate it to the shade when you need to, don't allow it to sit in the sunlight. Once it's cold bag it and hang it dark areas where it won't get the light of sun. If you expect to need more than a couple of days get it in low areas, especially around areas with running water. If needed it can be submerged in garbage bags to keep it cold. I have a buddy who took a number of days to haul a nice bull out of a big burn area. With the right precautions he never lost an ounce of meat. I'll see if he will chime in here....
Elkaddict,great info that a lot of guys will be able to use.
As far as meat spoilage:
Whats the difference of the quarters hanging out in the woods or back in camp?
Never had a problem. Just get them hung and let the breeze and shade do the rest.
Enjoy the moment and pack it out within your abilites
Two years ago two of us packed out my bull 7 miles. We each had two loads which we leap-frogged to get out in one 9 hour haul ending at 1:00 am. Three days later my partner shot a bull in the same area and we did it all over again. It was painful, but it didn't take the smile off our faces.
I agree getting the meat hung in the shade is essential.
I'd also say that 3 days (or 2.5 in my example) is not doable when temps are in the 80's. 70s? 60...probably fine.
High timber? Low cedars? Old aspens? All different, but shade and a breeze won't help after a certain point. I'll err on the side of caution rather than wind and shade.
I should edit my first post as my worst pack out was a solo uphill to the truck over near Durango. It was about 45 min uphill in the pouring rain....which actually was a blessing as I am allergic to those yellow jackets and I was stung on my left hand 3x while boning the bull out. [i carry benedryl but it was in my other pack]
That first load I was a bit worried as my arm was blowing up like a balloon and red hot [so the rain was a blessing really] I popped a few benedryl at the truck, took an hour break and the swelling went down considerably so then I packed the other 2 loads- poured all day.
I can tell you I was motoring up that hill on the first load with a little added adrenaline as nobody knew where I was and there was no cell service.
The difference between the quarters (or de-boned meat) hanging out in the woods or back in camp could be the fact that the elk may have been killed much higher up on the mountain than where camp is and it might be much cooler up there during the day. Probably the longest pack out I had (mostly solo) was six miles. The truck was parked at 9,200 feet and the meat was hanging in a tree up on the mountain at 11,600 feet. It took 3 days to pack all of that meat out and one more trip on day 4 to get the cape. The temperature was a lot colder where the meat was hanging at an elevation 2400 feet higher than the truck and 1,800 feet higher than our spike camp which was at 9,800 feet. Each day when I climbed the mountain and got a load of meat it was either snowing or it had snowed recently. When I retrieved the cape on day 4 I had to brush the snow and ice off of it.
That meat probably would have kept for 2 weeks or more up there and maybe until the following spring.
Typically in the high country where we usually hunt, the sun can be pretty intense but I really doubt that it ever gets much warmer than the 60’s or maybe low 70’s.
On the hunt that elkaddict was referring to I was hunting solo in a rugged burned area. That pack out was the most exhausting pack out I’ve ever had. It was about 5.5 miles and it took me 3 full days and part of the morning of the 4th day. One of the things that made it so exhausting was the lack of shade and clear, calm, hot sunny days. It felt like it was in the 80’s because of the sun but realistically it was probably no warmer than the high 70’s. I probably should have rested during the day and packed at night, but it would have been more treacherous during the night.
I deboned all the meat and laid it out on logs in the shade of other trees so it could cool as I continued to debone the meat. After it cooled and dried slightly I bagged it and hung it in trees. It was a challenge to find shade because I was in a huge burn but I managed to find some trees that still had some green branches which provided minimum shade. I hung the meat on the side of the trees that would provide the most shade throughout the day and also allow air to circulate. My truck basecamp was near a cold stream so each day when I got my load of meat to the truck I put it inside of a contractor’s garbage bag and submerged it in the stream. I was worried that I was going to lose some meat to spoilage up on the mountain but each day when I got there, even though the sun was beating down on me, the meat was cool to the touch. I did not lose one ounce of that meat to spoilage.
Thirty hundred miles, up hill, both ways, through 4 feet of snow, pulling a blood shy mule named Big Bertha who had an affinity to stop for grass on the steepest slopes. All this knowing there was no cold beer waiting for at the trail head (generally a good motivator)
Norsemen, Then you must have seen the grammar school my folks went to.....
