One guts the elk where it is shot. It is way to heavy to carry for a horse, so it has to be cut up for several horses.
Maybe he was preparing to hoist the meat up so bears or wolves could not get it.
That said, no one should hunt alone in Montana...
Sorry for the family where Dad was trying to put some food on the table.
Well, maybe he needed to find a different place to hunt. That was asking for it.