To those of you who have shot a cow elk?

[PA BEN]

Big cow, small cow, old cow??? Does it matter? Do they all eat good? My daughter and I have cow tags for Dec. this year. It's a meat hunt and we are looking for some good eatting. I have shot some old w/t does and they were good eatting. I don't know about elk. The rut is over and they are just out eatting for the winter.

[PolarBear]

I always went for the biggest cow in the herd and wouldn't give the little one or calves a second look.  Hever had a bad or gamey one.

[STIKNSTRINGBOW]

Almost all of my Elk have either been cows or spikes, they all tasted great ! the bigger the better !!

[elkfvr]

My Dad and I both shot cows a few years ago. Mine was a younger one, his older and a third again as big.  I could definitely notice a difference in the way they ate. Both were good, but the younger one was a bit milder tasting and more tender. Given the choice I would shoot a younger one. 

[PA BEN]

The bull I shot last year, witch was the oldest bull I've shot was very good eatting. I've arrowed 2 calfs and a spike and all were good eatting . Thanks.

[dreamunelk]

Pretty much all will be good eating.   Just take good care of it.  Now being that your hunt is intended to reduce landowner issues.  if you are hunting on a farm I would suggest a prime breeding age cow.  You will be doing the landowner a favor and meeting the objective of the hunt.  Look at the rostrum (snout) of several cows.  You will see that some have a short rostrum ( calves & younger adults) and some have a real big snout (likely older less reproductive cows).  Take two in the middle and you will have some good eats and a happy landowner! 

[boneaddict]

I think what they eat, how they are killed and how they are processed matters more. 

[gotshot]

I agree witn Bone, take good care of them, and I am sure you wouldn't but don't leave the gutpiles in the farmers field.

[fishngamereaper]

Didnt know there was such a thing as bad elk meat.....

Good field care, proper processing = good eats.

[doyourtime89]

I am all about the biggest one in the heard.  I have shot old, small, big and haven't noticed a difference.....I go for the most meat

[wsucowboy]

Didnt know there was such a thing as bad elk meat.....

Good field care, proper processing = good eats.

[Ridgeratt]

Ok. With 2 cow tags does it really matter the size? 

[PA BEN]

I agree witn Bone, take good care of them, and I am sure you wouldn't but don't leave the gutpiles in the farmers field.

gut piles I will leave. I will back all the bones out. Also one of the farmers said he would load them up w/his tractor.

[carpsniperg2]

I think what they eat, how they are killed and how they are processed matters more.

x2  If they are in area eating lots of grass then they can be very tasty, then you get the ones that are eating sage brush and they don't taste as well. Same with deer and lopes and etc. Food source has a lot to do with the flavor of the meat.

[rtspring]

Shoot the biggest one you see, Take care of the meat properly. You will be very happy......