Advice for a Hunting Newbie

[JohnTRourke]

I dunno the rest, but I do know the processing

elk, figure $200 to $225 by the time it's all done.

[Pancho Villa]

I dunno the rest, but I do know the processing

elk, figure $200 to $225 by the time it's all done.

What's the range of edible meat you'd get for that much money?

[DFBrews]

What's the range of edible meat you'd get for that much money?

300lbs easily in my experience

i believe the ratio on beef is 50% of live weight for an estimated packaged weight.

[Pancho Villa]

OK last question: are there any "good" elk units that I should be on the lookout for, or do I just get stuck with whatever tag is next on the list when I call up?

[DFBrews]

OK last question: are there any "good" elk units that I should be on the lookout for, or do I just get stuck with whatever tag is next on the list when I call up?

For meat look for high population density units not so much trophy I do not know about up here because I hunt in south central CO like unit 68 and 73
I have heard good things about north central/northwest co

[spencerhenry]

processed elk yielding 300 pounds? ........ not likely unless you shoot the biggest cow elk out there. the most i ever got out of an elk, boned out and packaged was 289 pounds, and that elk was huge. my old rule of thumb for deer and antelope was 1/3 of dressed weight was packaged meat. an average cow is probably going to yield about 150 pounds of packaged meat. no sausage with pork or beef added. a buddy got a "big bull" last year and got right around 200 pounds.

yes, i say early season. late in the season if there is sufficient snow, there range is limited and therefore they are more concentrated. however much of their winter range is private, and elk dont mind 2 feet of snow, do you? late season (which actually starts in august) is great if you have access to private land (most late season tags are private land only).

[DFBrews]

processed elk yielding 300 pounds? ........ not likely unless you shoot the biggest cow elk out there. the most i ever got out of an elk, boned out and packaged was 289 pounds, and that elk was huge. my old rule of thumb for deer and antelope was 1/3 of dressed weight was packaged meat. an average cow is probably going to yield about 150 pounds of packaged meat. no sausage with pork or beef added. a buddy got a "big bull" last year and got right around 200 pounds.

yes, i say early season. late in the season if there is sufficient snow, there range is limited and therefore they are more concentrated. however much of their winter range is private, and elk dont mind 2 feet of snow, do you? late season (which actually starts in august) is great if you have access to private land (most late season tags are private land only).

i consider the december cow tags as late season.

the least amount of packaged meat i had was from a yearling cow and I got right around 230lbs i do alot of bone in cuts and hamburger though. Guess this is one of those YMMV type things.

[TennVol]

The last cow elk I shot I managed to get it out of the field in one piece. I used a processor who didn't have a license to dispose of animal waste. Therefore, I got back EVERYTHING I gave them to process. Here are the totals for a decent sized cow elk:

Boneless meat: 172 lbs
Head: 25 lbs
Hide: 40 lbs
Bones: 82 lbs

[TDYRanger]

The last cow elk I shot I managed to get it out of the field in one piece. I used a processor who didn't have a license to dispose of animal waste. Therefore, I got back EVERYTHING I gave them to process. Here are the totals for a decent sized cow elk:

Boneless meat: 172 lbs
Head: 25 lbs
Hide: 40 lbs
Bones: 82 lbs

who does that? gives you back the bits

[TennVol]

who does that? gives you back the bits

A retired couple who lives out in Falcon that don't have a trash company that picks up animal waste... But they do an excellent job on the processing and it is very reasonable.

I never realized how much all the bones, hide, & head weighed before I took the time to weigh it before I disposed of it. It was a real eye opener... I'll never quarter another animal and pack it out. Boning out an elk is the only way unless you can drive your truck right up to the animal!