Elk Meat Weight

[50CalJim]

327 lbs of pure boneless meat is what my Nooksack Bull weighed this yr according to the Bathroom scales. 

[Hornseeker]

327 is big.... I've heard really big numbers reported in the past. I had a bud kill a 360 bull just out of Issaquah many years ago. He reportedly put 500# in the freezer. I suspect that could have been 350+ pounds of elk mixed with a bunch of pork and beef for burger and sausage???

[Instinct]

Not to thread jack but what would be the avg weight of the quarters wth the bone n hide intact?

[GoldTip]

327 is big.... I've heard really big numbers reported in the past. I had a bud kill a 360 bull just out of Issaquah many years ago. He reportedly put 500# in the freezer. I suspect that could have been 350+ pounds of elk mixed with a bunch of pork and beef for burger and sausage???

I would agree with your assesment.  My bet is there had to be a 30% fat/meat mix ratio in his burger to get anywhere near that.  I'm not entirely sure we got 500lbs of pure meat off my Canadian bull Moose in 2008, and he weighed 785lbs hanging whole without head and hide and guts.

[spottedhand]

I killed a 6x5 9year old muzzie rosie in the willapa which the butcher estimated 1100lbs on the hoof.  All said and done I got 600lbs meat (Cut the steaks with the bone in them) the rest burger 'no added fat'.  We weighed the neck from front of shoulder to ~8" from the head.  It weighed 85lbs.  The meat was a deep dark purple.  It was some tough but delicious eating.  Damn burger was almost tough. 

[Axle]

I killed a 6x5 9year old muzzie rosie in the willapa which the butcher estimated 1100lbs on the hoof.  All said and done I got 600lbs meat

Not possible.
600 lbs of meat would equal an 1800 lb on-the-hoof (or better) elk.

[LittleJohn]

My Mont. Bull this year was 339 lbs of boned meat. The butcher never saw the rack till I picked it up. He said it must have a big rack with a body like that Me said he has only had a couple bulls that weighed that much in his shop. I have never had a scale in WA to weigh my animals.

[high country]

i use the 2/5 rule and it is typically pretty close. total boned meat is = to 2/5 live weight.  I agree that I have never seen or heard of a 1500lb elk

[Axle]

I agree that I have never seen or heard of a 1500lb elk

I've heard of one but it was second hand news. A guy by the name of Tom - who owned Fish-n-Tom's Tackle in Renton - told me years ago that a bull was darted on Long Island by the gamies. He claims it was measured and weighed. He said that they said if it was shot, it would be the new state record and that when they tried to weigh it with their scale that went up to 1500 lbs, it weighed more than the scale could weigh.

It is hear-say. I can't verify it and don't know of anyone who can, but this I know - the next year, the game department made long Island spike or antlerless only. That rule alone would convince me he was talking truth because the game department would not want the big one shot.
I have seen some huge elk on Long Island. The biggest I've ever laid eyes on.
I've read stories of rather large elk in Canada. I guess it all depends on food and severity of winter.

[Coastal_native]

Interesting...

I have a text book that shows the approximate mean live weight vs. the approximate food yield for all elk species...It is in reference to historical native american subsistance...

Roosevelt:  842 lbs live weight - 571 lbs food yield
Rocky Mt:  600 lbs live weight - 407 lbs food yield

Those guys must have ate everything!

[hookr23]

This bull was taken from farmland by a 67 y/o friend of mine (guy in the pic). It was placed whole in the back of my truck and we skinned it and delivered it whole to the butcher who weighed it at 372 lbs. You guys that are weighing bulls in at 500lbs might want to check your scales.

[norsepeak]

brought home 441 lbs. cut and wrapped from this guy...

[Annette]

My Bull weighed in at 440 hanging at the locker...with out the back straps or tenderloins this year.

[Coastal_native]

One thing that hasn't been mentioned is the difference in weight of a bull killed the first week of september compared to a bull killed the last week of october.  There is a significant reduction in weight post rut.  When comparing the hanging weight between two different mature bulls you have to consider the time of year it was harvested.

[Hornseeker]

There is a huge variation in elk weight...there is the "norm" of course... and the "average" but there are small ones and big ones too... Some Rosies and a even a few rockys will tip the scales at 1000# plus pounds. There is no doubt. But they are rare!

I have scraped the bones on a couple of my bulls and like I said, 240# or so is max meat production for me. The bull this year is the trophy of a lifetime, and wont weigh what some of my 3 yr old 5 points weighed!   

So....I'm not going to say anyones full of "bull".... the numbers of 400+ in the freezer are crazy, but doable....  That 600# number is completely insane!!!!! I'd have to see that one to believe it.

Afognak Island as the biggest elk. I think the biggest bull ever weighed there, whole, was about 1300#....