I'll chime in and say the same as Muley. When I first started DIY elk hunting I gutted the animal then quartered and packed it out. Since that time I have learned the gutless method and it is way cleaner and easier. I have found I can break an animal down to quarters in about an hour or a little more so leaving it in one piece isn't something I would do. If I am not far from the truck I will pack out the quarters. If distance is great I have to debone and pack which does take more time. Take it from me, stay out of the guts. There are some tutorials about the gutless method. Our first time out I dropped a cow and after walking around the beast for several minutes taking pictures and trying to figure out what to do next I waded in and started to gut it. Lots of pressure and after it was all done I looked like a salad complete with quacamole dressing. My buddy called on the radio telling me he had killed a bull and I told him to watch out when he gutted it. He said too late. LOL