Haul or Nothing
Packing out your kill.
Congratulations! You’ve put in the hours hiking, stalking your animal, made the shot, and brought ‘er down. Your patience and hard work paid off—but you ain’t done yet. In fact, the work has only just begun.
Packing out an animal can be one of the most difficult aspects of hunting. It’s imperative to work quickly, and cleanly, as to not spoil any of the precious meat you’ve worked so hard to obtain. Once you’ve field-dressed your kill and broken it down into manageable pieces, it’s time to begin hauling it out. While smaller species like antelope can be packed out in one go, larger game like elk and bear will require a more methodical approach, and often several trips. If multiple trips are required, tie up your quarters in a tree to keep them from rodents and scavengers, and mark the location on a GPS. Try to find a cool, shady spot, and wrap the meat in game bags.
Regardless of what you’ve harvested, here are a handful of different techniques to get your bounty from the field to the freezer.
Backing Out
The most common method is also the oldest: using your own body. Frame packs provide more stability and even dispersion of weight than standard backpacks; these days, internal-frame packs are more popular than the conventional external-frame variety. Your system will vary depending on how the pack is built, and it’s best to familiarize yourself with how it works before you need it in the field.
Cart & Driver
While game carts are appealing in theory, they can be frustrating—even borderline useless—in practice. Pushing one on flat ground, along old logging roads, or through the plains of eastern Montana is one thing; but up and down the rocky slopes of the Gallatin Range is another altogether. There’s a reason you don’t see many of these in our corner of the state.
Snag & Drag
This is one of the simplest means of getting your quarry out of the field, and without the hassle of skinning or quartering—though it’s best suited for smaller, lighter animals like deer and antelope. If you’ve harvested a buck, just grab the antlers and start walking. If you shot a doe, simply tie some rope around its neck and do the same.
Let It Slide
Weather in Montana can be unpredictable, and it’s not uncommon to find blankets of deep snow covering the ground on opening weekend of rifle season. In times like these, it’s best to work with the elements. Rather than post-holing with 70 pounds on you back, load up your quarry into a sled and pull. You can find sleds built for this very purpose, or use an old kayak. This method works great for elk, which otherwise must be quartered and hauled out in multiple trips.
Friends in Need
The further out you are in the backcountry, the harder a pack-out will be. This is when having friends or hunting partners comes in handy. Dial up your buddies and see if they’d be willing to come lend a hand—and be sure to sweeten the deal by offering up a share of the bounty. Remember what goes around comes around, so be ready to return the favor.
Four-Wheelin’
It doesn’t get any easier than packing out an animal with a UTV. If you can drag it to the nearest road, then it’s just a matter of getting it into the cargo area—or, if the truck’s not too far away, attaching a tow-rope. However, many sections of public land forbid use of motorized vehicles, so be sure to check the regulations before you fire up the four-wheeler.
Hoofing' It
From time immemorial, humans have used livestock to carry their cargo across long distances. In the hunting world, that tradition is alive and well, especially in rugged alpine environments and deep in the backcountry. Last season, I crossed paths with a fellow and his mule team returning from a sheep hunt. His team had not only taken him up the steepest sections of trail—they also packed out his ram, without him ever breaking a sweat.
The most common animals you’re likely to see in the field are mules and pack horses. Although they’re considered the gold standard, they aren’t the only creatures used for hauling gear out. Alpacas and llamas make great pack animals, too, if you’re not looking for a free ride. On uneven, congested terrain, goats are particularly useful, though they can’t carry as much as their larger counterparts. All said, if you ever get the chance to hunt with pack animals, take it. You’d be a fool not to.
