Are you good?

travishunter3006 · May 23, 2011

Are you any good archery hunting the uintahs with out horses? I don't care to know any spots or anything of that sort, just how do you succesfully take elk during the archery hunt with out the use and aid of horses?

It was a big bodied 2 point.

bucklover · May 23, 2011

LAST EDITED ON May-23-11 AT 08:12PM (MST)[p]LAST EDITED ON May-23-11 AT 07:42?PM (MST)

LAST EDITED ON May-23-11 AT 07:37?PM (MST)

LAST EDITED ON May-23-11 AT 07:33?PM (MST)

If you don't have horses then you'll have to use your asses. Just let them follow you where ever you go. After you kill something your asses will help you pack the meat out. Put a balanced load on them and cinch the pack straps down tight. Sometimes asses will want you to sit down on them. If this happens it can be very difficult to get them up and moving again, especially if your ass falls into a hole. There are quite a few assholes up there so be careful.Be aware of where your ass is and what it is doing at all times, and when necessary take it off the trails. People don't take kindly to stepping in an asses aftermath. One more piece of advice, "get a good deer cart that will help you carry the load.

CATMAN · May 23, 2011

People hunt the Uinta's without horses all the time. You have kill a bull before the horses are really that helpful

bucklover · May 23, 2011

LAST EDITED ON May-23-11 AT 08:39PM (MST)[p]One more thing, asses have been known to cut loose once in a while, especially early morning, or when something exciting is about to take place. Once in a great while, you can just ignore them and things will settle down, but you usually have to give in to them for a few moments until they work things out of their system. After that, they usually settle into the day's routine and only complain once in a while.

AndymanSavage · May 23, 2011

I was just wondering how long this thread would go before someone spells "Uintas" correctly......

-----------------------------------------------
http://andymansavage.blogspot.com/

mmwb · May 23, 2011

Hunting without horses is easy enough. Getting an elk out after the shot is where the big beasts shine...

AndymanSavage · May 23, 2011

And I have only hunted there rifle and muzzy and I have seen plenty of success without horses, asses seem to do fine.

-----------------------------------------------
http://andymansavage.blogspot.com/

bucklover · May 24, 2011

Just a couple more things: It's very important if you decide to use your ass instead of horses, to get it in the best shape possible. If yours is out of shape or fat, it will really slow your hunt down. Also, that country is huge, and if it clouds up, it's really easy to get turned around. Best advice would be to take a compass and GPS to prevent getting lost. Some horses can take you back to the truck,but asses can be tricky. There are some smart ones and some dumb ones. Problem is, you never know which one you have until you find "yours" lost. Now, with that last comment, I apologize in advance for all these smart assed comments. I just couldn't help myself.

Sniper1 · May 24, 2011

Wearing the rubber out on your boots.

littlebighorn · May 24, 2011

bucklover,
I have to think yours is pretty smart...but also entertaining!

TOPGUN · May 24, 2011

I think the Devil made you do it, LOL!!!

nickman · May 24, 2011

I have always been a staunch supporter of renting female asses.

They are generally amiable, humorous, well behaved and experienced.

You don't have to feed them, clothe them, or pay their medical bills.

You can cuss, drink beer, and even if you fart while riding them, they don't seem to care.

However, if you have to pack out an elk, a horse is handy to have for that.

"whackin' a surly bartender ain't much of a crime"

travishunter3006 · May 24, 2011

I never could win the gosh darn spelling B in school....

I have a deer cart tha my grandpa made and used as a kid hunting deer up on monte back in the 30 and 40's. My parents have old 8mm footage of him as a kid in camp with all the deer. some of the coolest pictures i have ever seen.

I think packing everything in on a deer cart wouldn't be a bad idea as well as using it to pack some things out. I have back packed all through the (mountain range that i can't spell correctly) but i have never hunted it. I'm tired of southern Utah for she has become one over hunted place.

It was a big bodied 2 point.

Zeke · May 24, 2011

I've enjoyed all the flapping on this thread.

Travishunter, You better have one heluva huntin' crew if you're going very far into that country to pack out an elk w/o horses or asses. DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA HOW DARN BIG AN ELK IS?

I hauled out 2 elk last year on consecutive days, with a little help from my wife. (Less than 1 1/2 mile average each) Six and a half hours one day and over 8 the next, This includes skinning, quartering and packing. If it would have been any farther I would have de-boned them (or not shot one).

One word for your adventure: BRUTAL!

good luck,
Zeke

justr_86 · May 24, 2011

Its really crowded up here too....

travishunter3006 · May 25, 2011

I realize just how big elk are. Yes I have shot elk before. The mountains (that i can't seem to spell correctly) are crowded for those that don't get off the beaten path. Some of the places that I have been pre season are 8 miles in, etc, but i wouldn't want to shoot anything that far back with out some type of he;p getting them out.

It was a big bodied 2 point.

GotBowAz · May 26, 2011

Pretty good thread, lots to think about for sure. If I were going in over a couple of miles to hunt elk I would want some type of help getting it out. Im good for hauling one deboned front and rear quarter a mile or so but that's all and with a really good pack frame. At best that is still 3 trips if you decide to keep the head and cape. By yourself that's a ton of work. I think if possible I would try to set up someone coming in with horses once you got your elk down. You may have to rent a satellite phone if you can't get service where you're going but it would make me feel a lot better about going in as far as I wanted to so I can get away from the crowd and hunt for a big Bull. There?s nothing that feels better than to have the freedom to hunt as far in as you want.

GBA

Zeke · May 26, 2011

Good thread travishunter3006,
It makes us all do a little thinking!

I like GBA's thoughts on the sat phone and lots of help or horses on-call once your critter is down and quartered.

Good luck in there. I was back in 11 miles, 2 yrs ago, on a goat scouting trip. I love the country and I don't blame you for wanting to hunt there!

Zeke

lunkerjunker · May 26, 2011

A few years ago two of my buddies packed in around 4 miles with game carts. It worked out very well for hauling all their gear in. Unfortunately we did not get an elk to pack out but we had plenty of supplies for the whloe trip. They were in for 5 days or so and I met them for 3. They said some of the uphill sections of the trail were tough going in but probably because of all the extra stuff they paked. (It was nice have ice for my drinks) We were hiking on a closed road so if you use a cart on just a trail it might be more difficult. Good option for those of us without horses.