Post Harvest Backcountry

J

jpine

Guest
We're headed back into the high country on foot for Muleys in CO area 18. After the kill (if we're fortunate) is it safe in bear country to suspend the meat/carcass from a rope in a tree away from camp? What precautions do you take? Two of us packing in on foot about six miles into the hills. Do you hike out and start over after putting meat in storage? First time going into the back country hunting for a couple of guy's who have done plenty of it when not hunting.
 
I use to live in Cody and we use to take some precautions when packing out meat in the backcountry. We would not leave the meat for a long time in one location. We sometimes packed out half the animal half way then hang it in the tree and go back for the rest. This way you don't leave the meat for a long period near the gut pile.
I sometimes dragged the gut pile away from the carcass. I didn't gut/tranport the animal alone, especially in the dark. I also carried bear spray.
If/when you hang meat in a tree hang it far enough from the trunk so that the bear can't reach it if he/she climbs the tree. Hang the meat in an area that you can see from a distance, so you don't surprise any bears.
Good luck in Colorado,
Kurtski
 
SOOOOOOO what you are saying if you don't want a full action packed, adrenaline pumping, life on the edge type hunt don't store it in the tent with you at night? :) JK Good advice posted above!
 
LAST EDITED ON Sep-22-09 AT 03:21PM (MST)[p]just take a few cans of bacon grease dipped bear spray and throw them out in the trees where the meat is hanging.... hang it high! the bears will attack the bear spray and never give you another problem.

this is a joke of course....
 
I lost my elk in NM a few years back because I pull the meat up on a rope that I held with my bloody hands the bear eat the rope right where I held(where all the blood was) it, so all the meat fell to the ground for them to feast on and roll on.
The whole area just flat stunk to high heaven

So don't tie it all together use some different trees too.


"I have found if you go the extra mile it's Never crowded".
 
I don't think you'll have too much of a problem with bears in that country. If your leaving the meat hanging for a while, leave a few articles of clothing hanging with the meat. A good safe bet is to pack the meat out a quickly as possible. I have hunted nearby country and have never had a problem with leaving meat for a while.
 

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