Keeping the Head Safe During Pack Out

MoGreen · Sep 17, 2015

Do you guys ever worry about someone stealing you elk head while packing an elk out? And what do you do about it?

I carry a cable lock so I can cable lock it to a large tree. But I am still wondering where to put it.

Is it best to leave it at the kill site or stash it closer to the vehicle?

I worry someone will see me at the kill site and have plenty of time to cut the tree down or get through the lock.

I am in Idaho and Idaho says the antlers and meat must be in transit together. So no leaving to take it to a safe place and then coming vack.

Anyway, it has been on my mind so just wondering you guys thoughts.

mntman · Sep 17, 2015

I kind of worry if I have other hunters around but don't carry a cable/lock with me, that is way too much weight. I would just stash it nearby if you are that worried under a downed tree or something similar. Once it gets to camp just lock it up there.

Mntman

"Hunting is where you prove yourself"

BLooDTRaCKeR · Sep 18, 2015

Mo,

You worry too much man. Just go have fun and leave all the worrying to the wife back home. That's her job LOL!

Deerlove · Sep 18, 2015

I worry about it more at the trail head than in the field.

MoGreen · Sep 18, 2015

Thanks guys! I was hoping no one would flame me for asking that. I appreciate it.

Yeah I guess it would be worse to have it at the trail head than in the woods. Probably best to ditch it in the woods and bring it out last. Meat is most important - no doubt.

BrowningRage · Sep 18, 2015

I'd say you stash the head/antlers near the kill site. Far lower chance anyone is going to find it out there versus at the trailhead. Otherwise, the cable and lock idea is a good one, but leave it at the truck and pack the head out first. Then you can lock it up at the trailhead.

I hope you have lots of opportunity to stash heads while packing meat out Mo..!!

"Therefore, wo be unto him that is at ease in Zion!" 2 Ne. 28: 24

ForkWest · Sep 22, 2015

You know, honestly, the thought has never crossed my mind. But then again, I hunt in pretty remote country where I don't often see many folks. And if they're in there they're probably of the same mindset as me and wouldn't mess with another guys stuff. Seems the dishonest ones are also the lazy ones, not many of them 5 miles in and 3,000' up.

Now bears on the other hand, I've worried about them hauling off my head.

UGAhunter · Sep 23, 2015

Antlers don't have to be with the meat (unless your in a point restriction area), only proof of sex. Leave the scrotum attached to a hind quarter with the tag. As long as the meat wont spoil, take the antlers home, lock them in your garage, get some help, and go back for the meat.

chindits · Sep 25, 2015

I agree with stashing the head near the kill site. If you are worried about bears you can always suspend it from a tree branch off the ground with paracord just like you would do with your camp food in bear country. The first priority as you already indicated is getting the meat out. The head can wait and will not get you a wasted game ticket like not getting your meat out. The trailhead is the most vunerable point of any hunting trip because of "car clouters". Any camp near a road suffers the same vunerability unless you have a camp sentry.

https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/car_clout

There is an element of society that regularly targets trailheads, river put in/takeouts, and easily spotted road camps for their illicit profit.