solo packing

[littlebuf]

im elk hunting solo this year and my question is in what order to pack out? trophy first then come back for meat or other way around? may seem kinda silly but i keep having these visions of killing a big ole bull and coming back to the kill to see the head missing either by animal or human. what do you guys think

[gasman]

For me it would depend on where i am hunting.


Ideally i would pack the animal to with in distance of my rig with out having anything at my rig that could cause unwanted visitors.

[littlebuf]

thats my other concern is after my first trip to the truck. ive heard to many stories about game stolen from rigs 

[letmhunt]

First take pictures of your trophy, then pack it back to your truck, when you get back to your rig chain that sucker right to it, and use a big lock! that should keep the theives away. works for me

[dreamingbig]

I believe you are required to pack the meat out first and the antlers second.  Ethically, that is what I would do.  They also hide better in the woods than they do at your rig.

[Dadbear]

On the first trip, carry the backstraps, one hind quarter and strap the head to the outside of your pack. Then, hide it all near your rig while getting the rest.  

[bobcat]

I think it would depend on where the best place is to keep the meat cool. My main priority would be the meat. Leave the meat where you killed it and take the head out first if it's cooler there. Or if you've got an ice chest with lots of ice in your truck, then take the meat out first to get it cooled down ASAP. I guess I'm not sure what season you're hunting. If it's November then it probably won't matter. I'd bring the meat out first if at all possible.

[letmhunt]

actualy you have to have proof of the sex of your animal at all times until you take it to get processed.

[bobcat]

Yeah but it's kind of hard to pack the head and the meat all at the same time.   

[letmhunt]

As long as you cape and debone the elk, which i always do it should be good till over night hung in game bags. do it almost every year during sept. archery never had problems.

[bobcat]

I agree, but what are you saying... take the head out first or the meat out first, or does it matter?

[BLKBEARKLR]

I always pack out the meat first, to me that is the most important thing.

[littlebuf]

i'll be hunting November so im not worried about losing the meat to weather, really what it comes down to is i don't trust people. the hiding spot near the truck is a good idea if theirs a good one of those i'll pack the meat first and stash the head where i killed it

[letmhunt]

Head out first, so when your back at camp chuggin beers you have something to look at.  

[littlebuf]

I always pack out the meat first, to me that is the most important thing.

i agree and im not saying the meat is secondary but the trophy is part of the hunt also