Elk Question for you Elk Guys..

[el_kirk]

Dave,
Lots of good info here.  To summarize,

1)Don't shoot anything you can't carry back to the road in a reasonable amount of time.  Nights will be cooler, but you need to move quick.
2)Skin it!  The hide will hold heat really well (almost like it was designed to do that...  )
3) Have a plan to deal with the flies.  Around here I know folks that use pepper, pillowcases and a couple of other ways that were mentioned earlier.  
4) Hang it in the shade.  Air circulation is key!
5) Hunt with a big pack and walk out with your first load of meat.  I actually carry an internal frame pack that's big enough (barely) to get half a spike in (ask me how I know).  I practice shooting with it on.

A couple things that nobody mentioned (I think)...
--The easiest way to cool down the meat is to hunt in shorts and a tank top and I will personally guarantee the weather will do whatever you aren't prepared for.  Typically my wife and I get snowed on when we're out in September...and two hours later we're complaining about how wet and hot it is.

--Don't forget to fuel yourself.  I carry a little jerky, a few energy bars and some iodine tablets (to treat water) that I reserve for a successful hunt.  Nothing like a little celebration to keep you moving.  And you'll be moving for a long time, likely at elevations you're not used to.

--You might think about the boneless method.  Some folks like it better, especially since you get to leave the bones behind.  Do a search on here; someone posted a pretty good video a while back.

Above all have fun (and thanks for a great question).

Kirk

[Outwest]

Here is a way to keep flies off the meat.
Spray the quarters with Pam the cooking spray.
The flies will still buzz around but they will not land on the meat.

John

[Overspined]

huh, pam cooking spray! cool

[Brian Krebs]

They can be killed !!???!!!

[Brian Krebs]

Sorry: I digressed.

 One thing a meat processor will NOT want is stones stuck to the meat. Pine needles are an issue too; although you can burn them and hair off: with a torch.

 What I do is carry a couple fold up 'emergency blankets' Those foil things that once you unfold- you cannot fit into air plane hanger.
 
 If you lay the blankets on the ground you can lay the quarters on them after you skin the elk; and keep them clean.

 You can then get your game bag ready and put the meat into the bags and not lose any to stones and such ( pebbles - tiny stones - can break the blades on a meat grinder).

 I hang the meat up to cool; but if I don't have game bags on me; I will hang it up and let the wind hit it. When the meat surface dries; the fly eggs can't into the soft meat they need to be in.
 You can scrape the eggs off with a knife blade - until the meat surface hardens up.  

 I see lots of people start out with a back pack with everything in it for every emergency.
 Then after a few days of hiking in 90 degree heat; they are down to water and an energy bar at best.
 (like me often times)

 The emergency blankets are light and fit into a pocket real easy. They are fantastic to have with you; not only for if you get an elk; but if you need to stay out a night or do get into an emergency situation.

 My son shot an elk that we got out whole; he got real close to 400 pounds of ~meat~ out of it. Now divide that by 2 guys; and its 200 pounds a person - plus the bones.

 I am good for about one quarter of an elk; about 70 pounds on average. You are better off taking two trips each than: to try and carry all the meat out in one trip.

 If your alone; skin the elk; and hang it up if you can - you will need parachute cord or you can make a small branch coming off a tree into a spike; and hang the meat up on that.

 If you have moving water nearby- you can lay some thick branches just over the water; and lay the meat on the top of that- not piled up- laid out so it can cool top and bottom.
 Then take some spruce boughs and lay them over the meat. That is best done when it does not touch the meat; but does keep the sun off it.
 You can also use the blankets to cover them top and bottom over the water.

While your carrying out a load of meat; the remaining meat can cool. But be prepared to spend the night.
 Walking out in the dark with a heavy load on your back is asking for trouble- use your judgment - how far is camp or the truck; and can you get there in the dark?

 If your alone; and you realize your going to make 4 or 5 or 6 trips- you might want to bring some plastic bags and some Mortons salt meat cure. You can mix it up in the plastic bag with water and the meat; and it will preserve it for while; a short while; but 'a while'.
 ( I ran into a camp where the hunters had boned deer meat in plastic bags -in holes dug in the ground; and they were curing the meat while hunting for elk).

 Really - don't think you can get an elk out with one or two people in one trip. I have seen it done- but your talking really the top of your game to do it. Here in Idaho you will be in deep do-do if you leave any meat in the woods: its called 'waste of game'.

 I like to carry a bone type saw with me; and a small knife for skinning; and a file to sharpen the knife as your skinning and cutting.
 
 In any weather you have to skin the elk quickly.

You can carry one quarter over your shoulder; and still get over downed timber and other obstacles; but the heavier the load; the better the trail must be.

 As mentioned pepper can keep the flies off too- and burger joints give them away in more likely to carry containers    

 A young bull or cow is one thing to deal with; but that big bull or cow 'of your life' - that is another thing.

 A couple coolers in your vehicle or camp is a great help; but unless you have ice; you are often better off letting the meat hang in the shade. Until final transport.

 When you get an elk down and you walk up to it; you will realize the difference between the average whitetail and an elk. Elk are huge.

 I have pack animals; that I have used dozens of times to help get other peoples elk out; but it seems when I get an elk; it is pretty close to a road. I have twice backed my truck right up to elk my son has shot.

 But- then there were elk way back in- and getting them out can be the challenge of your life. Be prepared !

[Ulysseys]

How many coolers will an average elk fill?  Just mean, no bones.

