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.

 

[SchwarzStock]

I have killed three Bulls and in each case was able to drive to them. Each was opened partially on the ground then pulled up a ramp pastway to use gravity's assist to finishing the gutting before getting the carcass onto the truck. Back at the shed the animals were hoisted up for skinning. A big decision then needs to be made whether to cape the hide out for a rug or not. If not, the hide can be removed in sections making the process much faster. All of the animal I shot were estimated at around 2400-2500lbs live weight. The removed hide is gong to be in the neighborhood of 300lbs. When I went to the butcher I had 4 pieces with a total weight of just over 800lbs. A week later I picked up just over 500lbs of cut and wrapped boneless Steaks, roasts, and burger. You should plan to tell the butcher a head of time you are coming in and what percentage of fat (beef fat is commonly used) you want to burger to be, too little (10%) won't stick together well for burgers or meat balls. I recommend 15%.

When it comes to the hide finding a tannery can be difficult. I found many taxidermists will take your hide but then they forward it to someone else for processing. Prices are based on "largest" dimensions and are for me exorbitantly high. the first bull I had caped for a rug but couldn't find one to take it with short notice. The other two I let the ranch hands just cut it into sections to feed to the coyotes. The estimates I got for the rug was $2,500-$3,000. If you want a hide last time I checked you could get one from ebay for about $500. Sure it is a cow hide and unless you really want the one you shot I think a great alternative. The reason it is cheaper is that the tanneries do those in batches. A ranch sends a bunch of cows to be slaughtered for meat for restaurants and then that group of hides are processed all at once. If you send in "yours" it is a single project.

The head was another matter and I was able to do that myself although it is a bunch of work. I also had the benefit of a large ant pile in the desert behind my house to help with the cleaning.

BTW: If you don't shoot a Buffalo with a Buffalo Gun you are cheating ;<)

 

[MDR]

Save your back and legs, use a game cart or jet sled with pull harness. Even better, use a skidoo and shoot them where you can pull the skimmer directly alongside.