Aging an elk?

[jager]

Anyone ever aged their elk...that is, have you determined the age of the elk? I recently came across this while I was looking for a way to age my bull from this year http://fwp.mt.gov/wildthings/brochure_elk.html

I was considering sending an incisor to get analyzed. They cut a cross section and count the rings...similar to a tree...costs about $50.

[fishingnut71]

no need to age. just cut and wrap thats less tough skin too cut off. either way no diferent in taste. I know ive done it!

[dreamunelk]

Google aging deer.  You will find some great examples with pictures.  basically the same as an elk.  However, after about 2 1/2 years old it gets a little subjective.   Depends a lot on where they live and what they are eating.  Say an elk that spends more time in a an area prone to dust (say from a logging road) then they will have more wear on their teeth from the dust.  so as stated above just eat it.  Sometimes they are so tough you have to run the whole thing through a cuber.

[Missing]

This has been discussed on here several times, but if it makes no difference to age meat why do all of the best steak houses age their beef for 28 to 31 days? It does make a huge difference, we age our elk about 14 to 16 days, I understand that it takes extra time and work and if you don't have your own cooler money but it is worth it.

[WSU]

I love that 2 out of 3 people didn't even read the post!

[gaddy]

 

[Curly]

 

[HUNTINCOUPLE]

I have sent in teeth to be aged for the 50$ fee. Its fun to know the age. Keeps the age real not a geuss.

[pianoman9701]

I love that 2 out of 3 people didn't even read the post!

Amazing

[coachcw]

well if the fork dosn't stand up in the gravy you aged it enough . 7-14 days

[Miles]

no need to age. just cut and wrap thats less tough skin too cut off. either way no diferent in taste. I know ive done it!

Google aging deer.  You will find some great examples with pictures.  basically the same as an elk.  However, after about 2 1/2 years old it gets a little subjective.   Depends a lot on where they live and what they are eating.  Say an elk that spends more time in a an area prone to dust (say from a logging road) then they will have more wear on their teeth from the dust.  so as stated above just eat it.  Sometimes they are so tough you have to run the whole thing through a cuber.

This has been discussed on here several times, but if it makes no difference to age meat why do all of the best steak houses age their beef for 28 to 31 days? It does make a huge difference, we age our elk about 14 to 16 days, I understand that it takes extra time and work and if you don't have your own cooler money but it is worth it.

Looks like 3 didn't read the original post.   Talk about making yourself look foolish....




Make that four...

well if the fork dosn't stand up in the gravy you aged it enough . 7-14 days

[Miles]

well if the fork dosn't stand up in the gravy you aged it enough . 7-14 days

7-14 days old and that thing should have still had spots.

 

[pianoman9701]

well if the fork dosn't stand up in the gravy you aged it enough . 7-14 days

7-14 days old and that thing should have still had spots.

 

Probably still wet from the womb.

[BULLBLASTER]

I age depending on the age of the meat... older meat needs to age longer. Usually it ages too long while the tooth is being aged for age though. Sometimes aging is pretty tough when the age is not known with certainty. 

[Miles]

I age depending on the age of the meat... older meat needs to age longer. Usually it ages too long while the tooth is being aged for age though. Sometimes aging is pretty tough when the age is not known with certainty. 

 

Excellent  observations!