Alone on the Elk opener - take packboard with me?

[724wd]

I'll be solo for the opener of modern elk. I usually hunt with my badlands ultraday, but i'm thinking it might not be a bad idea to roll with my packboard (with bag and all supplies) instead, as I'm sure to kill an elk in the NE and having my pack will save me a walk back to the truck empty. Who hunts with their packboard? How do you carry your rifle?

[bkaech]

Unless A walk out to the truck is relatively short I always hunt with my pack board. I have a spot on my pack that my sling hangs on while hiking, similar to being over my shoulder, but when I’m in the brush/hunting I generally keep my rifle in my hands.  Why wouldn’t you bring your pack unless you plan on not getting anything?

[Tjv28]

I like your confidence

[PlateauNDN]

Packboard. When solo that's what I take so I can get a load out in least amount of trips.

[G-S]

I'll be solo for the opener of modern elk. I usually hunt with my badlands ultraday, but i'm thinking it might not be a bad idea to roll with my packboard (with bag and all supplies) instead, as I'm sure to kill an elk in the NE and having my pack will save me a walk back to the truck empty. Who hunts with their packboard? How do you carry your rifle?

No need to sart out with the packboard use the ultraday to haul the first quarter out then go back with a packboard. i have the ultraday pack also it has hauled a few elk quarters out and a few boned out deer with the head and cape

[follow maggie]

I use one of these Kifaru carriers for when I carry a rifle with a pack. Iced it the first time this past turkey season & I love it.

https://store.kifaru.net/universal-gun-bearers-p197.aspx

[Stein]

I day hunt with an Exo 2000, I bought it as it is essentially the best of both worlds.  It is a great day pack and then can also haul out as much of a load as I am willing to shoulder.

[RockChuck]

I carry the removable belt strap for my daypack so I can pack the heart (maybe liver) back straps and tenderloins and head back then get pack board and go to work.

[Magnum_Willys]

I Have hunted with a daypack slung over packboard but the modern packs that allow a bag of meat between frame and bag work so much better.

If you use gutless method, bone it, cut off antlers, then shuttle 1/2 the load for 30 mins  then rest while going back for the other half and repeat you can take a smaller bull out in one trip - solo.    These packs like kuiu allow you to drop the load by loosening two straps so its not like tieing/untieing meat to a packboard.

[trophyhunt]

Any good daypack should be able to carry a quarter out.  I always carry my caribou game bags w me, if I kill an elk it’s skinned, quartered and bagged up so my help doesn’t have to mess around w anything. You can always leave your pack board in the truck for your return trips.

[vandeman17]

I just use my normal day pack because, as others have said, I can get out at least a portion of a load, loose meat etc. Then I grab my frame from truck or camp and head back in for the heavy stuff.

[go4steelhd]

Always take your pack board
As stated above use a pack that does both. I started with the external frame with a bag on it. Then I used the badlands 2200 for a long time. Now I use the EXO which would be pretty hard to beat.
If it’s daylight have your rifle in your hand... You never know when you will find what your looking for
Good luck!!!

[Okanagan]

Yep, take the packboard but figure a way to keep it quiet if it is a non-silent one, such as put a fleece jacket over it while walking that you will put on if you stop on an impromptu stand or glass for awhile.  I unsnap the shoulder straps and run them through the sleeves of a fleece jacket on mine, with the body of the jacket around the pack body. 

As others have indicated, ALWAYS CARRY OUT SOME MEAT or something EVERY trip including the first one even if you have no pack of any kind.  A front shoulder carries well on my shoulder.  Two hindquarters of a buck carry very well on my shoulders.  Even if you only take out 20 lbs. of meat it may make the difference of how many loads you have to take later, and it will make those loads lighter.  Never go out empty, even to get a pack.  A day pack lined with a garbage bag to protect it from blood will carry enough boneless meat to surprise you with the weight. 

As mentioned by someone else, the leapfrog method of packing meat is way easiest on me.  It makes for short heavy loads alternating with short empty "rest" return trips, does not leave meat a long time unattended for bears to find, and you arrive at your rig with all of the meat rather than facing a long hike back to retrieve the rest. 

[BULLBLASTER]

My pack is the same wether it’s a quick sit for deer in a farm field or a backpack trip.

[Rainier10]

I hunt with the packboard on.  I have a bullpac with the rifle accessory bracket on it to strap the rifle to it.  Normally I am archery hunting elk with my buddy and he brings his pack as well.  We debone the elk and between the two of us we can get all the meat out in one trip.

[724wd]

No need to sart out with the packboard use the ultraday to haul the first quarter out then go back with a packboard. i have the ultraday pack also it has hauled a few elk quarters out and a few boned out deer with the head and cape

You've stuck an elk quarter on an ultra day?!  i can barely fit my lunch, knife, water, TP, and jacket! It's such a small pack... I have a hard time envisioning tying a quarter to it!

I've got a hiking bag attached to the packboard and have started populating the pockets with essentials. I've done what I can to quiet the rattles and squeaks, looping paracord through all the pin clips. I need to get game bags loaded up and I may get some straps and buckles, too. It's a welded frame with a shelf, like an alaskan freighter, though not as tall. It's a 70's era pack that my dad has hauled a lot of stuff on. It does have decent shoulder straps and waist belt. Not as fancy as some of the newer stuff, but the one time I used it (to haul out the front half of my first elk - 1.5 year old cow) it worked with minimal problems. I've just never HUNTED with it on.

Thanks for all the ideas! I'll take pics of my hauling out an elk!