Crossword Genius

Hunter in group carries heavy load (4,6)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

pack animal

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'hunter in group carries heavy' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are singular nouns, I don't understand how they can define each other.

'load' is the wordplay.
I cannot quite understand how this works, but
'load' could be 'pack' (packing is a kind of loading) and 'pack' is located in the answer.
The remaining letters 'animal' is a valid word which might be clued in a way I don't see.
This may be the basis of the clue (or it may be nonsense).

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for pack animal that I've seen before include "it humps loads" , "llama, perhaps" , "Mule, for example" .)

I've seen this clue in The Irish Times.
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