Pack Out

[Nice Racks]

Assuming you can get any one of these three carriers to your quartered out elk; which would you prefer to use: a frame pack, wheel barrel or a game cart? Why? 

[Rider]

Game cart. Easier on the upper body. Push down to move rather than pull up like the wheelbarrow.

Curious how back country hunters get their harvest out.

[johnnyaustin44]

Frame pack. Load it heavy and walk out of there. Gonna have to make a few trips but it's worth the rewarding feeling when you set that heavy pack on the tailgate on your last load. Game cart next. But those seem like a real pain when you're off the road which is where I find most elk.

[Nice Racks]

Frame pack. Load it heavy and walk out of there. Gonna have to make a few trips but it's worth the rewarding feeling when you set that heavy pack on the tailgate on your last load. Game cart next. But those seem like a real pain when you're off the road which is where I find most elk.

My friend from Pa and I packed a cow out last year that he shot, and I know the feeling you just described. It was his first elk hunt and my second. We have hunted and killed plenty of whitetail in our 36 years of hunting, but the feeling of accomplishment we had at that particular time was amazing and satisfying. WOW! We actually harvested an elk with a bow and packed it out 6 miles. However, because of that experience, I'd rather pack it out an easier way if possible. I was hurting for a week after that.     

[Bullkllr]

I'd love to say game cart, but the 2 wheel models are only good for roads around here. Almost all of the elk packs I've been in on required a frame pack- at least to the road and then a cart or vehicle. Depends on the situation, but I'd never be without a frame pack close by (well- I might if I hunted one of those places on TV that look like the hunters are walking around in a park with gently rolling hills and no underbrush ).

[Damnimissed]

Pack boards, all the way to the tailgate. Ahhhhhhh a cold one after setting that quarter down is the best   

[jrebel]

Frame pack is most practical in elk country.....So that is my first choice. 

Cart is second choice, but hey are a pain in the arse if you have anything less than a great trail with mild terrain. 

Wheel Barrel....never tried it. 

[WapitiTalk1]

I'll only quarter an elk if it's ridiculously close to a road (rare occurrence); most always bone out/gutless method for me.  But, to answer your question sir, it depends. It depends on the terrain one has to navigate to get a 'game cart' in to the kill site. If a gated road, several miles back in then sure....a game cart would probably work fine. For most elk down situations, expand your all in one pack and get to humping.  I don't own a game cart anyhow so for me, it's load up the boned out meat and get to humping .... It builds character. 

[D-Rock425]

Pack frame for me.  Most of my elk go down where you can't get a cart to.

[Old Man Yager]

Packboard, but a game cart would be sweet if you were on a road or flat ground. It's a good feeling when you have a heavy pack on, but I would like to someday get a whole elk in the back of my truck!

[baker5150]

Last year we packed my buddies Montana elk out with both a cart and packs.  He shot it in a hole above a gated road.  We packed the quarters up to the road then used the cart 2 quarters at a time to haul to the truck, made for a nice easy haul out once we hit the road. 

[longwalker]

kifaru T-1

[Screaminreelz]

Pack frame loaded to the tilt! Rewarding and satisfying.

[kevinlisa06]

This past fall when I got my spike there were 3 of us to haul it out . My dad and I each had a quarter on our backs then we used the game hauler for the back half of the animal. Very long day for sure! Yes an iced cold beverage was needed when we finally got back to camp!


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[Shawn Ryan]

I've used a game cart and a pack.  Even tried a sled on snow.  Like has been said, the game cart has terrain/access limits.  Now, I only use a pack because I don't even bring the cart anymore.  Gutless for sure. Bone in or out depends on time, distance, how many packers to carry, heat, etc.