Bison Quarters

[Eh2110]

I am helping out on a bison hunt next month. Hoping to get a better idea of how to be prepared for the pack out, gear/pack wise. Any insight on how much their rear quarters weigh? Obviously, they are large in size also, anyone know if they can be strapped to a SG pack meat shelf? We are considering buying and using a game cart for the first time assuming that one would be helpful in the flatter plains area we will be hunting.

 

[Weldor]

We drove to ours and used ramps and a winch to load 3 cow bison in a F250. When we got back to the ranch and cut them up. My guess at a 475-500 cow rear quarter 100 lbs for sure. That is the best meat a man can eat for sure.

 

[Rogue Bay]

I’m not going to be much help here but I’ll offer my opinion. My one and only bison was a large bull. Luckily, we were able to drive to it, otherwise I don’t think the quarters would have been manageable. I think a game cart would be a good investment for your trip. I use mine often for deer and elk. If you get the load balanced, you can haul a surprising amount of weight.

Good luck and please keep us posted on how the trip goes! Bison meat is one of my favorites.

 

[TheCougar]

I’m not going to be much help here but I’ll offer my opinion. My one and only bison was a large bull. Luckily, we were able to drive to it, otherwise I don’t think the quarters would have been manageable. I think a game cart would be a good investment for your trip. I use mine often for deer and elk. If you get the load balanced, you can haul a surprising amount of weight.

Good luck and please keep us posted on how the trip goes! Bison meat is one of my favorites.

I can’t see how a bison quarter is seriously packable. A mature bison weighs 25% more than a bull moose, and a moose rear quarter is in the 120-150 range. That would put a bison rear quarter at 150-200ish. I would be looking at using a truck or ATV and winch, a game cart, or deboning and doing 1/2 quarter loads.

 

[Weldor]

Like I said we drove to ours, luckily. We cut up 4 cows and got them to a reefer trailer. It took all day and we had a loader to hoist them. 3 guys working. It's a chore but worth every moment.

 

[Mojave]

My father has shot two cows. One in the Elk Refuge and one on a ranch.

The only way to do it is to cut it into 50-80 pound parcels to pack out.

He was able to drive to both of them. I don't know how a horseback bison hunt would go. A on foot hunt you couldn't drive to would suck eternally.

Especially for a bull.

 

[Weldor]

My father has shot two cows. One in the Elk Refuge and one on a ranch.

The only way to do it is to cut it into 50-80 pound parcels to pack out.

He was able to drive to both of them. I don't know how a horseback bison hunt would go. A on foot hunt you couldn't drive to would suck eternally.

Especially for a bull.

Lots of work, bring a battery powered sawzall and amazon stainless blades, a Knife and fork book of matches .

 

[wytx]

A jet sled may be the ticket if you get any snow.

 

[Turkeygetpwnd38]

I killed a 3 year old bull and had issues moving a rear quarter by myself, just from the truck bed to shed to hang. It’s going to have to be deboned and cut into manageable loads if y’all are packing out in packs.