RE: How do you get an elk out of the back country?
 

I carry a little plastic baggie to put the organs in and tie them off still attached to the meat. That keeps the meat clean.
I never carry out the head. Cape out the head and cut off the horns. Do yourself a favor and make sure your bonesaw is sharp. It is hard work on an elk, cut from the front and back, don' t try to saw the horns off from the sides it is much harder that way.
Even if you aren' t going to get the shoulder mount done you can sell the cape to a taxidermist for instore credit or 100 bucks or so.

RE: How do you get an elk out of the back country?
 

Those cart are kind of nice, my buddie' s Dad bought one 5 years ago and last year we finally got it out of the plastic. This one was a single whelled job with handle bars front and rear(two man if need be) And it had a brake. once we got the deer on it, there were some tricky spots to get around but nothing like dragging or packing out by foot. I also drug a big 5 point Blacktail out with a regular old wheel barrow once. They do come in handy. Draw back is at least in the Washington State Regs. some places they aren' t allowed. No wheeled object for packing game is legal? So you might read up on your hunting regs to make sure you can use it

RE: How do you get an elk out of the back country?
 

It is legal to take the atv off the road in AZ but only to recover a downed animal. It' s usually dry here so no damage by rutting up the forest. This is a helpful thread as most new elk hunters think it' s easy to cut the animal and get it out. Lots of hard work especially to bone it out and carry. Good hunting and good luck on the draw.

RE: How do you get an elk out of the back country?
 

DART and Glenn - I' m putting in for Unit 23 this year - I' ll be giving you guys a call :D