Packing royalties

[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.