Hiring a pack out

[TheHoss08]

Hey everyone. New to the area and trying to plan an elk hunt. What’s the best way to find a pack team for hire in case I get lucky? I’ve been searching around the ole interwebs and I’m coming up empty. Otherwise I’ve got some $ to spend on a backpack, and some work to do. Thanks.

[coachcw]

have some buddys on speed dial ! what area ?

[BeerBugler]

What region/regions are you considering? Most places in Washington do not warrant this type of service but a select few do.

[Magnum_Willys]

I like your optimism!  Search “gutless method”.  Bone out you can take an average elk out in one shot using shuttle method.  You need some kind of pack/packboard. $5 garage sale will work. 

[RockChuck]

Do it yourself or with partner (s)! The pack out is the most rewarding part of the adventure!

[The scout]

You have to figure out which outfitter/packer has the lease in your area. Legally you can’t just hire some random guys to pack your elk out. Usually it’s about 400$ to get a elk packed out. And worth every penny.

[TheHoss08]

Appreciate the replies. I was thinking giving Rosies a shot around 607. I’m short on buddies that aren’t city boy stuck and I’ve never packed an elk out before, so I’m a little nervous about having never seen it done.

[huntnfmly]

Good on you for thinking ahead.
Some would just go do it and worry about it later and all that ends up with is spoiled meat.
We owe it to the animals we hunt to use what we take and not waste

[bkaech]

I know some 2-legged mules that love packing meat.

[dscubame]

What region/regions are you considering? Most places in Washington do not warrant this type of service but a select few do.

This response. 

[JimmyHoffa]

There was a group in that unit that used to pack with horses and alpacas.  Can't remember the lady's name right now.  Most of that unit isn't too far from a road, but would probably be steep and a lot of sidehilling.

[TheHoss08]

Good to know. Haven’t been out to scout the terrain. I’m woefully behind

[Alchase]

There are a ton of videos on YouTube showing how to pack out an elk. They all glass over the fact you will have 5 or 6 very heavy loads to get out. If by yourself, that is two trips there and back for each load.
You will want a good, not necessarily expensive, but a good meat pack, that distributes weight well.
I use one similar to this one, but 15 years older.

https://www.cabelas.com/product/CABELAS-OUTFITTER-FRAME-ONLY/2764782.uts?productVariantId=5705538&WT.tsrc=PPC&WT.mc_id=GoogleProductAds&WT.z_mc_id1=05072418&rid=20&ds_rl=1246591&ds_rl=1247873&ds_rl=1247876&ds_rl=1252079&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIjNKC46Pa4wIVBR-tBh3WgwdbEAQYASABEgIicPD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

One thing I like is an adjustable top bar. My first pack did not have and adjustable bar, after the second trip out that bar was banging into my head every other step, LOL

I also double check all connection points and add a lot of straps and buckles. More is better when talking tie down options. I also leave the meat pack in my vehicle until I have something down, and use a day pack until after the first load then switch to the meat pack for the rest.

[Bushcraft]

Once you get out and do some scouting you'll see that there aren't too many places in the woods of Washington that require a pack team.  Fact of the matter is most places aren't more than a few miles from the nearest Wal Mart!   Just the nature of the situation, a whole lot of people in these woods, especially around Elk season.

I've yet to find a piece of woods that you couldn't pack out your own from, or at least pack it down to the nearest access point or log road.

There must be a whole lot of people in the woods that hunt close to the roads...and for that I am thankful.

That fact of the matter is that there are some genuinely ugly places that will require you to break an animal down and haul it to a spot where a packer can get to it - which could mean several miles.  Others still where a pack out is 100% on you and your buddy's backs.

Any permitted packer worth his salt is going to be very busy that time of year and most likely will not available at a moment's notice.  Having an understanding with him about where and when you are hunting AND having a sat phone or inReach to let him know where and when you can get the meat once you've got an animal down is key.

[dilleytech]

Some ones mentioned 5 or 6 trips? Anyone actually weigh all the boned out meat? I usually figure 300-350# max. Figure 3 trips solo, 2 guys two trips depending on terrein. Should be able to do a couple days no problem assuming you don’t leave an animal over night. I have seen how that turns out..