The problem is the damn things are so big and heavy you can't move them until you field dress them. An elk is the size of a horse. I remember my Grizzly encounter. It was as if the damn thing heard the shot. The rifle report was like a dinner bell. Luckily, it was coming around the mountain towards the animal. It was like three points of a triangle. The hunters and guide were one point, the Grizzly was another, and the elk was the point that both parties were trying to get too. When the bear appeared the guide and outfitter threw rocks and it bolted away. We continued to throw rocks in the bushes where the grizzly appeared. I remembered the look on their faces. They were frightened and these guys were rodeo riders and experienced outdoorsmen. Then the outfitter told the one guide to go get my elk. He took off his holster which contained a .44 mag and gave it to the guide. The outdoorsmen said to the guide "Justin, you can go down and get that animal now or you can track that bear down and get it tomorrow. the choice is yours." The guide went down the mountain with a horse. He was armed with a .44 mag. I followed with my rifle trailing about 50 yards behind. Another hunter was posted above with the other guide. A third guide showed up. They continued to throw rocks and keep a look out for the bear. When we field dressed and packed the elk, the 1st guide stared up the mountain. I trailed about 50-70 yards behind. the damn thing was dripping blood and I was following the blood trail up the side of the mountain waiting for the bear to come charging out of the brush. I felt like I was on patrol in Vietnam. I remember going by the spot where I shot the animal and there were piles of stones everywhere.
