How far would you pack out an elk

[Shane.A.Luke]

https://www.packwheel.com/

Considering a Pack Wheel this year after hauling a cow elk out three miles last year in WY. But it was a special trophy cow elk, so it was all worth it. Joking aside I would do it again. Nothing like passing out at camp ~3:AM after the hike out.

[Hucker]

All I can say is, F^ck Jack and his canyon in 5B.  Six trips through the canyon in the snow that fell opening morning a couple of years ago (24"?) was arguably the hardest packout I've ever done.  

But ask my hunting partner...I'd do it again, like a dumbass!

Edit: one way trip was about 1.5 mi, but elevation gain/loss was stupid...

[huntlines]

Strange topic. It’s relative and subjective. 

[Delw]

I far as it takes, This one isnt the farthest but the most memorable. a very good friend of mine shot his 1st cow elk just before dark one year. actually it was his 1st big game animal if I recall. I had worked from 4am and got the call about 5pm. once I got the call I was on the road. 2.5 hours later I reached where he was.  we headed for another 1 hour drive to where he shot the elk. little bit of snow on the ground colder than crap and we were both beat and hadn't even gotten to the elk yet. after about an hour of searching we found it. gutted it quartered it and started the long haul out. it was maybe 1 mile one way. One big steep canyon down and up and some flat walking to a road. If I recall we did it in 3 trips but I think that took like 5-7 hours we were both younger at the time maybe in our high 30's. I got back on the road and headed home right after we finished as he did as well. the sun was coming up. before we even got to pavement. both of use were up over 24 straight hours. Was one of the toughest pack outs I have ever done. yet one of the most memorable and funnest because it was with a good friend and his very 1st elk.

he about died laughing when I told him to slip inside the rib cage and carry it out like a naked barrel man. and he did except he was clothed.  kinda funny watching him try to balance himself with now hands going up and down the canyon or over fallen timber . I swear a few times he'd fall over and roll down 50-100 feet then get back up and go at it again.

[Delw]

dang I forgot some of this story found it on hunttalk. it happened in 2004 . Now I just need to find the pics

Quote

Heres my side of the story.

Couldnt make it friday and sat, due to bass tourny change in date ) in which I did get a check). so I really wanted to make it up sunday. but had a few problems with that as well.

Sunday night John calls me about 6:30pm , his words were

Does that offer still stand to help me pack my elk out

heck YA I said. April was at the desk and looked at me when I said I would be right up. I told her its to payson I will be back by 1am at the latest.

John and I agreed to meet off the side of the freeway.

Well seems ole del doesnt get out that way(payson) much any more. I told John I would leave at 7pm and be up there at 9:30. dang I can make it to roosevelt lake towning a 22 foot bass boat in 1 hour and 45 mins surely I can make it to payson in 1.5 hours WRONG.

I left the shop then the house finally around 7:30-7:45. Forgot my PACK ooops. No problem john said it was 100 yards off the road and on the side of a little hill. in the canyon.

I grab a few jackets, spotlight and some knifes, camera and some water.

9:15 I finally make it out of city limits dang the east side has grown. I haul butt up to payson and get there around 10:00 then head to where we were suppose to meet. I was think 10-15 miles out of payson(wrong again). I finaly get up there about 10:30 after passing him twice.
had to slam on the brakes a few times for a big cow elk in down town payson, a herd of deer at the little town just past payson and another elk I did see and almost hit just going up the rim.

there was plenty of oncomming traffic and no one looked like it hit them ( on the way back at the exact same spot there was a dead elk in the oncoming lane).

Now I finally meet john up at his truck, you couldnt miss him his eyes were shut with the biggest smile someone could have..
Johns a pretty quiet guy but he was really talking , he was extreamly happy.

so we head down the dirt road.
get to the spot and get out and walk, I am thinking right down the side of the hill and have the flash light shining for an elk. John is getting the gps cordinates and it must have shut off cause we walked about 1/2 mile the wrong way.

Finally got it on and did a about face.
now the elk was on the otherside of the canyon and partway up that hill, Another words almost 3/4 mile from the truck. No biggy we got one pack we can still get it done and be home in a few hours.

We locate the cow and That had to be the biggest cow I have seen shot in my life. now I know we arent going to make it home tonight.
so we start skinng and quartering and yaking also.
John was beat. He could barely stand up. I was getting tired also. so the quarting is all done. now its time to see if 2 old farts and get the elk down the canyon across the canyon and ip the side of mt evrest. first trip consisted of me and johns pack with a hind quarter. John grabbed the 2 front shoulders, hey this wasnt so bad. well about 200 yards later we had to go up.

