Are we being realistic?

[JEandAsGuide]

There will be 5 for sure and possibly 6 of us making a trip to western Wyoming this fall. 2 of us have elk tags and the rest should draw general deer tags in the area with their points.
This will be our 3rd trip to WY in as many years but the first time for a true backpack hunt. We had success the last 2 years but always camped at the truck. This year we plan to backpack in right at 5 miles and hunt from there. Roughly 3.5 miles down a trail and 1.5 off the trail. My question is, are we being realistic without horses? There will only be about 1200 ft gained in elevation over that distance but lots of up and down in the middle. None of us are strangers to hard work but we also all understand this will be extremely tough and be prepared physically. We are NR's so we have to stay out of the wilderness areas. This is the main reason for us wanting to get as far as possible into non-wilderness and hunt the boundaries. We will be there the first 2 weeks of Oct. and getting a bull out in 1 trip can happen if needed due to warm weather.

 

[ScottR]

5 miles is a good distance back


Eastmans' Staff Digital Media Coordinator

 

[laxwyo]

5 or 6 guys should be do-able. How's everyone's back?

 

[mntnguide]

If you plan on camping 5 miles back..you have to think about how much further it could be from there with a bull down..8-12 miles possibly when all said and done very easily...One bull will take the whole group an entire day to get out, let alone back into your camp another day...Thats a lot of tags to fill to be that far back in there without stock. Its doable, but not necessarily practical for the amount of tags that are being hunted.

 

[buckbull]

I think I would at least try to line up someone that can pack out those elk should you get lucky.

 

[FitToHunt]

I think I would at least try to line up someone that can pack out those elk should you get lucky.

I'll be doing the same thing for archery. If anyone knows someone in the area that will do that (not a full drop camp, just pack out) please pm me.

 

[JEandAsGuide]

5 or 6 guys should be do-able. How's everyone's back?

I would say good. All still young.

 

[laxwyo]

I would say good. All still young.

If you're trophy hunting, I'd say you're good because most likely you all won't tag out. If you're meat hunting, I'd seriously look at getting horses lined up to come pickup your game. 6 tags and six backs don't add up.

I had a friend from Louisiana shoot an elk way back and realized he was in trouble. Ran to Alpine and the guy dropped the horses off at the trailhead and picked them up afterwards. If I remember, it was $100/horse for that day.

 

[JEandAsGuide]

If you plan on camping 5 miles back..you have to think about how much further it could be from there with a bull down..8-12 miles possibly when all said and done very easily...One bull will take the whole group an entire day to get out, let alone back into your camp another day...Thats a lot of tags to fill to be that far back in there without stock. Its doable, but not necessarily practical for the amount of tags that are being hunted.

This is my concern. I guess I didn't ask the question very well. There is good chance a bull could be down 2 or 3 miles on the wrong side of camp. There will only be 2 elk tags and we will be there for 13 or 14 days. No one will be really trophy hunting so l others don't mind giving up a day or so to help pack. If they help pack my bull out, I will gladly pack out their whole deer, hah.

 

[mntnguide]

Yellowstone Horse Rentals....Chad Madsen...great family and the own about 2,000 head of stock that gets rented out all over the place. He will deliver them to the trailhead with gear...but they are not a packing company that will come get your game or gear. They just provide stock for people to use on their own

 

[JEandAsGuide]

If you're trophy hunting, I'd say you're good because most likely you all won't tag out. If you're meat hunting, I'd seriously look at getting horses lined up to come pickup your game. 6 tags and six backs don't add up.

I had a friend from Louisiana shoot an elk way back and realized he was in trouble. Ran to Alpine and the guy dropped the horses off at the trailhead and picked them up afterwards. If I remember, it was $100/horse for that day.

I will probably consider trying to line someone up to pack out just elk. Because like you mentioned, we won't be trophy hunting but it won't necessarily be a meat hunt either if that makes any sense. There is a chance we could end up with a elk and 1 or 2 deer to pack out at the same time.

 

[Bigelk66]

We did it for a few years, just two of us. It is a workout but worth it. With that many guys and only 2 elk tags it should be doable. Should also be cool enough in Oct to not have to rush. As long as everyone is in good shape and ready for the work it should be a memorable trip

 

[ScottR]

I would rent a horse or mule.


Eastmans' Staff Digital Media Coordinator

 

[NDHunter]

I feel like it's really tough to get ONE guy who will commit to a hunt like that, let alone six...

 

[WapitiBob]

I would look at how far from the trail I was. That'll be the tough packing part. Once at the trail it's cake.

 

[JEandAsGuide]

I feel like it's really tough to get ONE guy who will commit to a hunt like that, let alone six...

It would be myself, my best friend, my brother and 3 cousins. We all grew up together and have hunted together all our life. I'm not worried about any of them not being committed.

 

[JEandAsGuide]

I would look at how far from the trail I was. That'll be the tough packing part. Once at the trail it's cake.

Our camp would be about a mile and a half off the trail but like said earlier, we could possibly have a bull down a few miles from camp.

 

[RICMIC]

I've been in the same situation, usually with just one or two guys. We've been guided, rented horses, and backpacked. Knowing what I know now, I am thankful that we didn't connect on our backpack elk hunts because it would have just about killed us, especially if both of us were foolish enough to shoot elk on the same day. With your youth, numbers, and time available it sounds like you can get it done. If you do rent one or two pack animals, then just a couple guys can do the pack out while the rest continue the hunt. Don't expect the critter to carry a whole lot of your gear in though because you will have to bring in some alfalfa pellets and grain. The time we rented horses, they saved our butts getting a cow elk out. If you're not experienced with them I would go with horses over mules. Mules have their advantages, but they can be a royal pain in the ass sometimes.

 

[ivorytip]

5 guys, five miles? packing out would be easy. unless you have 3 or more elk down, but what's odds of that? h

 

[JEandAsGuide]

5 guys, five miles? packing out would be easy. unless you have 3 or more elk down, but what's odds of that? h

We would only have 2 elk tags