So what do you guys do with your elk if you fly and it's a solo DIY hunt? There is no way I can afford to fly all the meat home (+ the horns and cape), so who can you give it to legally? I have CO elk tag for the flattops and it might make more sense for me to fly than drive.
Flying and Elk Hunting DIY
- Thread starter MAT
- Start date
S
shooter21
Guest
you can donate it i would call the DOW office closes to your unit and see if they have a place you can drop it off . what unit are you hunting ?
Anaconda
Very Active Member
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- 1,443
This is probably not what you want to hear, and I don't mean to bust your chops but....
You have a $500 tag in your pocket, round trip air fair and a rental truck, if you can't afford to ship the meat back, you can't afford this hunt. Add food, incidentals and your spending 2 grand or more, you CAN afford to ship it.
You have a $500 tag in your pocket, round trip air fair and a rental truck, if you can't afford to ship the meat back, you can't afford this hunt. Add food, incidentals and your spending 2 grand or more, you CAN afford to ship it.
HorseCreek
Very Active Member
- Messages
- 2,242
>This is probably not what you
>want to hear, and I
>don't mean to bust your
>chops but....
>You have a $500 tag in
>your pocket, round trip air
>fair and a rental truck,
>if you can't afford to
>ship the meat back, you
>can't afford this hunt.
>Add food, incidentals and your
>spending 2 grand or more,
>you CAN afford to ship
>it.
+100 dont ##### go if you can't afford it.
Traditional >>>------->
>want to hear, and I
>don't mean to bust your
>chops but....
>You have a $500 tag in
>your pocket, round trip air
>fair and a rental truck,
>if you can't afford to
>ship the meat back, you
>can't afford this hunt.
>Add food, incidentals and your
>spending 2 grand or more,
>you CAN afford to ship
>it.
+100 dont ##### go if you can't afford it.
Traditional >>>------->
VTelkchaser
Active Member
- Messages
- 152
look up meet processors in the area. My dad fly's out here (UT) every year from Vermont for a cow elk hunt. We have a processor here that flash freeze's and ships for about $350. The meet goes next day UPS and has arrived without issue for 5 years. The one exception was the one time we tried to fly it back. The meet got left out on the Delta loading doc in GA for two days. Complete loss!! what a shame.
DoeNob
Active Member
- Messages
- 930
I'm not sure how you can get enough gear in for a solo diy without driving there anyway, unless you are hunting out of a hotel. Bow/Gun case, Big duffel limited to 50 lbs, a cooler can hold up to 50 lbs of deboned meat. I'd need an entire other bag for camp gear as well.
I decided a while back I will drive to all my fall hunting trips. Its a haul and adds a day or two, but if I tag out early I can leave early, I'm not limited on what gear I can bring, and my processor in El Campo Texas is completely bad assed, I prefer to put ice blocks in the cooler and let it age a day or two then take it to them, rather than some local who doesn't know what the word "hot" means.
Another option, I have heard of people who hunt moose out east doing, is keep your round trip ticket, if you get a big bull down, just cancel the 2nd leg and rent a uhaul and drive it back. The numbers I saw showed several hundred dollars saved vs. shipping, but moose are bigger than elk also.
I decided a while back I will drive to all my fall hunting trips. Its a haul and adds a day or two, but if I tag out early I can leave early, I'm not limited on what gear I can bring, and my processor in El Campo Texas is completely bad assed, I prefer to put ice blocks in the cooler and let it age a day or two then take it to them, rather than some local who doesn't know what the word "hot" means.
Another option, I have heard of people who hunt moose out east doing, is keep your round trip ticket, if you get a big bull down, just cancel the 2nd leg and rent a uhaul and drive it back. The numbers I saw showed several hundred dollars saved vs. shipping, but moose are bigger than elk also.
Ths is a DIY solo bivy hunt, so all my gear and bow will be less than 50#, under the airline limit. Having a butcher ship meat would be an option to explore, it's not like I don't want the meat but we brought back most of a moose from Alberta and it cost a LOT. And that was before the airlines started charging for luggage. The horns will be expensive too.
