Hunting Washington Forum

Big Game Hunting => Elk Hunting => Topic started by: TwoSixFourWins on July 26, 2014, 12:42:42 PM

Title: Pounds of meat question
Post by: TwoSixFourWins on July 26, 2014, 12:42:42 PM: Didn't want to jack the other guy's thread on packing out but how many pounds of meat boned out can one expect from an average elk ?
Title: Re: Pounds of meat question
Post by: wapiti hunter2 on July 26, 2014, 01:02:07 PM: I usually get around 150 cut and wrapped in the freezer. That is from the three cows I have butchered. Thew were all in the 400 lb range on the hoof. I leave the necks if I have to pack and don't do burger because I do my own butchering and use all of the "burger" meat as stew meat.
Title: Re: Pounds of meat question
Post by: northwesthunter84 on July 26, 2014, 01:11:13 PM: I got about 300#'s off my bull last year. This year I am definitely hoping for more.
Title: Re: Pounds of meat question
Post by: LongRange300RUM on July 26, 2014, 03:50:19 PM: I shot a cow in 2012 and my brother in law shot one last year. Both younger cows. They were both around the 180 lb mark. That was with the leg bones in the quarters.
Title: Re: Pounds of meat question
Post by: CAMPMEAT on July 26, 2014, 04:11:25 PM: I got 278 lbs from my 6x5.
Title: Re: Pounds of meat question
Post by: metlhead on July 26, 2014, 05:13:08 PM: 40% of hoof weight is really close for elk with a good cut job, not including organs. Bucks will also get 40% and does will usually average 35%.
Title: Re: Pounds of meat question
Post by: ElaphusElatus on July 27, 2014, 06:09:54 AM: 298 all meat, no bones from my 6x6 last year, self-butchered. Less if you go to a shop. Here's a nice link titled "Cutting Up a Big Game Carcass"

http://www.ext.colostate.edu/pubs/natres/06504.html (http://www.ext.colostate.edu/pubs/natres/06504.html)
Title: Re: Pounds of meat question
Post by: Bean Counter on July 27, 2014, 06:15:48 AM: Don't just take the quarters, backstraps, and tenderloins if you want as much meat as possible. There's a good 40-50 pounds of meat hanging out on the ribcage, often going to waste.
Title: Re: Pounds of meat question
Post by: lamrith on July 27, 2014, 06:46:16 AM: Quote from: Bean Counter on July 27, 2014, 06:15:48 AM
Don't just take the quarters, backstraps, and tenderloins if you want as much meat as possible. There's a good 40-50 pounds of meat hanging out on the ribcage, often going to waste.

Begs the question, are the ribs themselves good? Beef and pork ribs are good, but I have not heard much about Elk? Be quite a bit of work to do in the field which may be why not talked about much, but it there much meat on them?
Title: Re: Pounds of meat question
Post by: raydog on July 27, 2014, 06:59:10 AM: Quote from: lamrith on July 27, 2014, 06:46:16 AM
Quote from: Bean Counter on July 27, 2014, 06:15:48 AM
Don't just take the quarters, backstraps, and tenderloins if you want as much meat as possible. There's a good 40-50 pounds of meat hanging out on the ribcage, often going to waste.

Begs the question, are the ribs themselves good? Beef and pork ribs are good, but I have not heard much about Elk? Be quite a bit of work to do in the field which may be why not talked about much, but it there much meat on them?
[/quote
I don't know about cooking them the same as beef or pork ribs, but theres lots a burger meat in there!
Title: Re: Pounds of meat question
Post by: aorams on July 27, 2014, 07:42:14 AM: 224 but i kept the long bones.
Title: Re: Pounds of meat question
Post by: northwesthunter84 on July 27, 2014, 08:33:58 AM: I have buddies that smoke the ribs and they said they are awesome. I am planning on taking the ribs this year if the opportunity presents itself. But I always take the rib meat. Completely agree Bean Counter there is a lot of meat in there. It makes some tasty burger if nothing else. I have done deer ribs previously and those were fantastic.
Title: Re: Pounds of meat question
Post by: Damnimissed on July 27, 2014, 09:30:32 AM: 290lb from my 5x5 last year. We cleaned it up pretty good, but didnt wanna be there all day.
Title: Re: Pounds of meat question
Post by: lamrith on July 27, 2014, 09:35:33 AM: Gotta love the scrape on that tree.. You drop him while he was busy?
Title: Re: Pounds of meat question
Post by: Damnimissed on July 27, 2014, 09:48:44 AM: No, that happened when they logged it.
Title: Re: Pounds of meat question
Post by: wapiti hunter2 on July 27, 2014, 09:49:52 AM: Quote from: lamrith on July 27, 2014, 06:46:16 AM

Begs the question, are the ribs themselves good? Beef and pork ribs are good, but I have not heard much about Elk? Be quite a bit of work to do in the field which may be why not talked about much, but it there much meat on them?

