what to bring

[seth30]

Last time I hunted elk, I was 16 and in wyoming at the time.  It was pretty much a hour drive, and a few mile walk.  Now I find myself back in my homestate at the age of 31.  Now I dont have that simplicity and have to drive hours in either direction.  I live right off GMU 437 but it is closed to elk hunting, and will be living out of my truck for a weekend on the upcoming elk season. Do you guys use sleds to drag your elk out, or just quarter it up and take 4 trips?  Looking for some info, but when I try to go online and look it can be overwhelming, and all of those things that i MUST have would cost me thousands.  Just looking for some down to earth blue collar advice on what I really need for a elk hunt.  Thanks!!

[saylean]

Many hands make light work. Have a partner if you can.

If you cant, quarter it up and or debone...then take trips would be my advice.

Good luck and happy hunting.

[NWWABOWHNTR]

Seth,  de-bone is best if you are alone.  Quartering is almost a must no matter how many hands you have helping.  Good knifes and collapsible saw to cut it up!  Good quality canvas game bags (washable to re-use) and a small tarp to keep the meat clean. 

[rasbo]

50 feet parachute cord or something similar,works well for gutting and other things

[seth30]

Thanks for the inputs!   I dont have parachute cord and I see how it would come in handy, as well as a foldable saw.  Got plenty of knives, and a sharp hatchet, but more than likely I will be hunting alone. hard to find a dependable hunter on the Island. 

[engelwood]

The parachute cord is a great suggestion, I keep 100' with me when I'm hunting. Also, I think it is key to have a good pack. Something with chest and waist straps to keep the load distributed well. I had a cheap pack last year and still tied quarters to it with the parachute cord, only a 2 1/2 mile hike, but it saved my bacon. Good luck on your trip.

[carpsniperg2]

yep hope you do good

[saylean]

Also, since you will be alone....e sure to let someone know where you will be and when you'll be home....for safety.

[engelwood]

Yeah, on that point, I was going to say that a GPS unit when hunting alone is pretty much a must, I don't leave home without it. Then again, I have been lost and done the 3 shots (holy ish i'm lost and have NO IDEA where to go)... Not a fun feeling. You might have a better internal compass than I did on that trip.... Good luck 

[seth30]

Yes I always tell the wife where I will be, and show here on mapquest.  I dont get lost in the woods, but if you put up paved roads, and street signs than wammo Im lost... The police dont like it when I fire three shots in the air sitting in traffic   Thanks for the inputs!  I am going to live out of my truck that weekend, cant wait to hunt elk again.  Last time I was 16, and it seemed a tad easier, back then... but of course had the parents with me

[Elknut1]

 Here's a list of items I carry in my pack for all day hunts + For elk hunts I like using a pack such as the badlands 2200, I'm also picking up an Eberlestock  X2 this year to mess with. Either of these packs have meat carrying capabilities on the outside of main pouch, this is important. You can get a quarter out on your 1st trip out & the badlands handles elk quarters easily! All you need to add to this list for out of the truck hunting is food.

  ElkNut1

 
 Here is the list of essentials that I highly recommend! I have not adjusted the weight & items for a few years now; it appears to be perfect for our hunting style!

 Water Bladder, min 60oz.--
 4 Elk Bags-
 Wyoming Pack Saw-
 Orange flagging tape-
 Food for all day-
 Back up energy bars 5-
 Space Blanket-A Good One!
 Large plastic garbage bag- can be used for many things including a shelter or work surface!
 1 25' & 2 50' 1/4" nylon rope-
 Water Purifier Carbon Straw
 Roll of Athletic tape-Emergency Use
 Celoex packet,stops major bleeding
 Ziplock bag of matches,lighter,fish hooks,flies,20' fishing line,small packet magnesium flakes-
 2-knives & carbide sharpener-
 small leatherman-
 mini mag & petzel headlamp flashlights-
 4-extra AA batteries, fits all my units-
 Garmin GPS 130-
 Compass & maps-
 small notebook & pen in ziplock bag-
 6-rounds .357 spare bullets-
 Extra longbow string-
 Eye glasses-
 Baggie with aspirin, benadryl for bee stings, vicadin for bad muscle/leg pulls-
 Disposable camera,36photos-

