what are you using

[dannysdaddy]

  what is everyone using to pack out their meat?  im not used to packing because i can drive my 4wheeler right to the animal back home.  ill probably be packing 5-10 miles and their will be 4 of us hunting.  dont know if i should use a pack frame with a 3 day bag on it or what. any ideas would be appreciated.

[Jason]

I'll be using a pack board and my two legs.
Your best bet is to use a quality lightweight pack and frame combo, and don't forget rope!

[joseph.rupp001]

One of my buddies got a light weight dolly from Sportsmansguide and all you do is get the quarter onto the frame, strap it down and wheel it out. Like pushing a baby stroller, so he says...

[gasman]

pack board.

Carts are good if your walking logging roads but are difficult to maneuver over logs, brush, and rocks. Found out first hand trying to bring out an antelope through sage brush in WY. 

[coachcw]

a large wheel v style cart works well with two or more guys  throw acouple of pack frames on it and your good to go inless the trail is real tight.

[Skyvalhunter]

First of all what kind of animal are you packing out? Second how far and how much do you expect to pack.

[Rhinoron247]

Ride a Draft cross and tow a mustang behind.  There isn't much I can't get to and get out in a hurry.   

[huntandjeep]

Pack board.

[elksnout]

We have a two wheeled cart we use when there isn't any snow. Otherwise it's packboards and two legs each. And whether we use the cart or not, we still need to get the meat to a road with packboards to use the cart as we hunt a walk in area in the national forest. This set up works quite well for our group.

[Coastal_native]

I'm convinced there is no better pack board for packing out a head/rack/cape than the old school ww2 pack frames, you can really sinch things down tight.  For bone-in hind quarters, front shoulders, or boned out meat I use a cabelas Alaskan outfitter pack and frame...slip the skinned out quarters into a game bag and right into your pack.  I do that for packs as far as a couple miles.

[sakoshooter]

I've been using my 'deer wheeler' for 20+ yrs now. Single 20"BMX wheel. Cart is similar to a rickshaw. One man in front and one in back if there's two of ya. I made it after seeing a 'Pac Orse' at a sports show years ago.
Otherwise I use my Blacks Creek Alaskan pack. Internal frame with blood proof, colapseable compartment next to your back. When not in use, mine holds a hefty trash bag and a few small meat bags and is zipped shut, taking up no room or bulk while the rest of my pack works well as a fantastic hunting pack. It's design is limited to the Alaskan and the Canadian by Blacks Creek. Honestly the best designed long range hunting pack I've ever seen. My partner bought his a year before mine and it worked great packing out his big mule deer that year. I bought mine shortly after that and have used it on three muley bucks of my own and some more of my partners. It's got all the bells and whistles like most good hunting packs these days but the meat compartment design can't be beat. Water proof cordura meat compartment. The pack is designed to carry weight too. Not sure how much we put in ours but since it's already full of the days hunting gear, when we add some boned meat, we have to put it on laying on your back, then roll over and get up. This pack is great.

[C-Money]

My friend has a two wheel cart that we pulled a gutted, mature cow elk out using it. It was a chore, but it went ok.  Probably better if we would have just carted out a half at a time.

[STIKNSTRINGBOW]

I'm convinced there is no better pack board for packing out a head/rack/cape than the old school ww2 pack frames, you can really sinch things down tight. 

I have 3 of these, I carry a couple game bags and rope in my "normal" day-pack, and have a "processing" pack with more game bags, hoist (not the cheap one) and knives/shapeners, to bone out.
First trip out with heart, liver, head and hide, then get help to pack the boned out meat.
I guess the big question is, do you mean 5-10 miles round trip, or one way ?
if one way, I would consider contacting a local outfitter and see what they charge to pack one out for you, (if you are in the wilderness)
If there are roads (non motorized), get a bike.
Other than that, get the biggest, most confortable pack you can afford, carry rope, knives, and game bags, if you bone out and hang meat, it wont bleed all over your pack too much.

[dannysdaddy]

i really appreciate the replies.  ill be elk hunting around the forks/olympic national park area.  gmus 601,602,603,607,612,and615.  all walk in from base camp and ive been told plan on 5-10 miles.  i dont mind doing the work to get it out i just havent hunted areas like this befor.  im from nevada and always been able to get a 4wheeler right to the animal.  just planning for the hunt now so i dont have any surprises.

[STIKNSTRINGBOW]

i really appreciate the replies.  ill be elk hunting around the forks/olympic national park area.  gmus 601,602,603,607,612,and615.  all walk in from base camp and ive been told plan on 5-10 miles.  i dont mind doing the work to get it out i just havent hunted areas like this befor.  im from nevada and always been able to get a 4wheeler right to the animal.  just planning for the hunt now so i dont have any surprises.

Just my 
You cannot walk-in to all those areas from one base camp.
 I would pick a unit, and hunt it thoroughly, Roosevelts tend to not be as visible as the Rockies you are used to.
615 or 607 would be my suggestion,  both of these units produce animals.

[jeepasaurusrex]

 

Maybe we can get Colockumelk to fly for us. 

[wildmanoutdoors]

If your talking 5 to 10 miles in those GMU's it'll be behind a gate mostly, then likely hunt old spurs off the mainline.
So you do have options. I go in in the Clearwater with a mountain bike and a cart to tow plus a pack frame. Stash the cart and bike and hunt, hunt, hunt! I use that bike to get out at night but keep the cart in till I need it or the season is over and it comes out empty.

Check with your partners to see how much is on actual dirt roads. If you went off a dirt road in the 615 5 to 10 miles youd never want to pack an elk back out! 

[Skyvalhunter]

Well since it is elk I would look at an external frame pack. Barneys in Alaska has some great ones. ALot of the guides up there use them form moose, sheep, and griz hides. They are very well made and comfortable as comfortable gets when carrying a heavy load. But some people like the ones that are internal framed and expandable. You will get alot of different preferences.

[400out]

Family  and lucky friends

[mtncook]

Slickest way out.

[JimmyHoffa]

I like the helicopter method....that would be great for keeping the meat fresh.  But....I gots to say, mtncook's method is the coolest.
I use my pack that I hike in with.  Use game bags then load up and make trips back and forth to the trailhead.  I'll leave stuff in the tent and come back for it later.  I stuff the head in last with the antlers sticking out the top....then cover them in orange.
I know a few guys around Forks will drag the animal to the river and then get a drift boat.  Then float down to the ramp.

[dannysdaddy]

thanks again for the info.  im not sure exactly where we are going yet until we go scouting later this year.  all i know is thats the general area we are going.  i think ill find a pack frame.