How do you pack out your pigs?

[rodneyshishido]

I am amazed at the size of the pigs you guys get. Here on Maui, a 150-200 pig is big.

How do you get your hogs out? The area that I hunt requires you to either carry or drag the carcass out. The terrain prohibits the use of any type of vehicle or cart. I generally have to carry the pig 1 to 1-1/2 miles. I figure I can carry about 100 lbs plus my gear. I also hunt alone so there is not the option of cutting the pig in half and splitting the load. I now try to limit my harvesting the medium sized pigs.

How do you guys do it?

 

[slowpoke]

pack frame

I use an external pack frame when they need to come out over ½ a mile or so. The really big pigs are a multiple trip proposition

 

[Speckmisser]

Bone it out and pack the meat in a game bag (or pillow case... leave the bones, skin, head, etc. Even a huge pig isn't more than a single hunter should be able to handle.

 

[huntingbret]

When I was finally able to dialed in one earlier this year, my brother and I carried the whole carcass back to the car. It was a grueling 2 miles hike, all up and downhill. If I'm out by myself, which is seldom the case, I would probably shoot a smaller one, or just pack out the meat and leave the rest behind.

 

[jindydiver]

You can make a backpack out of the pig. You need some twine and you make a cut in line with the bone on the front hocks (so you seperate the tendons from the bone, leaving the tendons intact) and you tie the twine around the bone, but behind the tendon. This stops it from ever slipping off. Then you tie the other end on to the back leg, around the bone and through the same slit you would stick your gambrel through. You do this on both legs and you adjust them so they make straps for your backpack. Then you just put your backpack on and start walking. Getting up off the ground with your pack on can be a bit of a trial, but once you are up you will see how easy it is.
Cut off the head (unless you want to keep it) to reduce the weight.
We do this with deer too, but the good thing is you don't need any string, their legs are long enough to reach together.

 

[bigboarstopper]

tape the front hoof to the back hoof and wear em

 

[easymoney]

Same way I do elk or mule deer, bone em out and bag em, them onto the pack frame...
Bigboar, it looks like from your eyes you are about the crap your pants... Bug out...

 

[bigboarstopper]

it was a far hike.... Crap? nah... Last thing I wanna do is carry any extra shit around with me !!!

 

[easymoney]

Now that's funny... Do you see any ticks on your pigs? I always do around here...
Also, congrats, that is a lot of sausage...

 

[bigboarstopper]

ticks?? ya know I personally get covered with ticks when I go hunting. My dogs get loaded but the hogs Id say have less ticks than my dogs seem to pick up after a single hunt. I thinks pigs are cleaner than deer. Sure Pigs have mud and dirt all caked all on em but as for ticks and fleas they have less than deer. What area do you hunt in easy money? Im almost always in some area of monterey county. Are the tics bad in your area?

 

[easymoney]

I hunt mainly SLO, Monterey and San Benito counties for pigs.
Down here (SLO county)we see lots of ticks on the game because (IMHO) the brush is so thick and harbors them. The deer are covered on their bellies, but pigs do seem to have less. It does not baother me but it freaks out some folks. I feel them as soon as they move and I pick em off...
Where are you from and where do you hunt?

 

[hatchet1]

TAKE THE MEAT THATS EDIBLE,PUT IN BAGS ON FRAME,KICK THE REST IN THE DITCH FOR "THE"CONDOR...MAKE SURE COOLER IS WELL ICED AND STOCKED WITH FAVORITE BEVERAGE UPON DESTINATION WITH SAID HOG ON FRAME...:toast-yellow:WHEN BACK AT HOME,ENJOY SAID HOG ON BBQ WITH SAID BEVERAGE ONCE AGAIN..REPEAT PROCESS AS NECESSARY...:bounce-aqua:

 

[jindydiver]

Bigboarstopper
Give the string a go next time, it gives you a shelf to put your rifle on and handles to help keep it under control while you walk
This is a deer, but shows the handles

And before someone comments on the trigger finger, it is NOT on the trigger, Mal has nothing past the knuckle you can see (bandsaw in a meat works fixed that problem)

 

[easymoney]

Love them shorts... Looks like the boys are poppin out.
Actually, jindy, thats how most of us haul em out, but we have to wear long pants...

 

[Speckmisser]

Tried the piggy pack thing a couple of times. Pressed on the nerves on my shoulders and put my arms to sleep within a mile or two. Maybe I'm doing it wrong, but boning out and a meat bag seems to work much better for this wimpy hunter.

Oh.. and that picture in the speedo...

Priceless! :rotflmao:

 

[map]

Bare legs is the way to go, but I use an Outfitter's Pack Frame with a Freight Shelf at the bottom to help support the heavy load. I got it at Doms Outfitter's in Livermore, and it was kind of expensive for an empty frame. Guess it would hold a ton if I could carry that much? A pack frame is a big nuisance while hunting, but man is it a comfortable way to carry a heavy load of meat.

While hunting the oak savanna with my Jeep I always carry a Gambrel and Hoist system in case I am alone and want to lift a large boar onto my hitch haul. I also carry a tow strap to drag the animal with my Jeep over to a tree with a low limb for the Hoist. The tang on my boat trailer weights 235 pounds, and I can straddle it and lift it with my legs. But, I can't lift that much dead pig. Those things are gross, not to mention the ticks that live in their ears.

 

[suzuki17]

+1 on the backpack. Just make sure you are wearing a waterproof/blood proof shirt or jacket.

Also if you're following the guy who is packing it out hopefully you have a camera. The view is priceless, looks like a horny hog just mounted your buddy.

 

[map]

Correction: I got that pack frame at Mel Cotton in San Jose. I get a lot of stuff at Doms and Mel Cotton even though they are more expensive. Hate to see them go under like Reeds Sportshop did.

 

[EvBouret]

Hunting in Hawaii you know the importance of streamlining your load so you can fit through the narrow brush. The only way we do it is to field dress, skin and debone on the spot. Only carry out a pillow case full of meat. This can fit in most daypacks and is a breeze to carry. The 2nd best option if you want the pig out whole or are under a mile or so from your truck is to make the pig backpack, but its bulky, hard to carry and bruises the shoulders in excess of a mile.