Choosing game bags for elk, before you need them | Lone Trail
Buyer's guide
Choosing game bags for elk, before you need them
A game bag's job is cooling meat, not carrying it. That one fact should decide which set you buy.
Start here
The pack-out is the part of an elk hunt nobody plans for properly, because it only happens when everything else has gone right.
By then the decision is already made. You are four miles in, light is going, and the bags in your pack are whatever you bought in August.
The things worth checking
Use these on any brand's product, not just ours.
Breathability first
Meat spoils from trapped heat. Breathable fabric lets air move through the bag, which is what cools a quarter before it sours. A bag that keeps moisture in is working against you.
Fabric spec, if they publish one
Almost nobody does. Most premium sets say breathable synthetic and leave it there. Ours is 40D ripstop nylon, and we would rather tell you the number than the adjective.
Quarter bag size
Elk is the ceiling. If a set handles an elk hindquarter it handles anything. Ours are 40" deep by 24" wide, with one 17" by 29" bag for tenderloins and trim.
The smell test
A lot of bags come out of the package smelling like a chemical plant, and that ends up on your meat. It is a real and common complaint in this category.
Reusability
A set you wash and run again for five seasons is a different purchase than one you throw away. Machine washable is the spec to look for.
Warranty
Most of this category publishes no warranty at all. A few offer one to three years. Ours is lifetime against manufacturing defects.
What we sell
The Game Bags 5 Piece Set is $70: four quarter bags at 40 by 24 inches, one 17 by 29 inch bag for tenderloins and trim, and a carrying pouch. Whole animal, one pack.
40D ripstop nylon, machine washable, with a reflective strip so a headlamp finds the bag when you are packing out before light.
They come pre-rolled in the pouch and pack down small enough that you will not notice carrying them in.
$70 sits between the disposable Amazon generics and the $90 to $170 premium synthetic sets. Lifetime warranty against manufacturing defects, and free returns for 30 days.
Specifications
| Fabric | 40D ripstop nylon |
| Quarter bags | 4 bags, 40" x 24" |
| Trim bag | 1 bag, 17" x 29", for tenderloins and trim |
| Included | Carrying pouch, bags come pre-rolled |
| Sized for | Elk, moose, deer and big game pack-outs |
| Reusable | Machine washable, run the same set for multiple seasons |
| Visibility | Reflective strip catches a headlamp beam |
| Warranty | Lifetime against manufacturing defects |
Questions
Will these fit an elk hindquarter?
Yes. The quarter bags are 40" deep by 24" wide.
Are they too big for deer?
No. Elk sizing is the ceiling: 40" by 24" for quarters and 17" by 29" for smaller cuts. They work for anything you are dragging out.
Can I wash and reuse them?
Yes. Throw them in the washing machine and they come out fine. Running the same set for multiple seasons is the point.
Do they smell out of the package?
No. That is a real problem with a lot of bags and we knew it going in.
How many animals does one set cover?
One set is sized for a whole animal: four quarters plus a bag for tenderloins and trim.
Lifetime warranty, and 30 days of free returns
If a seam, buckle, magnet or zipper fails because of how it was made, send us a photo and we replace it.