 All this goes into my Badlands Superday or 2200 Pack with tons of leftover room! It weighs 14#-15#

[halflife65]

 Here's a list of items I carry in my pack for all day hunts + For elk hunts I like using a pack such as the badlands 2200, I'm also picking up an Eberlestock  X2 this year to mess with. Either of these packs have meat carrying capabilities on the outside of main pouch, this is important. You can get a quarter out on your 1st trip out & the badlands handles elk quarters easily! All you need to add to this list for out of the truck hunting is food.

  ElkNut1

 
 Here is the list of essentials that I highly recommend! I have not adjusted the weight & items for a few years now; it appears to be perfect for our hunting style!

 Water Bladder, min 60oz.--
 4 Elk Bags-
 Wyoming Pack Saw-
 Orange flagging tape-
 Food for all day-
 Back up energy bars 5-
 Space Blanket-A Good One!
 Large plastic garbage bag- can be used for many things including a shelter or work surface!
 1 25' & 2 50' 1/4" nylon rope-
 Water Purifier Carbon Straw
 Roll of Athletic tape-Emergency Use
 Celoex packet,stops major bleeding
 Ziplock bag of matches,lighter,fish hooks,flies,20' fishing line,small packet magnesium flakes-
 2-knives & carbide sharpener-
 small leatherman-
 mini mag & petzel headlamp flashlights-
 4-extra AA batteries, fits all my units-
 Garmin GPS 130-
 Compass & maps-
 small notebook & pen in ziplock bag-
 6-rounds .357 spare bullets-
 Extra longbow string-
 Eye glasses-
 Baggie with aspirin, benadryl for bee stings, vicadin for bad muscle/leg pulls-
 Disposable camera,36photos-

 All this goes into my Badlands Superday or 2200 Pack with tons of leftover room! It weighs 14#-15#

I also have a light raincoat - like the Cabela's Space Rain or I have an REI jacket I'll wear sometimes - unless it's raining when I leave and I have a Gore-tex MT050 jacket from Cabela's.  Stocking hat and gloves, too.  Instead of the magnesium flakes, I have a little plastic film container type thing (you can buy little containers are REI) with cotton balls smeared with petroleum jelly.  It's just easier for me to start a fire than the magnesium (just personal preference).  Also, I take a 64 ounce water bladder and a small water bottle (like a small bottle you'd buy at the convenience mart - lighter and cheap - just refill) because I think that if one of them pops I still have a container for water (when I'm miles from the truck I bring it, if I'm close - like within 3 miles - I don't).  You can also put some duct tape around it - about 8 feet.  You can take something like Emergen-C or Gatorade and mix it in the water bottle, if you want.  I used to carry a 100oz bladder but if something happens to it, you're pretty much screwed.  Instead of the carbon straw purifier I take purifier tablets.  I hunt with a compound, so I have a couple of allen wrenches, too.  No fishing line/hooks/flies for me. 

The blood clot stuff is a really good idea - I think that I'll add that.  I take the aspirin but no vicadin.  I also have a couple of these blister things - they're like bandaids sort of and a little different than the old moleskin.  You can put one of those on and cover with duct tape.

Binos around my neck and sometimes I bring a lightweight spotting scope and tripod.

All of my differences are personal preferences - I'm sure that stuff in both lists work great.  Most of it overlaps, anyway.

[Archery King]

My opinion ditch the saws and hatchets you can cut threw any joint on an elk with a knife if you no how to. 

[halflife65]

I forgot to add that - I don't carry a saw/hatchet generally.

[seth30]

thanks for the advice, I jsut got back from shopping and wish I read this bevfore I drove out to burlington.  I bought a folding saw, and some elk calls.

[halflife65]

thanks for the advice, I jsut got back from shopping and wish I read this bevfore I drove out to burlington.  I bought a folding saw, and some elk calls.

Well, no big deal.  Most of the stuff you can get at the store or make a trip to REI.

