To those of you who have shot a cow elk?

[Atroxus]

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.

I have been curious about this...what's the expectations of most owners when hunting on private property like a farm, or back yard? I kinda figured property owners wouldn't want a gut pile on their lawn. What else can you do with it though?

[PolarBear]

Most farmers (at least those that I know) prefer that the gutpiles are left in the field so that they can shoot coyotes off of it.  I know that whenever I or my neighbor slaughters a steer we put the gutpile where we can see it from the house and shoot the crap out of the song dogs.

[BOWHUNTER45]

all I know is Coweeman here we come January something 

[C-Money]

I picked out a big cow and let her have it. She tastes great! Good luck on your hunt!

[WSU]

Shoot the first one that gives you a good shot.  All should be tasty and that takes the guessing out of it.

[pianoman9701]

Processing and aging will make the biggest difference. As a chef, I make sure they're hung in a cooler or above freezing for at least 7-10 days before packaging. That gives the natural enzymes time to break down the tough threads and sinew; really tenderizes. Making sure that none of the intestinal contents or urine and feces come in contact with the meat will also make a huge difference. Bloodless/gutless evisceration is great for this.

[PA BEN]

My bull from last year was hung for 4 days. It was September so it wasn't getting to cool at night. Tender and eats just fine.

[coachcw]

I think the one thing that hasn't been covered here is , what your cow tag means to the herd , if it's merelly to thin the herd then a young cow is fine . I personally would see a cow tag as a chance to kull a old cow thats not breeding any more . If the meat is taken care of she will eat just fine exspecially if shes been in agricutural land eating the good stuff .

[SI Eagle]

Makes no difference

[HairTrigger]

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!

Yup true to this here  but if just right happens shout an drop the lead cow typically the front one an the biggest one sometimes but in most instances when done the others won't know what to do sometimes just stand there or stop an look at her laying there thus your daughter can tag out too on the same heard an you can shoot the second or third or gouty cow getting a lil less seasoned one some awesome steaks indeed good luck!!

[PlateauNDN]

   Bulls eat good but cows taste better!

[Glockster]

Dam right Plat...


Just make sure it doesn't have a calf nearby!   LOL. 

[grundy53]

I would shoot a heifer.

[PlateauNDN]

Dam right Plat...


Just make sure it doesn't have a calf nearby!   LOL.

Definitely.  I was stalking a cow one time and just before I squeezed I noticed a smaller patch of brown all of a sudden and what do you know she's got a calf.  Great to see mom and baby walk off without even knowing they were that close to being loners.

[NRA4LIFE]

My buddy shot a huge lead cow a few years back that was ENORMOUS.  By far the toughest elk meat I have ever eaten.  Even the loins were too tough to eat.  Only tougher meat from a big game animal I ever had was from an old bull moose from here in WA.  So not all of them are tender and tasty.