Yes they are great. If you can take them. Otherwise cut the meat off and grind it to burger or stew it. Great flavor though.
Title: Re: Pounds of meat question
Post by: lamrith on July 27, 2014, 10:07:26 AM: For those not up on the gutless method, here is another link with a couple videos done by Nate Simmons.
http://soleadventure.com/2013/07/how-to-debone-an-elk-using-the-gutless-method/ (http://soleadventure.com/2013/07/how-to-debone-an-elk-using-the-gutless-method/)

Nate Simmons is host on TV show The Western Hunter on the Sportmans Channel. Deep pack in archery elk hunts with just him and a camera man.
Title: Re: Pounds of meat question
Post by: Johnb317 on July 27, 2014, 12:12:09 PM: Gutless method works!
340 out of a Rosie one year. Only a 4x4, but a big boy!
Title: Re: Pounds of meat question
Post by: RadSav on July 27, 2014, 12:23:36 PM: Quote from: Johnb317 on July 27, 2014, 12:12:09 PM
Gutless method works!
340 out of a Rosie one year. Only a 4x4, but a big boy!

340# of meat! What a hog!!!
Title: Re: Pounds of meat question
Post by: stickflngr on July 27, 2014, 12:27:26 PM: here ya go
Title: Re: Pounds of meat question
Post by: kentrek on July 27, 2014, 12:33:55 PM: Elk very so much from area to area...id say average elk would be around 200 #'s finished in the freezer...but obviously theres the big boys were you can get 45 #'s of meat off the neck alone ! Anything in the 300 # range id consider to be a big elk

Last years bull was 285 boned out with prolly 10-15#'s wasted so it woulda been rite at 300
Title: Re: Pounds of meat question
Post by: RadSav on July 27, 2014, 12:37:06 PM: Quote from: stickflngr on July 27, 2014, 12:27:26 PM
here ya go

That has to be wrong! I read on the intra net every year of guys who field guess their elk at 700 to 1,000 pounds. And they can't say it if it isn't true... Bonjour :chuckle:
Title: Re: Pounds of meat question
Post by: kentrek on July 27, 2014, 01:25:13 PM: Quote from: RadSav on July 27, 2014, 12:37:06 PM
Quote from: stickflngr on July 27, 2014, 12:27:26 PM
here ya go

That has to be wrong! I read on the intra net every year of guys who field guess their elk at 700 to 1,000 pounds. And they can't say it if it isn't true... Bonjour :chuckle:

Why are 9.5 year old bulls and cows so hard to kill ?? Do they get dumber at ten ?? Kinda odd numbers
Title: Re: Pounds of meat question
Post by: Button Nubbs on July 27, 2014, 01:30:08 PM: 6x4 raghorn 237lbs
6x6 375lbs
3x4 raghorn 225lbs
5x5 305lbs

All with demure no other bones
Title: Re: Pounds of meat question
Post by: Johnb317 on July 27, 2014, 01:35:51 PM: Spreadsheet on weights is for Rocky mtn elk
From us fish & wildlife.
"In order to sustain their large size (4-5 feet tall at the shoulder and weighing between 400 – 1100 pounds), Roosevelt elk.........."
Title: Re: Pounds of meat question
Post by: RadSav on July 27, 2014, 01:47:32 PM: Quote from: Button Nubbs on July 27, 2014, 01:30:08 PM
6x4 raghorn 237lbs
6x6 375lbs
3x4 raghorn 225lbs
5x5 305lbs

All with demure no other bones

Not sure I have ever seen a demure bone. Maybe because they are too modest and shy :chuckle:
Title: Re: Pounds of meat question
Post by: northwesthunter84 on July 27, 2014, 03:44:17 PM: Roosevelt Elk--Adults grow to around 6–10 ft (1.8–3 m) in length and stand 2.5–5 ft (0.75–1.5 m) tall at the shoulder.[4] Elk bulls generally weigh between 700 and 1100 lb (300–500 kg), while cows weigh 575–625 lb (260–285 kg).[2] Some mature bulls from Raspberry Island in Alaska have weighed nearly 1300 lb (600 kg).[2]

Straight off Wikipedia and I put my bull body size right around 700#'s on the hoof. He looked like a barn door standing broadside.
Title: Re: Pounds of meat question
Post by: RadSav on July 27, 2014, 03:50:46 PM: I've been hunting rosies for nearly 40 years. Seen some I would definitely call "Monster Bulls". Not sure I have ever seen one I would be willing to say was 1,000# or more. I'd like to stick an arrow into one though!!
Title: Re: Pounds of meat question
Post by: Johnb317 on July 27, 2014, 04:08:08 PM: 1300!! :yike:
Let's see I have my handy pocket scale here.

Definitely would fill the freezer!
Title: Re: Pounds of meat question
Post by: Button Nubbs on July 27, 2014, 05:44:15 PM: Quote from: RadSav on July 27, 2014, 01:47:32 PM
Quote from: Button Nubbs on July 27, 2014, 01:30:08 PM
6x4 raghorn 237lbs
6x6 375lbs
3x4 raghorn 225lbs
5x5 305lbs

All with demure no other bones

Not sure I have ever seen a demure bone. Maybe because they are too modest and shy :chuckle:

Femur. Damn auto correct. :chuckle:
Title: Re: Pounds of meat question
Post by: RadSav on July 27, 2014, 05:47:00 PM: The internet is so much more entertaining with autocorrect!
Title: Re: Pounds of meat question
Post by: Elkstuffer on July 27, 2014, 07:33:59 PM: The 6x7 that I killed in 2011 got me 397 lbs of boned out meat. I was disappointed that I didn't scrape together another 3 lbs to hit the 400 lb mark. He was the biggest bull, cape wise, that I've taken in in 13 yrs.