Quote Originally Posted by Pancho Villa View Post
That sounds good to me. The idea of just pulling up and hunting near a road sounds kind of lame, to be honest.

(Not to denigrate anyone who does, just not my thing. I do love long hikes after all.)

This brings to mind another question, though. Say I've done my homework, all the things line up right and I get my elk.

Now I have a 500+lb carcass at my feet and a long hike back to the truck. How do you get the tasty bits back to civilization?
Quarter it. Take the backstraps and tenderloins out first trip, ans if you can carry a front quarter good. Takes longer to bone the meat but if time allows then you won't be carrying extra weight.
Then pack out hinds, usually can only get 1 at a time. Finally if you want the hide and head take them last.
http://www.elk-hunting-tips.net/quartering-elk.html
http://elkhunter2.tripod.com/quartering.html

we use the gut less method or indian method of cleaning the animal remove hide and then quarter. remove backstraps, count back about 5 ribs or so cut into carcass and remove tenderloins by fingers.

I have packed a few out alone so it is possible, hard work, and rewarding. But it is more fun if you can get a hunting buddy to go with.