Big Game Hunting > Elk Hunting

Found after 2 days, meat worth anything?

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Pete112288:
So I am beside myself. I thought I had a clean miss on a bull 2 days ago. Driving rains made blood non existent. I looked for the rest of the day found no elk, no blood. Looked on the bottom of every fern and leaf I came across. Well, felt like every one. Grid searched the area. He had not acted hit and took off with the herd. Saw the herd later that day in the timber and thought I saw the bull I shot at. Turns out not. I was looking for a good spot to answer nature's call and found him this morning. I had walked within 20 yards of him multiple times. He was in a slight depression, overgrown with ferns. Is there any chance that any of the meat is still salvagable? Its been in the 40s until today. But I know that does not make up for the hide still being on and guts in. Turns out it was a very high hit, nicking the lungs. Not how I had envisioned my 15 bull elk points being used. But I punched the tag, done hunting. And its a long pack, so if its a loss, id rather not pack all the meat out. Is there a way to tell if it is still good if I cut into the meat?

jrebel:
If the meat is bad, you will smell it and it will have a greenish tinge to it.  start skinning it and look at the meat....you may be pleasantly surprised. 

rainshadow1:
Have to investigate with knife and nose, quite a bit might be ok. Contact with guts or wound might need careful inspection. 40's is borderline, so you might have plenty to process.

HntnFsh:
Im betting most of it will be good. Especially at those temps!

Tbar:
It's very likely spoiled.  With the hide on outside temps matter less and less.  They have an internal body temperature of 104 with very robust insulation.  Look at the meat,  as said it'll have an off color and off smell.  Bone sour happens even when skinned right away especially in the neck areas and hind quarters.  Another indicator is the soft tissue it will often begin to decay. I've salvaged a lot of animals and have never saved an elk after two days.  Best of luck and I would teach out to the local enforcement and give them a full rundown.   :twocents:

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