Elk Packout Trips

bowhunter223 · Sep 12, 2016

When hauling an elk out on your back with multiple trips, what have each of you found out is better/faster/easier etc. A or B...?
A: Haul portion of the elk all the way out to the truck...then back in the full distance empty to tke killsite, then repeat.
or.....
B: Haul portions a shorter distance, drop./hang meat, then back to kill site to take out another small load to drop off, then back to killsite etc. Once all meat/horns etc have made it to drop site #1, begin another trip further to truck.

Basically piggybacking smaller trips say 1/3 or 1/4 the distance vs one load all the way out at a time. Is one quicker than another?
Might sound silly and I'm sure theres a mathematical way of seeing which is shorter or longer on miles, but want to hear what you guys have experienced. Thanks!

Soj51hopeful · Sep 12, 2016

Depends on the terrain getting back to the vehicle. If there is a difficult or steep spot closer to the kill site I like to get everything past said spot while I'm mostly fresh, then continue with single loads all the way to the vehicle. Usually I just take 1 load at a time all the way in, that way you aren't screwing around multiple times hanging meat.

HalfAce · Sep 12, 2016

I agree with what Soj said, each packout can be different depending on the terrain amd other things like weather, or time of the day.

But I personally like option "B" in hilly country. I like to go heavier than normal, do a 1/4 or more of the way, drop the meat, and then I get to take a break walking back empty, and repeat until all the meat is in one spot, then repeat. I figure if you go heavier, you can save yourself one trip. You wont get as tired doing shorter trips with a heavy load than one long trip with a heavy load. The drawback is you waste time constantly tying and dropping meat.

doubledrop · Sep 12, 2016

A for me

dz · Sep 12, 2016

Almost always done A. But B has its place. I'm all about the meat and if it is better to stage it because of cooler hanging places along the way then I will choose to do that. Always seems to be hot where the rig is parked. Like said above each one is different. I do like the feeling of getting the first load to the truck. Then strapping on the last load is another good feeling.

DZ

bowhunt · Sep 13, 2016

I have done both, but mostly A
Last year we shot an elk is some NASTY down fall..we did not want to go in there more than once.
So 3 of us took HUGE loads, and got out of the downfall in 1 shot.
We then made 2 trips each to get if from that point out.

I guess it depends on the terrain like others are saying.

huntin50 · Sep 13, 2016

Bone out all meat. No sense in hauling off the bones. It may depend on temperature and flies. I like to pack all the way to truck and put boned out meat in cooler. Bone out all meat to be cooling for second trip. In most cases you only need two trips.

heartshot · Sep 13, 2016

A for me. I like to take a load all the way out. That gives me more opportunities to restock on liquid at the vehicle and get rid of unnecessary items (spotting scope etc)

I have always done my bulls in three loads. The first load is back straps, neck, and misc meat along with my hunting gear. 2nd load I do meat from a hind qtr and front qtr. 3rd load same as the 2nd but add the antlers. (if there is a cape I would add a qtr to first load to have more room in the last load.

bowhunter223 · Sep 13, 2016

Thanks guys! I like the way you think. Makes sense regarding terrain... Hopefully I can report back late next week with how my Bro-in-laws Fishlake rifle hunt went. Thanks!!

AZ4life · Sep 14, 2016

LAST EDITED ON Sep-14-16 AT 11:22AM (MST)[p]>Bone out all meat. No sense
>in hauling off the bones.
>It may depend on temperature
>and flies. I like to
>pack all the way to
>truck and put boned out
>meat in cooler. Bone out
>all meat to be cooling
>for second trip. In most
>cases you only need two
>trips.

Usually only two trip? That is impressive... I need at least 4 with a mature bull with any distance from the truck, but I'm only a skinny 160 lbs myself. I don't like the idea of unpacking and repacking the meat a bunch of times doing the leapfrog method.

mntman · Sep 22, 2016

vast majority of time I go entire way to truck/camp. First load out is with day pack (after kill) back straps/loins, then rest in two trips.
Only time I might drop off and return is if elk is down in some deep nasty hole and I get it all to top then go from there. However even then when that has happened, I like to take a "break" from climbing out of that hole so I just walk all way to camp.

Mntman

"Hunting is where you prove yourself"

Zeke · Sep 22, 2016

Mathematically it's the exact same distance but, like others have said, lots depends on terrain and if you need to drop weight for a rest anyway.

I'll do "A" every time I physically can since once up on my back I prefer not to drop it, repack and start over. I also like to take at least the first trip all the way so I can remove unwanted items from my pack and drop off my rifle or bow, thus making subsequent trips easier.

It's simple, do what works for you and feels right and remember this: HUNTING IS THE MOST FUN YOU CAN HAVE WHILE BEING COMPLETELY MISERABLE. HA

Zeke