I've never shot an elk and I have avoided hunting them in the past simply because I fear shooting one way out in the woods and not knowing what I'm doing. Also, I am concerned with using all the meat appropriately since I am the only person in my family that eats meat (yeah, you can bet I'm popular with the liberal in-laws). Do you guys generally hunt with partners nearby? Do you gut and quarter your elk, or do you bone it out? Do you ever have a problem finding friends that can take extra meat if you can't use it all? I don't want to shoot an animal and then waste any of it. Lastly, can any one briefly explain the steps in gutting and preparing an elk for the butcher? I have gutted and skinned deer before. How different and what is different about elk? Thanks, Brass