I also hunt alone. What I do is start with the animal on its side, ungutted. If it is a bull, I cut the head off to get it out of the way. Then I take off the front and back legs and set them aside. You don't even need a saw for this, just cut through the socket on the back leg and simple slice the front leg off along the ribs. I leave evidence of sex on both back legs since CO requires evidence of sex.

Then I skin out the rest of the side and bone out the neck, the back strap, the flank and the ribs. When that side is done I flip the carcass over (this is why I take the head off because antlers make this hard) and do the same procedure on the other side. When I am done I can reach inside and get the tenderloins, heart and liver.

At this point I skin out the legs and bone them as well. I always carry at least 6 game bags and a packframe with me when I hunt. An elk, boned out, makes about 4 loads of about 60 lbs each. Since I have the packframe with me, the first load goes out when I head to the truck. If the law says I need to bring out antlers, I cut them off with a small folding saw and just bring them out with a small amount of skull.

By the way, I'm 50 years old, have had 15 broken bones, blown out an ankle, pulled 4 muscles in my back and I can manage this. I've never allowed the word "can't" to be in my vocabulary. Like I said, unless you're handicapped you can improve your level of physical conditioning. I run 5 miles a day and lift weights 3 times a week. Additionally, I carry a back brace, a knee brace and an ankle brace in my truck so when I hurt, I can address the issue.

Lead, follow or get out of the way!