Planning a pack in trip for elk hunt this year

[huntergreg]

Me and a friend were thinking about doing a walk in hunt for elk this year if neither of us get drawn for a bull tag. I put in for the 328-329 unit so my chances are slim. We plan on maybe hunting the bumping unit. We have a friend that goes in there every year on horseback and gets his elk every year. We dont have any horse so in by foot we go. We know the area he hunts and wanted to try it sometime. The area is about a 9 mile or so of a hike in. My question is what items would you want to have with you on a trip like this. We plan on a 5 day hunt. There will be 2 of us and dont want to pack in to much weight in case we both get an elk. Or if you have dont a hunt like this what did you take in with you?

[denali]

you might try going to the deer/elk hunt forums and in the serch bar put in "alpine hunt or back pack hunt" some threads should come up with ideas ?

[bobcat]

If I was going in that far I'd want to have an outfitter with horses lined up to pack the elk out if I got one.

[bowhuntin]

Have you ever thought about hiring someone to pack you in and out?

[carpsniperg2]

yeah if you check there is a few good outfits that will pack your stuff back in there for you and pack it and your elk back out would be handy as heck if you are going to far back in there.

[GHETTO GUIDE]

These guys are right. I've packed in like this before. When you get an elk 2 miles past camp and then pack it back to camp then to the truck, then to the cooler, and then hike back to camp you are beat to s#it for the rest of the trip. But you dont enjoy the punishment untill you do it. 

[halflife65]

Walking in should be easy enough.  The Bumping is actually pretty easy walking - sort of a big flat with some ridges to go up and over. Bring your mosquito repellant if you're going to go scout first (seriously, bring A LOT of mosquito repellant.) 

But those guys are right, getting your elk back out would be pretty tough.  You should definitely look for someone to get you out.  I was going to do that last year, but I heard about a bunch of guys going in so I avoided it.  I also have horses, so I was going to walk in and hunt and then call my wife to bring horses if I got something. 

There are a bunch of discussions in the gear forum regarding lightweight backpacking equipment, shelters, packs, stoves, food, clothes, etc.   

[wrangler]

ummm ok. are you serious? 9 miles? have you hiked 9 miles with gear and packs? if you shoot an elk, let alone if you both get an elk and your 9 miles in without horses you better plan on eating them both around the camp fire cause you'll never make it out. have you talked to your buddy with the horse about packing you out? if not, why? did he say he was ok with you guys goin in and huntin his 'honey hole'? anyone who goes 9 miles in on horses and gets an elk every year isn't gonna want other people in there, i would imagine. if he's cool with it just have him help you get one out if you connect, shouldn't be an issue, especially since he gave you directions to his spot!  your quote "We know the area he hunts and wanted to try it sometime" is somewhat indicting . if you plan on walking in and hunting his spot '9 miles in' without him knowing your a askin for an butt whoopin. i think you may wanna put a little more thought in to what your trying to do here.... bottom line is you will NEVER get an elk out 9 miles on foot, let alone 2, c'mon.

[bowhuntin]

Are you planning in packing in from the highway 12 side or from 410. If you go from white pass it will be easier going.

[huntergreg]

It is just something we wanted to try out.  My friend that hunts it every year said we could go with him. Our friends have a group of 5 that go up every year. They head up before opening day. I am not sure what days I will have off for work. He told me there group would help with the packing out of the elk also. This would be my first time trying something like this. A new adventure for us.

[huntergreg]

We would be going in from the 410 side

[Broken Arrow]

Took me several years and a ton of money to get it right for just putting our spike camp 4 miles from the road. Each of the 4 years i have done this...it keeps getting lighter...yet like i said earlier...you will pay through the nose for quality ultra light gear. Now the fun part...getting elk out. Luckily, there are 4 of us that do this hunt...so we have lots of legs and backs to get meat out. 3 years ago, we were lucky enough to all get elk. 2 of us the same day...that  of course meant double trips back and forth in the same day packing meet. 4 miles out with meat, 4 miles back in empty, and the worst 4 miles I have ever experienced back out again with a full load. That's 12 miles....and we thought we were gonna die...and we are all in great pack and mountain shape. What your saying with only 2 of you, that's a tough one...you get a big animal down and your talking 27 miles in all. Think I would go like others have posted and line up a pack out with horses or mules. Good luck!

[bobcat]

I got 160 lbs of boned out meat from a spike elk. It was on the small side, so you could easily have 200 pounds or more.

[high country]

I have hauled elk out in one trip with two guys. it is beyond what I can pull off to add my camp to that. I figure 2/5 live weight on my meat. a big bull is going to go about 300 with horns, spike and cows are gonna be in the 140-200 range. I suggest you have a goooooood pack. IMO if you can hike 20 miles w/o an elk, you oughta be able to get out 9miles with one.....but if it snows....you will hate life.

[Magnum_Willys]

Completely boned out you are down to 150, plus horns.   Two guys thats about 90# pack counting bags, frame, etc.  if you did it in one shot.  Now cut the load in half so its managable, get two bulls, you are talking FIVE round trips to get both bulls and your camp out.   Counting the day in thats a week !  How long you going for ?