Excellent post with many valuable tips! As a life-long elk hunter, I can assure you that every tip was spot-on for accuracy and helpful information. The info about hydration is very important; I always carry what I figure is too much water for the day of hunting, but I end up using my filter to refill my backpack bladder every day. So my tip would be to buy and carry a high-quality backpacking water filter as an essential part of your gear. I use the MSR Mini-Works filter and have had no problems with it for many seasons of constant use.

Another thing to add to the survival list is 4 space blankets. These things weigh next to nothing, but are invaluable for multiple uses when you need them. I carry 4 of them so I have a ground cover, sleeping bag, and shelter all in about 2 ounces and one small ziplock bag. I've used them when wet and cold, but not lost, to warm up enough to stay effective and alive.

Elk hunting is tough, grueling work in the mountains. I compete in triathalons during the summer to get in shape for archery season, and sometimes I am not up to the challenge. Hunting elk is tough, but when you get one down is when the work begins. Have a solid game plan for how you are going to deal with an animal that you harvest. Chances are that you won't be able to get within a mile of the animal with a vehicle, so a quality external pack frame, lots of strong rope,and super-duty, super-size game bags are a requirement, also. My game plan for getting an elk out of the back countrycenters aroundgetting the meat cooled down. This generally means packing the meat to a cool creek bottom. If the temperature is 60 or higher, then I will submerge the meat for a couple of hours to get the body heat out. Once the original heat is out of the animal, then you can hang it in a 65-70 degreecreek bottom for a week if you have to, but I alwayswork to get it out to a cooler immediately after it cools down. If I take an elk in cooler weather, then I will build agrid of logs to get the meat off of the ground and allow the meat to cool long enough to get the body heat out before packing it to a road and into town to a cooler.

I usually hunt with several other partners and cameramen, so we are all prepared to assist another with packing an elk. Yeah, it means that the day is spent packing and not hunting, but it always pays off in goodwill; because when I shoot an animal, then everyone is willing to help me. I've packed enough elk out by myself to know that we're not any younger or tougher than we used to be, and the help is more than appreciated. When this cooperation is used and enjoyed, then you need to be willing to be generous with sharing the meat, as well. An elk gives you lots of meat (last year I had 165 packages of hamburger and 110 packages of steak from one bull), so be generous with your harvest.

Another tip is to become very proficient with your equipment in both shooting and repair. You should feel happy to get a 40 yard broadside shot, and you should be capable of making that shot efficiently. You should also be able to fix a broken rest, re-serve a peep, tie a string loop, and replace a string or cable in camp without wasting time getting out of the mountains to an archery shop. Stuff happens in the woods that being prepared for is time well spent.