Not a problem with the discussion on my part...

My question would be can you imagine moving that much flexible dead weight to the front of an ATV...

Jon can do it his way and I guess I'll continue doing it my way + lot less stress on the equipment.

And since I do not eat the hide i was not concerned about the mud or snow on the hide... It skinned out just great at the truck while we enjoyed out treats as we worked.

Nice Hunt and Congrats to the Youngun!
Wind, we've had enough Wind this Bow and Gun Season that I cant take it anymore! It's Nice to see Snow too, we had a littler left over for Opening Day but ever since the Temps have been from 50-60.
This is what Scares Me.....you Guy's are Lucky to have Elk where you Hunt, our Biggest Deer a (whitetail) could get to around 200+lbs and We Drag then out by Hand, the 4 Wheeler is there if we can get to em but most of the time it's all WORK and a Long Drag.
I just cant Imagine Dragging any Elk out of a Ravine that's 500yds to the Bottom and a Mile to the nearest path where we can get a 4 Wheeler to, I'd have dropped dead long ago.
Nice Pics, Nice Hunt and Excellant Eating!

No need to drag them anywhere. Skin and quarter them out where you drop them.

i think you could easily get a few guys to lift one end at a time and work it on the atv, its a small calf from the looks of it. No biggy anyway i was just saying i'd rather have done something else than to skin a wet muddy elk LOL.

That was the shortest elk hunt I have ever been on! We left Yakima at 2:00 in the morning and arrived at Mikes place at 5:50 and followed him to the spot. At daylight Mike walked up the ridge and had us go to the backside and see if maybe he would push something to us. We got up on the next little ridge and sat down and watched the hillside till Mike peaked over the top. We were just getting ready to move on over the ridge when 4 cow elk came running down the hill straight away from Mike. The lead cow was the largest followed by 3 smaller elk all about the same size. Andre couldn’t get on them as they were running through the trees. I thought maybe he would never get a shot as they were heading for the thick stuff. Andre ran after them and was able to get on the last one and dropped it right in its tracks. After gutting it we had to drag it about 30 yards to the road, the last 10 yards up an embankment. That in itself was quit difficult and we were both quit happy when Mike showed up with the 4wheeler. We skinned and quartered it at the truck and by 10:30 we were ready to head for home. I picked up this beaut from Mike while we were there. Thanks Mike!

Congrats on the nice harvest. Now it's your turn Mike.

Hope so... but can not shoot until 12-2 - but we have been seeing our share...

Nice job youngster! She looks like the young cow elk I killed last Oct., a 1&1/2 yr. old or sub-adult. The meat was absolutely gourmet! Still young & tender & not yet a fully grown cow. Only down side is about 25-40lbs less meat.
Ay, ay, ay do ever I miss all that delicious meat in our freezer this season, but sometimes ya just can't draw a tag.

The only time I ever hunted elk, I had no idea what the heck I was doing in those Idaho mountains. I never saw one, let alone smelled one - so I can add nothing to this stinkin' conversation.