Hunting Tough Terrain, Part 3, Extraction of Game

A significant challenge of hunting in tough terrain is extraction of the game animal if successful. Some such terrain literally prohibits the traditional `dragging' of an animal to the road, whether it be that the road is uphill of the kill, or the downhill route is far too rugged. And a game animal the size of the typical deer is very difficult to drag across a hill as well, unless there is a well cut trail. As such, we carry all of our game out in packs on our backs.

Tough terrain also may require both hands free. By placing all the game in packs on our backs, both hands are free to help negotiate terrain. Likewise, our rifles have slings, so they too can be carried without requiring a hand.

The portions of the animal we pack out is as follows: 1) all the meat (essentially): 2) proof of species / sex as required by the regulations of the hunt; 3) antlers, cape, etc. as needed for mounting (if appropriate).

We generally hunt with moderate or large size day packs. Day packs allow us mobility. The also allow us to carry clothes and snacks and water for the day, as well as spotting scope or other items, and will also be large enough to carry out our game. We have found that an adult deer can easily be carried out in two day packs by two adults; smaller deer in one. For larger animals (elk) the day packs can be used to carry out the first loads; follow up loads can be done with day packs or higher capacity framed packs.

At a minimum the day packs should include:

1) knife (sharp);

2) sharpener:

3) extra knife (sharp);

4) extra sharpener;

5) prophylactic gloves (several pair);

6) headlamp flashlight;

7) extra flashlight;

8) First aid kit / Survival kit;

9) Plastic bags;

10) Game bags;

11) Bone Saw;

12) Food / snacks;

13) Water;

14) Stout rope;

15) Other: Flagging, Soap; Sanitizer, etc.

The method we use to dress the is non-traditional. We simply de-meat (`bone') the animal on the ground and without gutting. We have found that gutting the animal is an un-necessary step and only potentially exposes the game meat to unwanted bacteria and internal matter. The method is explained in more detail elsewhere. If the head and cape are to be taken, they may obtained, properly cared for, and placed on or in the packs. By taking out only what is absolutely necessary, both the weight and the volume of the load is greatly reduced.

De-meating the animal requires sharp knives. I stop in the de-meating process often to sharpen my knife, to keep the knife sharp and also provide breaking in the cutting process. An extra knife is a good idea as losing a single knife will terminate the process until another knife is obtained. Sharpeners are not hard to lose in the cutting process, so an extra sharpener is also a good idea. Prophylactic gloves are useful if in the de-meating process matter has got on your hands from the internal organs or wound area. The gloves can be discarded and you may continue with clean hands (or another pair of gloves) and avoid contaminating the meat. Gloves may also be necessary if the game have been in vegetation that you may be highly allergic to (poison oak, etc.). You will be working with a sharp knife - so don't leave out the first-aid kit.

Joints in legs can be separated using a sharp knife; however, a bone saw can do the job much faster. Also, state regulations may require that you recover rib meat. Cutting the ribs off in `racks' using the saw is quite convenient. All meat coming off the bones or frame of the animal should go directly into breathable game bags. These bags may then be placed in thick, strong (`contractor grade') plastic bags before going into the day packs to avoid staining the packs

Meat only is quite dense and a day pack full of it will be a significant load for the carry out. Packs with provision for attaching your stuff to the outside are useful in that there may not be any room left inside for your coat, water bottle, optics, etc. Stout rope is useful in tying items to the pack, including perhaps antlers or head and cape. Antlers should be flagged as needed to not be mistaken by another hunter for a live animal.

We have found that once we have the means to extract animals from tough terrain, we are freer to hunt it, and thus hunt areas that are generally less frequented by other hunters, and in which the animals may have found some `refuge'. While extraction of the game in such country is not easy, it is possible.