Packing royalties

[ouchfoss]

Ive been BSing with my dad lately about whats given in return for helping pack out elk and its got me wondering whether this is as common as I think it is. The way I have been taught over the years is that if a buddy gets an elk down, you pretty much drop what you had planned for the day (if possible) and then bust ass to help get the animal out of the woods and hung ASAP even if that means staying out in the woods late into the night in some cases and in the hot September weather, this is super important to avoid spoilage. This whole idea revolves around the promise that if YOU need help getting your animal out of the woods, your buddy is on call to help return the favor. Yeah, it sucks to lose some hunting time helping pack out someone else's animal but thats part of hunting IMO. So Im kinda wondering, am I the only one who thinks like this? What do you give in return for help with the pack? Or do you even give anything in return? Ive always gave some of the meat to whoever helped pack it out and depending on how much meat the packed, that would determine how much meat they got. My dad's friend helped me pack out my big 5x5 I got back in 2003 and he probably packed half animal by himself so when it was done, I gave him an entire hind quarter. In 2004, a friend of mine shot a nice 5x5 and I packed probably half of it out over the course of an evening and he repaid me by giving 200 bucks! 

[h20hunter]

I would never expect cash. However, I would expect a few packs of meat and help when my turn comes around.

[rebal69972]

I would never expect cash. However, I would expect a few packs of meat and help when my turn comes around.

 

[BIGINNER]

i haven't hunted biggame yet,  but i would never let someone elses hard work go to waiste without giving them something for the work.  also i would gladly help anyone pack out as long as i can get out of the house. (during weekends is usually no problem) and i would not worry about what i get back from them, i would leave it up the them to decide what i get back for my work.

[Holg3107]

Ive always found that a nice bottle of wiskey or scotch works well as a packing "tip" for my buddies. Also I always throw in some meat. They and I never expect anything but the gesture is always appreciated.

[ouchfoss]

I didnt plan to take meat or money from my friend but he left the money on my table that day and left for home. ( he lives 6 hours away). It was his first bull and I was gonna let him have every ounce of meat plus my freezers were full from my raghorn bull that year.

[jackmaster]

i have helped a few people pack out animals but when i needed help they were nowhere to be found or all the sudden they had stuff they couldnt get out of, but the funny thing is i never learn my lesson because when they call needing help again i come runnin... not to smart i guess..

[h20hunter]

If he is a sneaky *censored* and leaves it then no harm done, go out to an extravagent dinner, buy a new knife, pack, whatever.

[Gringo31]

Ive always found that a nice bottle of wiskey or scotch works well as a packing "tip" for my buddies

Yep, I thought that was the going rate 

[mtbiker]

i have helped a few people pack out animals but when i needed help they were nowhere to be found or all the sudden they had stuff they couldnt get out of, but the funny thing is i never learn my lesson because when they call needing help again i come runnin... not to smart i guess..

haha, kinda like moving.  You learn real fast who your real friends are.

[BIGINNER]

i have helped a few people pack out animals but when i needed help they were nowhere to be found or all the sudden they had stuff they couldnt get out of, but the funny thing is i never learn my lesson because when they call needing help again i come runnin... not to smart i guess..

haha, kinda like moving.  You learn real fast who your real friends are.

 

so far i moved 3 times,... and helped lots of my friends and family move,...  and the 3 times i moved,... yep everyone was "busy"...   2 years ago i had to move all on my own, dragging my 2 month old kid along and worryong my a$$ off about my wife who was in the hospital for 3 weeks with kidney probblems...        definaetly saw a whole new side to my "friends" and "family"

[newred]

200 bucks...that's a lot of meat

[TopOfTheFoodChain]

Never ask for it or expect it but usually a few packs of meat are given all around. Mostly help in return is given and it goes on working.

[fc2038]

It has been of my opinion that if someone helps pack out an animal I shot, I will, in-return, provide the help with meat and beer at camp. I normally fill a paper grocery bag full of meat and hand it over. It is the least I could do for someones help.

All I ask for helping out is some meat in return. Hell just a couple packs of steaks or burger is good for me. I will always drop what I am doing to help a friend pack out an animal.

[deerhunter_98520]

I havent got an elk yet but theres 4 guys in my huntin group andwe always split every deer we get  4 ways and we usually get atleast 3 deer so we all have a bunch of meat in the freezer

[Nilehunter]

That's the unwritten even unsaid agreement my core group of hunting buddies have.  We even go as far as splitting meat among three of us.  We muzzy hunt so a downed deer can even be seen as camp meat through elk season.  A few years ago my partner got a cow elk.  The other hunting partner and I helped with the drag out and we processed the meat.  In return we split the meat 3 ways (his choice).  There is a cool story behind that cow as well.  I came back to camp early and I was informed that my buddy had an elk down.  While still trying to find out where, a truck came into camp and an older couple jumped out.  The husband asked someone have an animal down? keep in mind we were pretty green elk hunters at the time.  I said yea, and he was like well jump in(meaning his pick up).  Confused I'm like why whats up?  He replies, well you got an elk down you are going to need some help.  I was like I don't even know where he shot it.  He said by the looks of the tracks headed out of here we will find him.  So away we go and sure enough following the tracks (he was in a rush as he left the elk in the field to come back for help) we found his truck.  To make a long story short this older couple stopped hunting to help and teach total strangers.  He gutted the animal to show us how it should be done.  They strapped on the ropes and helped drag it out and had it hanging before leaving us.  We were amazed!!! In all it took about 4 hours.  On our own it would have taken allot longer.  We all vowed to do the same for someone else at some point and see this couple as the angles in the woods.

