How much elk do you give the guy that helped pack it out?

[huntingfool7]

I made mistake of packing for a guy and helping skin his elk. Didn't get a damn steak. Will never hunt with the guy again.

Pretty unbelievable that someone would be so stingy.  I would absolutely expect a sincere offer of some of that meat.

I've killed the only 2 elk in my camp in the last few years and it gets split equally among the 3 of us.  I would expect my partners to do the same.  It's an unwritten rule in my book.

I think the unwritten or unspoken rule is where it can go sideways so I try to have the conversation ahead of time.

It can be an odd conversation for some, but I like to know before hand what someone expects. I will help you with your deer or bear and not expect anything since they are not that big. But I know I will need help with an elk so I let them know upfront what the deal is. If they want to do the same, we are good.

Nothing worse than having a hunting partner walk up to your downed elk, congratulate you and walk off to continue their own hunt... unless you know before hand that it will happen.

I had a friend and hunting partner that started loading up his gear when he found my "cow down" note.  He bugged out. 
We aren't friends or partners anymore.

That said, if you pack/cut/wrap meat, you should get a full share.  In my experience, partners that are willing to help forest to freezer are few and far between. 

[Band]

I had a friend and hunting partner that started loading up his gear when he found my "cow down" note.  He bugged out. 

Holy crap.

[luvmystang67]

My old elk camp it was split evenly.  Everyone kind of did their part.  Some owned the cabin and paid the taxes, others of us packed more than our fair share and shot more of the animals.  At the end of the day, everyone shared the butchering costs and everyone got a fair share of the meat, that way most people had some elk in their freezer every year.  Hard to eat a whole elk anyway.

This was a pre-arranged deal, so everyone knew what they were getting themselves into when they came to camp.  One guy got one who didn't want to share after he got it... He was never invited back.

In other scenarios or camps things are different, but I have found myself wondering what I would do without people sometimes.  If you shoot one and think, "That was pretty easy and I could've done it myself with out much issue" give them a little for their help and thank them and pass on the favor.  If you find yourself thinking "my GOD I have no idea how I would've done that without you", you'd better pass them a little bit more.

I tend to prefer the share evenly and share butchering costs one, but you have to get buy-in from everyone before hand.  Its an nice fun easy way to do it though.

[wonder]

I had help packing and skinning my first Elk and I gave my 2 helpers half.  They were really surprised and I thought that was only fair.  They caught up with me in the afternoon and helped me pack it out of the wilderness until 6am the next morning.

Personally I thought that was fair.  It's up to you obviously, but I believe in sharing the wealth.  Be fair and be up front.  None of us are starving and can always go to Safeway and get food   

[scottcrb]

I don't expect anything from my hunting buddies who get animals and I pack out other than to return the favor if possible someday.

[Bean Counter]

It's always great to help other hunters, especially friends, without expectation of reward. That said, I have four buddies lined up to help out for my elk hunt this fall, and there will be only one of them with me at a time to make sure I don't run out of helpers before my hunt is done. I'm planning to cut and wrap the whole elk myself and give each of them 15-20 pounds of cut and wrapped meat each, whether or not they were with me when I get the elk.

[irishevox]

My thing is this if i am helping a buddy.  It's whatever if they want to give me some fine if not thats fine to.  I gave my buddy 1/2 a bear I shot. b/c he helped me drag it up hill for over 3 hours.  The fact is that i don't expect anything as far as meat goes or anything like that when helping pack out.  Its nice to recieve it, but on the other hand some people dont have that  as much as i do... ya know so for me it's either way i don;t mind

[DOUBLELUNG]

As long as all are in agreement, there is no right or wrong answer.  I've packed a lot for others, and had others help me too.