Yup it wasnt so bad but we managed. we went straight up this time and new the trucks were down the road 1/4 mile. found a nice rock and layed the first pack trip on it. Wow tht was a nice rock to we just sat there looking at each other proballt waiting for one or the other to die.
We unloaded the pack and front shoulders and went for the trucks. got them to the rock and sat and had a drink.
hey we did this one and we made it lets get the rest.

Now we walk back down across and up again to the elk. dang we didnt even make a dent. there was still the ribs and one rear quarter and only one pack plus a lantern and rope and some knives.

we sat there trying to figure out how to get the rib cage ip to the truck and the rear quarter as well. even though we didnt say it neither one of us wanted to make another trip down to get anything.

All of a sudden I see john climbing inside the elksrib cage. well it was kinda heavy and extreanly tall, we managed to shop off some neck meat and a few ribs that were damaged from the bullet. made it much much lighter. Agian we see if there was a way to tie this to johns back so we didnt have to make another pack trip.

we'll John was determined to get it all out this time, he helped me on wth the pack and the rear quarter then crawled again inside the elks rib cage and picked it up.
now you have to picture this johns about 5'9"-5'10" and alot thinnner than I. this elks rib cage is covering from his neck to his KNees and all the way around.
A good analegy would be those old cartoons with the nekid guy using a barrel for clothes.

so were off to the truck. we finally make it to the rock and set it down. we are still alive but barely. John is dead tired and was delusional. I was just plain tired and beat. we throw everything in the truck and head back to camp about 1/4 mile away. Park the trucks and comment on OH shoot its late. it was like 4am. I told him I was just going to sleep in the truck there was no way I could drive home. he said he could but I dont think so. so he rashed in his truck and I crashed in mine. We figured we would get a little nap then head home. About 7am johns at my truck wide awake still with a big smile on his face.
I finally crawl out of my sleeping bag. (which thank god that I am a slob and lazy cause it was still in the back seat from my elk trip -4 week prior) Other wise I would have froze that night.

John let me pop a round off out of the muzzy wow nice gun I havent shot one since I was in highschool. we headed to town and then home.

It was a blast and well worth the trip to see john with his first elk not to mention to help him get it out.
I kinda like that sort of work every once in a while. Its nice to be the stress from the city.

Ive known john for quite a few years now and I will tell you he was really excited about that cow.
Congrats John.
He has the rest of the pics. I have a few in a email he sent me as well. When I get them I will post them. the one where he is a walking rib cage is a good one.


Later time for bed
Delw

 

 

[Big Nasty]

If I shoot it and kill it....its getting packed out.  Doesn't matter the distance.  It might suck....but its the right thing to do.

[matthewr34]

I've had a range of pack-outs, the longest being well over 3 miles, and the shortest being about 10 feet.  However would take a 10 mile pack-out vs the 1000 yard "straight-up-a-cliff-in-the-rain" cow elk in 2015.  As a previous poster said, it is all subjective.

[hunter4life]

If hunting alone I would not go over 2 miles.  With one buddy, maybe 3 miles depending on terrain. 

I once packed an elk out 9 miles one way on foot.  There were 3 of us.  I would not want to do that again.  After that trip we got some mules and now they go on all the elk hunts. 

My brother and I killed 2 bulls about 9miles in.  With 4 mules we packed both bulls and all of camp in one load without a problem (we walked and led the mules on the way out).  I would do that pack out again in a heartbeat.  

[Delw]

On 3/17/2021 at 10:30 PM, Delw said:

I far as it takes, This one isnt the farthest but the most memorable. a very good friend of mine shot his 1st cow elk just before dark one year. actually it was his 1st big game animal if I recall. I had worked from 4am and got the call about 5pm. once I got the call I was on the road. 2.5 hours later I reached where he was.  we headed for another 1 hour drive to where he shot the elk. little bit of snow on the ground colder than crap and we were both beat and hadn't even gotten to the elk yet. after about an hour of searching we found it. gutted it quartered it and started the long haul out. it was maybe 1 mile one way. One big steep canyon down and up and some flat walking to a road. If I recall we did it in 3 trips but I think that took like 5-7 hours we were both younger at the time maybe in our high 30's. I got back on the road and headed home right after we finished as he did as well. the sun was coming up. before we even got to pavement. both of use were up over 24 straight hours. Was one of the toughest pack outs I have ever done. yet one of the most memorable and funnest because it was with a good friend and his very 1st elk.

he about died laughing when I told him to slip inside the rib cage and carry it out like a naked barrel man. and he did except he was clothed.  kinda funny watching him try to balance himself with now hands going up and down the canyon or over fallen timber . I swear a few times he'd fall over and roll down 50-100 feet then get back up and go at it again.

happend to find the pics by accident this mornin

 

 

 

[CatfishKev]

Lol, cant tell from those pics if hes just exhausted or you guys burned a nice fat one before the pack out.