Tip of the month: What you need to get your harvested animal back to camp

OUTDOOR TIPS OF THE MONTH

If the thrill of the hunt is the leadup to the shot that downs that bull, buck or billy, getting the animal back to camp is less glamorous but no less important. Carrying packs of meat on the return trip is one step. (PAUL D. ATKINS)

SOLVING THE RETURN TRIP TO CAMP

Editor’s note: Each issue, our Paul Atkins will offer a tip outdoorsmen and -women can use as they prepare for an Alaska adventure. This month: What you need to get that downed big game animal back to camp.

BY PAUL D. ATKINS

You're standing on the side of a mountain fully exhausted, both mentally and physically. You just took the animal of your dreams and the sheer joy is unbelievable, but now you know the work is about to begin.

With darkness approaching and the weather getting worse, you must dig down and find the energy to get him field dressed, put into game bags and packed for the long climb down and back to camp. For some, this is the hard part; for others, it’s easy. Going down is always easier than going up, right?

Having the right gear and the right people there to share in the joys and discomforts are what hunting in Alaska is all about. Lucky for most of us we have those things.

KNIVES There are a lot of great knives out there (Alaska Sporting Journal, December 2021), but one of the most popular cutting utensils these days is a knife with a replaceable blade, which is more like a surgeon’s scalpel and crazy sharp. The Havalon-type folder, with its replaceabletype blade, proves itself again and again on pretty much all big game. It folds and comes in a variety of sizes for different applications.

I was a skeptic at first, but became a believer after a recent goat hunt. The small, thin blade looked flimsy, but never knock it until you try it, so I did; it performed flawlessly and actually made the chore easier and more enjoyable. If you break a blade, just replace it with another, which takes seconds and isn’t

Flight weight restrictions might keep you from bringing the pack you really need to haul out meat, but shouldn’t, given today’s quality options. (PAUL D. ATKINS)

Once your animal is down the work begins. Good help and good equipment will make the job easier and a lot more enjoyable. “I was blessed to have the right gear and right people on my recent goat adventure,” author Paul Atkins says. (PAUL D. ATKINS) too expensive.

PACKS If planning a backpack trip into the mountains to chase game – whether that be goats or sheep – you need to make sure you have the right gear to get the meat, cape and everything back efficiently and with as much ease as possible. It all starts with the right pack.

I’ve used a lot of packs, but having a frame pack that can handle the weight of one of these animals is, in my opinion, the most important. On a recent goat hunt I brought a long, smaller pack with a scabbard, but that was a bad choice. Due to weight restrictions, I had left my big pack back at the dock; I shouldn’t have.

Luckily for me, a friend brought along his and we were fine. But it would be a lot easier if I had brought the bigger pack. Lesson learned.

Backpacks have come a long way since the old days. Companies like Cabela’s, Kuiu, Sitka, Kifaru, Alaska Gear and many others have turned it into a science and create incredible products that can handle just about any situation. They come in different sizes, weights and configurations, so choosing the right one can sometimes be difficult.

My advice is to do a lot of research based on your expectations, what you’ll be primarily hunting and how much you want to spend. If you’re looking for a new pack, my advice is to try on a bunch of them with people who know and can help, then make your decision. You won’t be sorry.

GAME BAGS Game bags are required on most all hunts, but even more so on mountain hunts. Getting your sheep or goat into a bag for the climb down makes it much easier and keeps things a lot cleaner and “together.”

Caribou Gear, which makes a very unique and well-built bag, is ideal for not only mountain situations, but all big game adventures. The cloth is super strong, breathable and can be used over and over. They come in different sizes for all applications. Make sure you always have a few at the bottom of your pack.

ACCESSORIES Trekking poles are also a big plus. I had never used them until recently. They give you added support, but for me personally, they provide a sense of reassurance. They are worth their weight, especially if you are climbing down through treacherous terrain.

I would also recommend shoe spikes or crampons of some kind, especially if you’re hunting in colder temperatures where ice and snow make each step iffy at best.

SURROUND YOURSELF WITH THE BEST Good friends are hard to find, good hunting partners even more so, especially those who will help you in all conditions. I remember my goat hunt from a few years ago, and if it weren’t for a great comrade, I would have never gotten that goat off the mountain. Avid hunters who live for the chase are like that. Whether it’s assisting during field dressing, packing meat or helping with supper back at camp, great friends and great camp mates are hard to come by. I’ve been blessed with a few.

Factor all this in together and you can make that important trek back to camp with that goat, moose or other Alaskan creature much easier. ASJ

Editor’s note: Got a question for Paul on Alaska hunting or fishing? Email editor Chris Cocoles at ccocoles@media-inc.com.

Getting your animal down to a place where you can work on it makes for a more enjoyable and safer experience than trying to do it on a steep incline. (PAUL D. ATKINS)

Game bags are a must and those made by Caribou Gear are incredible. They keep meat clean, are easier to use and come in different sizes, plus they’re simple to load once your transporter