Packing out meat

[coachcw]

R ember when you bone out meat make sure not to lump to much meat  together , timing knots to separate meat helps

[James E]

I like to bone my meat out. The added of weight of bone really adds up. Like everyone has mentioned, get the meat cool and fast.

[Damnimissed]

I see these pic of people with whole elk in the back of their trucks. Im like, get that damn hide off, at least! I get the hide off right away, rain or shine. I carry a pastic drop cloth for if its raining or to sort out boned out meat without getting it dirty.

[WapitiTalk1]

Yes sir, bone it out, cool it by whatever means you have available (hang in shade, lay across stacked logs in shade, suspend on logs over stream ensuring you keep it dry.... water spoils meat) and get it out.  I think I've posted this here before but below is a very good VID by Aron Snyder on how to debone using the gutless method.  Aron's on the mark with his method. 
   
http://on.aol.com/video/gutless-method-to-debone-an-elk-517380518

[lamrith]

Wow, makes it look "easy".  Thanks Phantom!

[northwesthunter84]

Also if you are not going to bone it out you can make some cuts down to the bone to release some of the heat, another thing that can happen is bone souring.  The best thing is to get it out asap, bone it out and get it cool and out of the sun.

[BetoBow]

Thank you guys for the great info I will definitely look into methods of separating the meat. Is their anyway I would be able to salvage some of the ribs and quarter bone without risking spoilage? We tend to make some good stew and not waste anything.

[4fletch]

I cut the strips of meat out between the rib bones. When I m done hardly no meat is on the bones.

[northwesthunter84]

You can still pack the bones out separately if you want to, this should not effect the meat at all.  My buddy roasts the leg bones and then cracks them for the marrow, for a stew base.

[pcal]

 I have packed meat in relay and it takes a few days to pack out a large animal like an elk.Doing it in relay to a creek in timber is the best as its cooler close to the creek and you can hoist the bags up a tree or submerge it in the creek to keep it cool. My longest pack was almost 8 miles and took almost 3 days and lost no meat.Boning and cooling it to max  and get it cool is the first priority. I pack less than 100#s  as I only weight 160#s. I can carry out more but why kill yourself? I have packed out a smallish blacktail deer from Coal Ridge between Coyote Lake and Lost Lake in the Goat Rocks and came out to Lily Lake trail head on one go.I got about 100#s of meat and the total pack weighed 133#s,not counting the rifle and the clothes I was wearing. It took 4 hours, about 5 miles and mostly downhill. I did stop a few times and rested on a stump. I love it when you arrive at the trailhead and a car load of road hunters ask you where'd you get him? I always say" I only went about 200 yds and there he was!!!!!! Goat Rocks is a huge area and game is everywhere and nowhere. I was to the east Packwood lake on a ridge and in a clearing there was a complete living room furnishings! Couch,easy chair with side tables and even lamps.I can only imagine how they got up there at 5k'. My  gut feeling was helo as it was miles from any road. It had been up there a few years by the weathering. But I digress: If you pack smaller packs and relay you can get it out without any problem.Just wear good boots and have a good pack.GL!

[pcal]

 I have packed meat in relay and it takes a few days to pack out a large animal like an elk.Doing it in relay to a creek in timber is the best as its cooler close to the creek and you can hoist the bags up a tree or submerge it in the creek to keep it cool. My longest pack was almost 8 miles and took almost 3 days and lost no meat.Boning and cooling it to max  and get it cool is the first priority. I pack less than 100#s  as I only weight 160#s. I can carry out more but why kill yourself? I have packed out a smallish blacktail deer from Coal Ridge between Coyote Lake and Lost Lake in the Goat Rocks and came out to Lily Lake trail head on one go.I got about 100#s of meat and the total pack weighed 133#s,not counting the rifle and the clothes I was wearing. It took 4 hours, about 5 miles and mostly downhill. I did stop a few times and rested on a stump. I love it when you arrive at the trailhead and a car load of road hunters ask you where'd you get him? I always say" I only went about 200 yds and there he was!!!!!! Goat Rocks is a huge area and game is everywhere and nowhere. I was to the east Packwood lake on a ridge and in a clearing there was a complete living room furnishings! Couch,easy chair with side tables and even lamps.I can only imagine how they got up there at 5k'. My  gut feeling was helo as it was miles from any road. It had been up there a few years by the weathering. But I digress: If you pack smaller packs and relay you can get it out without any problem.Just wear good boots and have a good pack.GL!

[Come Get Some]

I carry game bags in my pack. I gut , skin and bone an elk in about an hour. I usually hang the meat in a tree and leave it over night if possible to cool, depending on the temp of course. In 55 dead elk I have never lost any to predators. I know Aron Snyder very well. We shot together quite a bit. He hunts in Colorado and hunts high and is in very good shape. He does not get the option to go a short distance. The more extreme it is the more he likes it. I still gut mine and it does not take any longer for me.I have packed plenty out on my back. I use the mules when ever possible. The most important thing to remember is to get it off of the ground and off of the bone. An elk laying on the groung will bone sour on the down side very fast. Water DOES NOT SPOIL MEAT, it slows down the natural aging process by keeping the bacteria alive by not letting it dry out. It will not ruin your meat. I would never put any meat in a plastic garbage bag. The meat will not be cool for a time after boning and the plastic will keep the heat in not letting it cool properly.

[Damnimissed]

I'd love to see some of you really experienced guys work. I learn something new every time I take apart an animal.

[huntnnw]

Come down to the blues and bring your pack and Ill show you when I get a bull down

Another tip is to carry plain ole pepper.... just sprinkle it on your meat or hide anything near you and bugs will not touch it!  Ive hung elk in the shade in game bags in 80-90 deg heat and never lost meat mind you it was deboned.

[C-Money]

I put my stinky, sweaty, sweatshirt on the rib cage in hopes the 4 legged critters stay away. Shade, get the meat off the bone, pace yourself, and start packing with a pack that fits right. Making some phone calls once back in cell range is a good thing too.