2025 elk meat pole

[eshunt]

Wow what cool looking bull! Symmetrical too. What did he score? Arizona?

NV bull. I'm no official scorer but have him north of 370".

 

[Steven.Elmore]

A couple of New Mexico early season archery bulls. Outdone by the wife again, ask me if I care, the benefits greatly outnumber the detriments.

 

[ReaptheHeat]

View attachment 950814

Opening morning of 1st CO. 5x5. Not a tank but lots of meat in my freezer, happy with it. Was running with about 15 cows.

First animal with my 300 wsm shooting 178 ELDX. Shot was maybe 110 yards. Hit low lungs and dropped him on the spot. ELDX was found in offside hide and the core separated from the jacket. I'll weigh it later. Lungs were absolutely shredded and opening the cavity to grab the heart there must have been 3L of blood that poured out.

Excited to eat some bacon wrapped tenderloin tonight.

So just got this back from the processor. I only got 95 lbs of meat from the four quarters (half that is burger @ 10% suet so ~5 lbs added) plus the ~25 lbs of meat I processed myself. Making total yield of pure elk meat ~115 lbs (95 lbs + 25 lbs - 5 lbs suet = 115 lbs) Am I crazy? It seemed light on pick up but I dont have before weights and finally just weighed it. I'm about to call and dont want to sound accusatory. One bullet through the lungs, nothing bloodshot on the meat, just hair when dropped off.

 

[IDbrushswimmer]

So just got this back from the processor. I only got 95 lbs of meat from the four quarters (half that is burger @ 10% suet so ~5 lbs added) plus the ~25 lbs of meat I processed myself. Making total yield of pure elk meat ~115 lbs (120 lbs - 5 lbs suet = 115 lbs) Am I crazy? It seemed light on pick up but I dont have before weights and finally just weighed it. I'm about to call and dont want to sound accusatory. One bullet through the lungs, nothing bloodshot on the meat, just hair when dropped off.

Sure seems light to me. The last five point I shot that I processed myself. I got over 125 pounds of just burger not including steaks etc..

 

[ReaptheHeat]

Sure seems light to me. The last five point I shot that I processed myself. I got over 125 pounds of just burger not including steaks etc..

That's what I thought, I processed a larger 6 pt bull last year that yielded ~180# and even my MD was close to 85 lbs. Needed a temp check here since I was expecting 150# at a minimum. Processor says I grabbed all the meat and nothing funky was going on. Strange, that's about cow or spike yield.

 

[KsRancher]

That's what I thought, I processed a larger 6 pt bull last year that yielded ~180# and even my MD was close to 85 lbs. Needed a temp check here since I was expecting 150# at a minimum. Processor says I grabbed all the meat and nothing funky was going on. Strange, that's about cow or spike yield.

It sounded light to me. Now I only have experience with 5 elk. In your picture that bull looks to have a smaller body than I would have thought. Is it just how the picture was taken? Or did it seem smaller to you?

 

[ReaptheHeat]

It sounded light to me. Now I only have experience with 5 elk. In your picture that bull looks to have a smaller body than I would have thought. Is it just how the picture was taken? Or did it seem smaller to you?

Probably on the small side of average for a 2.5-3.5 yo raghorn. I'm 6'1'' and 210 lbs for reference. Picture makes him seem a little smaller but thats the best I got.

Now I remember why I process all my own meat.

 

[HighUintas]

So just got this back from the processor. I only got 95 lbs of meat from the four quarters (half that is burger @ 10% suet so ~5 lbs added) plus the ~25 lbs of meat I processed myself. Making total yield of pure elk meat ~115 lbs (95 lbs + 25 lbs - 5 lbs suet = 115 lbs) Am I crazy? It seemed light on pick up but I dont have before weights and finally just weighed it. I'm about to call and dont want to sound accusatory. One bullet through the lungs, nothing bloodshot on the meat, just hair when dropped off.

I think that bull looks pretty small bodied in your picture so I don't think 115 is outlandish but it still might be a little light. I shot a smallish spike last year in an area where there's not tons of nutrition so I think they tend to be a little smaller and I processed it. I think I netted about 115-120lbs

 

[svivian]

So just got this back from the processor. I only got 95 lbs of meat from the four quarters (half that is burger @ 10% suet so ~5 lbs added) plus the ~25 lbs of meat I processed myself. Making total yield of pure elk meat ~115 lbs (95 lbs + 25 lbs - 5 lbs suet = 115 lbs) Am I crazy? It seemed light on pick up but I dont have before weights and finally just weighed it. I'm about to call and dont want to sound accusatory. One bullet through the lungs, nothing bloodshot on the meat, just hair when dropped off.

is the 25lbs you processed yourself back straps or random scraps? I process all my elk myself as well as many for others.

Based on the picture I would imagine 125# of ground with medium trimming.

 

[ReaptheHeat]

is the 25lbs you processed yourself back straps or random scraps? I process all my elk myself as well as many for others.

Based on the picture I would imagine 125# of ground with medium trimming.

BS, and tenders

 

[svivian]

BS, and tenders

Yeah 95# is light then even if the butcher trimmed excessively. But thats just my .02