[TopOfTheFoodChain]

That's the unwritten even unsaid agreement my core group of hunting buddies have.  We even go as far as splitting meat among three of us.  We muzzy hunt so a downed deer can even be seen as camp meat through elk season.  A few years ago my partner got a cow elk.  The other hunting partner and I helped with the drag out and we processed the meat.  In return we split the meat 3 ways (his choice).  There is a cool story behind that cow as well.  I came back to camp early and I was informed that my buddy had an elk down.  While still trying to find out where, a truck came into camp and an older couple jumped out.  The husband asked someone have an animal down? keep in mind we were pretty green elk hunters at the time.  I said yea, and he was like well jump in(meaning his pick up).  Confused I'm like why whats up?  He replies, well you got an elk down you are going to need some help.  I was like I don't even know where he shot it.  He said by the looks of the tracks headed out of here we will find him.  So away we go and sure enough following the tracks (he was in a rush as he left the elk in the field to come back for help) we found his truck.  To make a long story short this older couple stopped hunting to help and teach total strangers.  He gutted the animal to show us how it should be done.  They strapped on the ropes and helped drag it out and had it hanging before leaving us.  We were amazed!!! In all it took about 4 hours.  On our own it would have taken allot longer.  We all vowed to do the same for someone else at some point and see this couple as the angles in the woods.

Cool story. It's always about much more than the kill. All a part of the experience wether we get one or not. What goes around...
 

[emac]

I have packed out 4 elk for friends. The first one was for my high school football coach while I was in college.  It was in a hell hole and all them old men were to outta shape to get it out.  So they offered me and my buddy 100 bucks and all the booze and food we could eat and drink.  So back in college that was one hell of a deal.  The other three I didn't get anything out it except way to much exercise and I didn't expect anything.  But all 3 of those buddies know that if and when I put one down they are my first 3 phone calls and will gladly help.

[gaddy]

after years of hunting on my own( well a couple years with a guy that i found out you couldnt trust) i finally got my brothers back into it for elk. we split it all. if one gets one down we all drop & go help. one brother got a spike a couple years back, it got bumped & we tracked a looong ways.the other brother was elected to go back for the pu & bring it around the mountain to the bottom & we'd pack it there.(we had help along the way by another hunter that had seen the animal & tried to put it down for my bro) any way i told my bro to stop by these guys camp that i had met during deer season & ask to rent or borrow thier cart. when he finally showed up he had the cart & the guys. they helped get it out & loaded into the pu. they said they were headed to town anyway so i gave em some cash for beer & asked them for dinner that evening. when they arrived we had a feast of backstrap,oysters,salad ect & treated them like the kings they were. we all got on the same radio channel & told them not to hesitate to call on us, we'd be there. still stands. amasing the people you meet in the woods. when offered a "royalty" they declined & said they had met new friends, had a great meal & had help they could count on. these people will be welcome in my camp any time

[Yeti]

Its always been some meat and some sort of adult beverage offered!

[ghosthunter]

Well this exact thing caused a rif last year at Black powder elk camp. One guy got a cow, I got a spike two had cow tags old guys they did not fill. The agreement was we would split all meat 4 ways. But the guy with the cow decided he did not want to split after he realized the other two might not fill there tag.

For me I do not care one way or the other. But an agreement is a agreement. Your word is your word. I did not like the fact he was willing to cheat the old guys .  He ended up spliting but said he was done hunting.  he never showed up for deer camp left us hanging with no wood store.

But to answer your question I help everyone I come across in a heart beat and never think of what I might get. For me it is not about the meat. It is about the hunt and the people I meet along the way. And I think packing out is as fun as shooting.

[rosscrazyelk]

My group of friends and I always share our meat and we all drop what we are doing and all become butchers and pack mules.

[whacker1]

I've helped others and others have helped me.  given sausage and beer, but the biggest deal is the turn about in getting help in return.  I have helped complete strangers, and just happy to experience in their success.  lots of good folks in the woods.

[DOUBLELUNG]

Most of my friends are hardcore slayers so meat is not really an issue.  I've never asked for meat, usually don't want it - but have accepted elk twice (once for packing, once for no reason at all).  Over the years, I've given a lot more meat than I've received, usually to nonhunters or elderly.
 
Now, if someone has horses and answers the call, odds are I won't be helping them by reciprocating in the future.  In that case, I've given cash - hayburners are expensive to keep and maintain, and their use is a wonderful privilege.

[elksnout]

Shooter gets half the elk. Period. Been working great for years. The rest is split between the group whether you packed or not....we are all in it together and it all pencils out over the years. And when an animal is down we all are done hunting until it's back at camp.

[p-ohana]

In our hunting camp all meat is split evenly amongst everyone. As for the packing out everyone carries what he can. Between the 4 of us we can carry out annoned out elk in one trip. The younger guys(me) take a hind quarter and a back strap. And the older guys take a boned out shoulder, neck meat, rib meat and tenderloins. We've never had an issue with dividing the meat.

[Todd_ID]

In my camp the guy that kills the elk gets half.  The rest is split between however many people happened to be there to help.  If you show up late, after Randy shoots his elk and haven't helped, then you are entitled to 0%.  If you were there, then you were expected to help, and if you didn't, then you won't come back.

[jstone]

I always stop, what i am doing and go help my fellow hunter. Last year had the Taneum Cow Muzzy tag in the middle of elk. A member of my hunting party shot a spike in the morning . I left those elk to help. I ended getting a cow that afternoon, and there where there for me. KARMA..

[chuck270]

But to answer your question I help everyone I come across in a heart beat and never think of what I might get. For me it is not about the meat. It is about the hunt and the people I meet along the way. And I think packing out is as fun as shooting.
 
I,ve gotten out of bed at 11:30 at night to go help a buddy pack his elk out when he called, nothing asked or expected in return, it's just how I roll.