RE: New direction! Too bad too!
Elkcrazy8,
Sounds like a "hard core" (positive) group --- the right kind of "soldiers" to have. I think you are largely correct about bowhunters, their task is by definition going to be more difficult and bow hunters tend to "self-weed" way ahead of a remote/away from home elk hunt. On the other hand, high power rifles are virtually the "magic wands" of hunting; unfortunately they only enhance the hunter's killing ability --- not his/her mental toughness, durability, or persistence.
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BTW, I've learned some good stuff from you and the way you hunt and we have it applied to our hunt:
*** SPIKE CAMP CACHE: We created our first spike camp cache, this summer. When new folks help pack in to the cache during the summer it kind of lets you see what they've got --- get everyone a little sore and breathing hard, then sleep under the stars over night with a light tarp for shelter and live out of the pack.
It made going back in to set up spike camp much easier and it was certainly nice not to have to pack out all the hardware we packed come the end of elk season.
*** WATER COOLING: We take the heavy duty bags you mentioned in case we got too much elk down and it is WAY too warm that we can chill it/temporarily store it until we can get ithauled out to the main camp and the butcher table. It was quite warm and if our Nebraska hunters hadn't brought extra horses that didn't mind panniers, then we probably would have had to utilize your technique.
Good info, much appreciated...
EKM