Cow Or Small Bull

[Olympushunt]

I wonder how you could practice management on elk unless you own a huge chunk of ground that they never leave. The elk you pass could get shot when it\'s migrating or it may not go back to the same area again the next year.

FM, much easier to accomplish with Rosies than Rockies. Rosies stay in a much smaller core area and won\'t leave unless kicked out. I have a good friend who will chase the same bull for years, eventually killing them. They eventually make a mistake and he will capitalize on it. He is very patient though. This is public land coastal bulls. He is a trophy hunter and I crap myself over some of the 5pts I have seen him pass on. He has killed several over 300 inches....impressive for a Rosie. Those 5pts become big and fat. lol

 

[Swede]

Jeff, I am wondering if you can tell the difference in taste or toughness between a fat old cow and a younger bull. I have to admit I can\'t. It has been my observation that a fat healthy animal will taste fine, and not be tough, if it is properly taken of. When animals start losing weight, they seem to lose quality of their meat.

 

[Swede]

It works out for me that Oly shoots only bulls. He helps me pack out more often than I help him. Oly\'s friend is more of a problem if you need rest. He will shoot an elk and bear the same evening, so you are up and packing until the wee hours of the morning. The friend has also shot an animal at almost the same time I shot my bull. Again, that makes a long hard night.

 

[elkmtngear]

Jeff, I am wondering if you can tell the difference in taste or toughness between a fat old cow and a younger bull. I have to admit I can\'t. It has been my observation that a fat healthy animal will taste fine, and not be tough, if it is properly taken of. When animals start losing weight, they seem to lose quality of their meat.

In all honesty Swede...I\'ve never been able to taste a real difference, although one guy I know shot a very old cow once, and I wasn\'t that impressed with the taste. But it could have just been his recipe, field care issues, etc. :think:

In your scenario, my choice has more to do with packing out an extra hundred pounds.

 

[elky McElkerson]

My friend went to NM with his dad. Dad had the tag. dad got it in his mind to take a cow. They had a herd walk by. Out came a 6x6 bull. My friend was whispering, \"shoot dad!\" My friend said he almost passed out when his dad whispered back, \"I will! I\'ll shoot that cow just as soon as that bull gets out of my way\"

True story. They took a cow.

 

[Olympushunt]

My friend went to NM with his dad. Dad had the tag. dad got it in his mind to take a cow. They had a herd walk by. Out came a 6x6 bull. My friend was whispering, \"shoot dad!\" My friend said he almost passed out when his dad whispered back, \"I will! I\'ll shoot that cow just as soon as that bull gets out of my way\"

True story. They took a cow.

That\'s a cool story!

 

[Swede]

Jeff, I can really appreciate your perspective on packing out. I too have tasted game that others killed, that was not good. I just can\'t relate it to size or gender of the animal. Poor care or animal in decline appear to be the factors I have observed. I sure passed on a cow a few years ago that was in poor shape. She was so scrawny I wanted to shoot her, and leave her for the coyotes, but I just let her walk away. Maybe she would have tasted fine, but I just would not take a chance.

 

[JohnFitzgerald]

Welcome Chad! Stick around and don\'t let that Swede guy scare you.


Swede - We don\'t have much choice. The three units I hunt are bull only. :-( If I had a choice, mature bull for me. Like Brad says, only way to ruin a good hunt is to kill an elk!