Just considering options, and have always wondered how guys do this anyway. If I get a cheap airline ticket I might go early, then drive back late.
I have an archery tag for Unit 12.
Just considering options, and have always wondered how guys do this anyway. If I get a cheap airline ticket I might go early, then drive back late.
I have an archery tag for Unit 12.
7
7thgenmt
Guest
WHy not drive out....
Just say to heck to those airlines and drive.I cant stand all those fees anyway so we have just been driving.It really would be a waste to get rid of that elk too.Heck,I'm even going to haul a buddys elk he will shoot in 40 and we are huntin the flattops too.I would bring it back for you but we will be gun huntin.
You guys are about as helpful as teats on a bull. I can fly for $200. Do the math on driving 2000 miles at 18 mpg, and add in 2 extra days for the trip. I am more curious to see how others have done this than actually doing it myself. Knock a guy down too for having the ability to be flexible this late in the game.
So if you can fly for $200, rather than spend $1000+ driving and losing two or three extra days in driving time, it would seem logical to fly the meat home with you in one day and be done with it. The extra cost for that should be doable for the $800+ you'll save by flying.
llamapacker
Moderator
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- 1,068
MAT,
Don't let the naysayers and panty waists get you down. Anyone who travels regularly to hunt faces this question. And if you live alone, or hunt alot, you will regularly have meat to donate to others less fortunate.
It is relatively easy to donate the meat in most western states. Most areas have a group called SFH, or Sportsmen for the Hungry that take donated meat and get it to the food shelters, soup kitchens, etc. You could call the local RMEF chapter and see what they can suggest. If you plan ahead, you should have no issue. As an absolute last resort, take it to the local meat processor, pay him for the processing, and then ask him to donate it to his friends or favorite charity. As long as you are paying for the butchering, you won't be turned down.
We donate meat regularly to both charities and needy families in our community. It is very satisfying to see their gratitude. When my kids are away at college or overseas in the military they can't take much back with them, but that doesn't mean they shouldn't go hunting. See the meat goes to someone who can use it and hold your head high.
Bill
Don't let the naysayers and panty waists get you down. Anyone who travels regularly to hunt faces this question. And if you live alone, or hunt alot, you will regularly have meat to donate to others less fortunate.
It is relatively easy to donate the meat in most western states. Most areas have a group called SFH, or Sportsmen for the Hungry that take donated meat and get it to the food shelters, soup kitchens, etc. You could call the local RMEF chapter and see what they can suggest. If you plan ahead, you should have no issue. As an absolute last resort, take it to the local meat processor, pay him for the processing, and then ask him to donate it to his friends or favorite charity. As long as you are paying for the butchering, you won't be turned down.
We donate meat regularly to both charities and needy families in our community. It is very satisfying to see their gratitude. When my kids are away at college or overseas in the military they can't take much back with them, but that doesn't mean they shouldn't go hunting. See the meat goes to someone who can use it and hold your head high.
Bill
The last fly in trip I went on we gave meat away. We went to the local bar for some dinner and ask the waitress if she new anyone who would freeze our meat for us for a portion of it. It didn't take her 5 minutes and she was back with someone to make the deal. Call me a bad hunter or whatever but I can buy beef @ home for half the price of shipping it. We each took 150 lbs of meat home and gave the rest to the guy who put it in his freezer. We where happy and so was he. I took 100 lbs of meat home that cost me the same as 200lbs of beef. The first 50 lbs was free. Is it better than beef, yes but I do have a budget and at the same time helped somone else out.
Fly out there, kill your elk, have it processed and sent UPS next day to your door. I've had meat shipped from NM to Florida and it was hard as a rock when it arrived at my door. 100 lbs of Oryx burger and steak was well worth the price. They even sent it in one of those neat coolers with wheels and a handle. I plan on doing the same thing in the near future with Elk if I can ever draw a tag in NM. If not I hope to be shipping meat from CO.
Good luck. Let us know how things work out for you.
Good luck. Let us know how things work out for you.
B
bbgellerman
Guest
I am doing the same thing this year. If I get one down I will have it processed, cancel the plane ticket, and rent a car. Elk is like gold to me. No way I would give it away.