[rasbo]

thanks for the advice, I jsut got back from shopping and wish I read this bevfore I drove out to burlington.  I bought a folding saw, and some elk calls.

good luck hunting,that folding saw can get ya outta some shatty situations..

[seth30]

yeah its better to have it and not need it.

[Elknut1]

 Agreed! If guys do not feel the need for a saw they must not be hunting far from roads or camp. There are many cases that your elk will die in a tangled up mess of tree branches or antlers jammed under downfall trees & such. We have used our WY Saws countless times to get us & our elk out of a pickle! Too, we use saws to remove all four legs quickly & cleanly, sure you can knife the joint & remove legs but it's slow, the saw is fast & efficient! We also use the saws for antler removal by cutting behind & in front of rack & discard head, no need to pack a 30# elk head & neck off the mtn you have no intentions of mounting.

  The Saw is a plus, you'll be glad you have it when you need it & they do not weigh that much to be concerned with, make sure you have your game bags with you as well. Good Luck!

  ElkNut1

[seth30]

Glad I bought one elknut, I never did think of the branches. 

[woodswalker]

Its also possible to cut your way back out of your camp with a small saw...when the snow brings down a tree across the road...and THIS trip you packed light...No Stihl.   

[seth30]

 

[halflife65]

 Agreed! If guys do not feel the need for a saw they must not be hunting far from roads or camp. There are many cases that your elk will die in a tangled up mess of tree branches or antlers jammed under downfall trees & such. We have used our WY Saws countless times to get us & our elk out of a pickle! Too, we use saws to remove all four legs quickly & cleanly, sure you can knife the joint & remove legs but it's slow, the saw is fast & efficient! We also use the saws for antler removal by cutting behind & in front of rack & discard head, no need to pack a 30# elk head & neck off the mtn you have no intentions of mounting.

  The Saw is a plus, you'll be glad you have it when you need it & they do not weigh that much to be concerned with, make sure you have your game bags with you as well. Good Luck!

  ElkNut1

   pretty far, normally.

[JackOfAllTrades]

While I love my Puma White Hunter knife as one of the most versital chopping and skinning knives as the backside is the chopping edge with enough weight to be useful, but there's also always a very light plastic handled folding saw in the depths of my daypack. Many uses for that saw.

-Steve

[seth30]

Got the rope, the calls, and the folding saw.  Already have the game bags, and the knives, and sharpener.  I will be using either my 30.06 or 300 Savage for the hunt.  Now I just have to get up off my butt and drive south to do some scouting.

[dreamingbig]

A good pack frame will come in handy as well.

[seth30]

yeah they can get kinda of pricey but worth it in the long run. 

[Deer slayer]

Pack boards are life savers. I use them every year deer and elk hunting. Get a decent one. One of the best things I have ever used to tie meet on the frame is a bungie cord. I use about three a load and the meat never moves. They have hooks to attach to the frame. Once I started using them I will never stop. Another great thing is a bottle of hydrogen peroxide. Little bit in a small spray bottle sprayed on blood helps great for tracking. It works best to take the blood off your hands to clean up after your done processing an animal.

[Elknut1]

 Here's what we've used for years, light-weight & comfortable & best of all no ropes or bungees needed. All buckling & straps are right there, you can secure any meat in seconds & walk away!

  ElkNut1

[Elknut1]

 Here's the front of same pack-frame!

  ElkNut1

[Skyvalhunter]

And thats a Kelty packer model?

[Elknut1]

 Yes Sir, that's a Kelty, it runs about 100.00, we have 3 of them & have hauled out a couple doz elk with them with little issue, it's the next best thing to our badlands 2200 for hauling critters out! If a guy just wants a combo pack you can hunt in & pack meat the badlands is tough to beat. Here's a photo of the 2200 with hind-quarter, front-shoulder a backstrap & tenderloin all in one load.

  Can't find photo?

  ElkNut1

[dreamingbig]

The Kelty is a good pack frame.  I have an Alaskan and it also does the job.  I will put up a picture with two quarters attached tonight.