Bone-in or boned-out? Pick your game bags before you are standing over an elk.
Both methods work. They just demand different bags.
The bone-in versus boned-out debate never dies in elk camps, and most of it is about pack weight and field time. The part that gets skipped is that the two methods need different game bags, and the wrong set is a problem you discover at the worst possible moment. Here is the distinction, which bags fit which job, and an honest read on where ours fits.
The basic distinction
Bone-in
- Large, structured quarters with the bone left in
- Faster field breakdown, especially solo
- Quarters hang cleanly and cool as intact pieces
- More weight on your back
Boned-out
- Loose meat divided among smaller bags
- Less bone weight to carry out
- Longer, messier field job
- Ultralight bag systems become attractive
Why somebody might bone out
Bone is heavy and you cannot eat it. On a multi-mile pack-out, every pound matters, and boning out in the field can take a meaningful share of the load off your back. Loose meat also packs into smaller bags, so the whole bag system gets lighter and smaller too.
Why somebody might leave quarters bone-in
Bone-in is simpler and faster when the animal is down, and speed matters in warm weather. The quarter stays intact, hangs cleanly in camp, and the meat surface stays cleaner with less handling. Large quarter bags are designed for exactly that job. If your truck is close or you have help, bone-in is usually the easier day.
Bags designed around each approach
The market sorts itself by this choice. Argali's High Country pack is an ultralight system: five 17" by 29" bags at about 9 oz for the whole kit, sized for deer-class animals bone-in or an elk boned out ($74.99, checked 2026-08-17). Caribou Gear's Wapiti is the opposite case, an elk-specific meat-on-bone system with 23" by 40" quarter bags ($105.99, checked 2026-08-29).
Lone Trail sits in the second job. Four 40" by 24" quarter bags for bone-in elk quarters, plus one 17" by 29" bag for backstraps and trim, for $70.
| Argali High Country | Caribou Gear Wapiti | Lone Trail 5-Piece | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Built for | Boned-out elk, bone-in deer | Bone-in elk quarters | Bone-in elk quarters |
| Quarter bags | 5 x 17" x 29" | 4 x 23" x 40" | 4 x 40" x 24" |
| Extra bag | Included in the five | 1 x 16" x 30" parts bag | 1 x 17" x 29" trim bag |
| Weight | About 9 oz total | Not published on the product page | About 2.1 oz per quarter bag |
| Price | $74.99 | $105.99 | $70 |
Competitor figures from their product pages; Argali checked 2026-08-17, Caribou 2026-08-29.
Who should buy the Lone Trail set
- You want capacity for bone-in elk quarters
- You also hunt deer and want one set that covers both
- You want a complete five-piece system with the trim bag and pouch included
- Reusability matters: cold wash, air dry, hunt again
- $70 is preferable to a $100-plus system
Who should buy something else
If your overriding goal is the lowest possible pack weight and you always bone out elk in the field, an ultralight system designed specifically for that job may make more sense. Our bags handle boned-out meat with room to spare, but you would be carrying capacity you do not use.
The offer
For the bone-in pack-out: Lone Trail 5-piece set, $70.
Four 40" x 24" quarter bags, one 17" x 29" trim bag, carrying pouch. 40D ripstop, reflective strip, machine washable, lifetime warranty.
- Ships in 24 hours
- Free shipping over $20
- 30-day free returns
- Lifetime warranty
FAQ
Will these actually fit an elk hindquarter?
Yes. The quarter bags are 40" deep by 24" wide, sized around a bone-in elk hindquarter. The four big pieces of an elk each get their own bag.
Bone-in or boned-out?
Both work. Bone-in is faster in the field and the quarters hang cleanly; boned-out cuts pack weight on a long walk. This set is built around bone-in quarters and handles boned-out meat with room to spare.
How many bags do I need?
A bone-in elk takes five: four quarters plus backstraps, tenderloins and trim. Boned-out, plan on five to six depending on how you split the loads. A deer takes two to four.
Will the meat breathe and cool?
That is the job. 40D ripstop nylon lets air move through the bag while keeping flies, dirt and debris off the meat. Hang or stage each quarter separately in shade so air reaches every surface.
Can I reuse them?
Yes. Rinse cold soon after the hunt, machine wash cold, air dry or tumble low. Hunters run the same set for multiple seasons.
What is your warranty and return policy?
Lifetime warranty against manufacturing defects: send a photo and your order number and we replace the bag, or refund you if we cannot. Returns: try it on at home, 30 days, like-new, we pay the return shipping.
Pick the bags before you are standing over an elk.
Bone-in capacity, five bags, one pouch, $70.
- Ships in 24 hours
- Free shipping over $20
- 30-day free returns
- Lifetime warranty