To me, it sounds like grounds for the Darwin Award. What the heck was he doing gutting an elk in grizzly country?
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.
After this question you should change your user name.LOL
That kind of mentality would in essence outlaw hunting in North Idaho and Montana, some of the best elk hunting around!
Ed