Ike said - "A bull for me is 6 trips. I won't carry 100 lbs. In fact, for my frame and strength, I don't like to carry more than 70 - I just feel it wears me out faster and I risk injury far more with every pound added. I'd rather take one extra trip than bust up my knee/back/ankle."
Ditto Ike. Most of my elk have required six trips including the head. Killed a small raghorn a few years back that only required four loads (skull capped the antlers on that one). Hauled a cow elk once in two trips...but it was a short distance and all downhill.
My farthest pack out was under 3 miles according to the GPS. That was "as the crow flies". Not sure on actual distance? I can tell you for certain....that's about all the pack distance I want to tackle...maybe more.
For our group no longer than 1 mile, but steeply up/ up and down the whole way. But we are going a different direction now, HORSES! I spent 20 years in the army and had to do 12 miles under three hours with combat load on a regular basis.(Near 100# for real world, in the 70s for the test) (Learned you do not need to practice misery anymore) Really, for western US elk more than one mile is needless torture. Walk in as far as you want. If you get a bull down rent some horses/mules. As 60 gets near we are bringing our own horses.
Staggered past the school many times, Bruce
IDK for sure, but I can tell you IT HURT
Norseman....You making fun of my school? lol
It's late in the hunt. The focus has gone from mature bull, to something with antlers, to if it's brown it's down. We left the truck at Oh' dark 30 listening to distant bugles, hoping we can cut the distance before first light.
Many many hours later, 6 miles in, 3000' in elev difference from the truck, working across a steep south face near tree line and not expecting to bump into anything. I look up to see movement coming towards us and realize it's a herd of elk. Immediately, I drop to one knee, nock an arrow and go to full draw. My buddy who's 10yds behind me does the same. In front of me is a small gully and the first elk to pop out of it is a large cow. She's on a small game trail walking at a quick gate directly towards me. I see more elk filing along behind her. She's at 15yds, then 10, 5, 10ft! She finally notices me on the trail in front of her, and instead of stopping she veer's off trail and without missing a step walks right past me. I'm still watching for antler's to pop up out of the gully, when behind me I hear "whack"! My buddy let's the lead cow have it. Elk are scattering every which direction. It's complete chaos, but after a few seconds all is quiet. I spend the next few minutes sending out cow calls hoping a bull returns trying to gather his harem, nothing...
Now the fun begins. I look back at my buddy once we realize the herd is probably in the next county. He whispers to me, "why didn't you shoot"? I just give him the look of disbelief. Now I don't know about you guys, but once we passed the 2, maybe 3 mile mark and the first 1500' in elevation, I just assumed the "brown is down" plan of action was out the window. No need to really discuss it.
All I could say was, "dude, you realize where we're at"? Now he looks around, spots his cow piled up 50yds away in the rocks below us, and I see the realization finally come across his face.
To make a long story short. We only had our day packs on, so we broke her down and got the game bags hung. Hunted our way back to the truck arriving way after last light. The next morning we hiked our butts back up there, and only having time for one trip, each of us strapped two bags on our pack frames. Now it's 6 miles back to the truck, mostly travelling down with a few steep climbs. We estimated each pack was probably in that 120-130 lb. range.
I've packed out elk before and since, but that's still the one I remember most. All that for a cow!
About 3 miles downhill with a 2000 foot drop. With a buddy did it in 2 loads. Ditto remarks about uphill versus downhill, although going downhill you really have to watch your footing carefully every step and use poles. Used a nylon sled also on the second load, which took about 75 lbs. Nice open terrain helped a lot. Got it all out in one (long) day. Never did make it back for the cape. Twice have ridden a gutted elk down snowy avalanche chutes. Sure cut down on the lugging, but had to watch out for the tines - the steering wheel can turn into multiple spears pointed at you really quickly.
that downhill with heavy loads just kills my knees- i have to resort to those poles now so i dont leave knee cartiledge on the mtn for someone to trip over
I'm in to "camp low, hunt high" as often as possible.
Only Elk I killed was a cow and I had about 2.5 miles one way. Half way down on my first trip I met a guy on horse back(just out for a ride he said) he became my new best friend. I believe it would of taken me 3 trips but we did it in one more. Shawn