[sagebrush]

I got a 120 qt. cooler that stays in the truck with four blocks of ice at all times when hunting elk. Then when I make it to the truck I don't have to worry about where to put the meat. It will hold a whole elk if boned out. I never hang an elk. Maybe after it is in bags but never the carcass. They are large and you would need a block and tackle to get it up. I skin one side and then bone it. Then roll it over and do the other side. You can get almost all the meat off before you even gut it. I gut it to get the meat along the backbone on the inside. It's the most tender part. I have carried out elk in two trips up to two miles. It's pretty hard on your body and probably not a good idea. I just put plastic garbage bags in my pack and fill it with meat. But I have it on ice within a couple hours. It has always been good. I also end up with very clean meat. No sticks or dirt. Gary

[sagebrush]

If I had to leave meat more than a few hours I would definitely use canvas game bags and hang the meat after cutting up. Have a tent maker make some bags for you out of canvas. I once bought some heavy bags that looked strong and when I went to pick them up full of meat the tops all ripped off. Most of the ones I have killed lately were in the evening. I have been able to get them out by the next morning with the use of headlamps and lots of batteries. I haven't been going in as far as I used to. I also carry two very sharp well made knives. I don't want to have to stop to sharpen part way through the job. My favorite is a Helle knife. It will do two elk before it starts losing the edge. Gary

[Ulysseys]

Gary,
  How long does that ice last in the cooler?  Bill

[mnbearbaiter]

The faster you break down an animal the better! The fastest way i know of is The Gutless Method! For sanity sake i wont describe it here! There is a very good 2 part clip on  www.bowsite.com  I know its a flim flam website, but the video by ELK Inc is a good one! Just go to the website and do a search for "Gutless Video"!

[ChuckC]

Sage, I carry one of the Alaska Bowhunter carbide sharpeners.  A couple swipes and I am back in business.  

Also.  Try this if you wish.

They make a replaceable blade razor cutter, everybody has them.  A glorified box cutter.  There are two sizes of hook-shaped cutters available, to be used for shingles and maybe light carpet.  

The smaller of the two is the one I use.  I found a very lightweight handle and use this tool to cut the pelt and to skin the critter, instead of a knife.  I think I can guarantee you will find it two or three times quicker and easier than any knife I have seen.  It is like a zipper.  If you insert the point into the skin anywhere and pull it towards you, you will unzip the hide.  Legs, back, prepping for caping,  all of the above.  

I use it exclusively now for the entire cape and pelt removal.

I used to carry just the blade, wrapped in tape.  It works, but is hard on the hands.  The new lightweight handle is awesome and doesn't weigh much at all.

I also carry two smaller knives that are very sharp, and that carbide sharpener.  good to go

ChuckC

[snag]

I have used a spray bottle with vinegar to lightly spray the meat down as you cutting up your animal. It is a disinfectant and it helps keep the bugs off.

[Ulysseys]

Anyone bring an elk home on an airplane?  How'd you manage that??

[sagebrush]

Bill, how long the ice lasts depends on the temperature outside. I've seen it hot enough where I had to buy more every four days. Gary

[sagebrush]

Chuck, the zipper idea is a good one. Kinda like a hook letter opener. I buy utility knife blades by the hundred. I need to find one of those that they will fit in. Gary

[mnbearbaiter]

First off guys, check my earlier post about The Gutless Method!!! It keeps the meat as clean as possible, and no field dressing is required! I would recommend making arrangements in advance in your chosen hunting area with a butcher! For a small fee he will put your meat in a refrigerated enclosure and hold it for you! Spoilage of meat, as long as it remains bug free, takes a while! In 40deg weather it takes an elk a long time to become unfit to eat(3-5 days)! in weather thats warmer, like 60deg+ it gets accelerated greatly, but not so fast that you couldnt get it out in time! Hang quarters in the shade, flyproof the game bags, return to camp to get pack frames, go back to site, the quarters begin to break down naturally in that time frame to where the muscle groups just pull of the bones, no need for a knife almost! Get your load cached and get the heck outta there! Ive had steaks off an elk that was shot in fairly hot weather, but the precautions that hunter took to get the meat out made for some of the best wild game ive ever had! Think of the time the quarters are hanging, and the time it takes to pack it out as an accelerated aging process, cause thats really all it is!!!

[Autumnarcher]

We use the gutless method in th camp I've hunted in. Its the way to go. Of course when you're all done stripping the quarters etc from teh carcass, you can then open it up to retrieve those tenderloins. But by using the gutless method, you're not having to slip around in pools of blood and guts while you cut your animal up.

The only elk we gutted was one we drove the truck right up to, dressed it out and 5 of us dragged it into the truck, hauled it to camp and hung it on the ellk pole with a tractor and chain to skin and butcher. Long night.

I've packed quarters ot several times, and if hunting solo, I can say that unless you're in the shape of an NFL running back, one person is not gonna make 4-5 trips inand out with 60-80# of meat on your back in one night and day. It will flat kick your hind end, and your legs will be rubber.

The rule in our camp was all hands turn out to pack an elk out. Most are killed in the evening, so when everyone strolls into camp, regardless how tired or hungry, everyone grabs a pack frame and heads for the kill site. This usually consists of 4-6 guys. Then its one trip, we eat good and the elk is taken care of.

Solo hunting or pairs obviously takes different planning. Lots of good info on this thread.

[ChuckC]

Sagebrush  I wish I could patent it.  I think it is that much easier than using a knife.  Also, it keeps your knives sharp for meat, not skin and hair.
ChuckC