Peddler, when you're hunting miles into the wilderness and shoot an elk at last light there's no choice but to leave the carcass at least for some point. Even if you work on packing it out throughout the night, you then have to go back hours later and in the dark. I choose morning light and have done it quite a bit with either my elk, my dad's, or one of my buddies. Have packed out a handful of elk now by myself and in the places I go it's almost always a 2 day ordeal. Just walk up with pistol in hand.
I gotta say I hate the "elk reduction program". With the amount of grizzlies and black bears in there, they can do that themselves. Not to mention wolves. Stupid.
I can understand the daylight, I'd just like an extra hand or gun if you know what I mean. It's a shame to lose it to the bears. Be safe.
Peddler
