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.