I've hunted elk almost every year for the past 40 or so years. The bull that I killed last year was my 34th elk and I killed him on a solo hunt, as were at least half of the other elk that I've killed. Most of my elk were killed on public land in Colorado and Montana.

A few of them I was lucky enough to get out whole, a few others I packed out on my back, I dragged a couple out on a sled or sheet of heavy plastic, one bull I brought out in a wheelborrow, I've dragged several more out as quarters or halves over the snow, and the rest I packed out on my horses.  Unfortunately, I no longer have horses, so I hunt uphill as much as possible.

I also have gone on quite a few solo hunts for big horn sheep, moose, black bears, and mountain goats and killed and packed out at least one of each of them by myself. Back when Montana still sold grizzly tags I would buy one every year and went on solo hunts for them also. Unfortunately, I never ran into a grizzly during the open seasons.

Great bull Ex!  Just curious, you guys are all talking about deboning.  I can do that, cause my Dad and I have always boned out our deer for our own butchering.  Got pretty good at it actually.  But, I have not done it in the woods, so that would be interesting. 

I have one question though.  Do you need to keep a proof of sex attached to one of the hind quarters, or am I thinking of another state.  Thought I heard that somewhere.  If so, do you leave one hind quarter whole for the trip out?