Getting hock smell on the meat

[njdoxie]

When I get an elk down, I’m normally by myself and invariably I grab a hock and then grab some meat in the course of boning out, so I run across cuts that have that hock smell. Its’s dang hard when muscling around an elk, not to do that at some point. How do other folks not run into this issue when by yourself?


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[Wapiti1]

I'll be honest, I don't worry about it on elk. Interested if others do. I skin the elk out then get to the quartering and butchering.

You could make it a point to skin the hocks out and pitch them prior to any other work. Clean up, then get to the quartering.

Jeremy

 

[Conrad101st]

You need three sets of disposable gloves. I skin one side out then switch gloves to pull the quarters and bag them. Flip carcass and use 2nd set to skin that side. Put on third set to pull last two quarters. Keep third set to continue detailing the carcass to get the rest of the meat. I use gutless method. I saw the legs off or cut at the knees before I skin each side. I’m obsessed about keeping the meat clean and off the ground. It’s a MF getting the rear quarters done by yourself but I lift weights and can usually grunt it out.

I plan on it taking three hours by myself. Take a celebratory sip of whiskey, put a dip in, and hang a chem light from a tree or on your trekking pole and get going nice and slow.
I also use a disposable poncho or thin painters plastic tarp to put the meat bags on till I can hang them or haul them.

 

[5MilesBack]

I don't even know what you're talking about. I skin it out and take the meat. Hock smell?? I know rutting bull smell, but I generally don't get near that while skinning.

 

[dirtclod Az.]

Elk smell,nothing to be done but carefully skin and bag your meat.
Javelina are the same way,my Dad used to try removing the scent
gland.In reality all you have to do is skin the animal(s) the glands
all come off with he hide.

 

[Wrench]

Being lucky enough to have killed a lot more elk than I deserve, I'll tell you how I do it.

Throw away the parts you don't want to eat and keep your meat as clean as you can. That's all you really need to know. Dirt and hair suck, but not something that can't be worked with. While I wouldn't try to rub my meat down witha gland, I'm waaay more worried about getting swarmed by bees and flies than this.

 

[njdoxie]

I don't even know what you're talking about. I skin it out and take the meat. Hock smell?? I know rutting bull smell, but I generally don't get near that while skinning.

Ok, let me explain...Yeah, rutting bull smell.....in the course of muscling an elk around and boning it out, I invariably have to grab the highly pungent lower back leg multiple times to maneuver the elk around and then I’m grabbing meat, thus transferring some of that rutting bull smell to the meat.
Ideally I would have someone to help me and I wouldn’t have to touch the lower legs, bit I’m always alone.

When I notice folks on video, they don’t seem to care, they’ll grab the hock then grab meat with no concern....how are they not getting the rutting bull smell on the meat?

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[jmez]

Do them gutless.

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[5MilesBack]

I generally hunt solo, and will wrangle the bull into a position where I can work on him before I even start. Then I'll put on gloves and start skinning and deboning without gutting. And maybe I don't mind rutting bull smell on the meat.......don't know. I don't mind it on my pack, my bugle tube, or in the back of my truck either. It reminds me of all those great times chasing rutting bulls. But I probably do mind it a bit on the meat. That's why I always put my evidence of sex with some meat attached in a ziplock inside one of the meat bags.

 

[spike camp]

I’ve always been cognizant of touching the rear lower legs hide, as they always stink and are usually wet.

 

[Wrench]

I’ve always been cognizant of touching the rear lower legs hide, as they always stink and are usually wet.

5mb- I thought evidence needed to remain attached to a quarter, no?

You can still keep the scrotum in a bag attached by a small portion of skin with the meat. I've been stopped by a game check when I had a boned out mule deer in my pack and I had cut the junk clean off. He was more impressed with my ambition to hunt deep than worried about the inch of skin. I had it in a bag, but it wasn't attached.

 

[Beendare]

How do other folks not run into this issue when by yourself?

Just reglove. I sometimes change gloves 4-5 times.

...

 

[njdoxie]

Do them gutless.

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I still wind up needing to grab the lower hind leg though to move it and the elk around.


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[spike camp]

I still wind up needing to grab the lower hind leg though to move it and the elk around.


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Yep, gutted or gutless doesn’t make a difference.

When solo, I elevate one rear quarter by placing the lower leg across the top of my thigh.
Quickly ring above the knee, slit the hide and skin.
But you still for the most part have to grab the bottom of the leg to maneuver around the 80 pounds.
I’m sure you can minimize contact with the hide on the lower legs, but it’s easier just to grab and lift.

 

[cnelk]

In my pack weight cutting, I don’t carry latex gloves.

In all seriousness, I’ve never used gloves, and never worried about hock smell.

I do both gutless and gut, depending on the situation

 

[doverpack12]

I can honestly say I’ve never noticed a hock gland/smell on elk. Deer yes but elk no. I’ve killed a lot of elk and just try to keep my gloves as clean as I can when handling the meat.

 

[Wapiti1]

Or you could just go cow only and stay away from those stinky bulls. They don't taste as good anyway.

Jeremy

 

[njdoxie]

Or you could just go cow only and stay away from those stinky bulls. They don't taste as good anyway.

Jeremy

Yeah I hear you, cow hunting just does nothing for me, no way am I working out year around on weighted hikes and spending time and money to hunt cows. Even though I’m strictly a meat hunter and don’t keep the antlers, there’s just something about hunting antlers. And yeah I do shoot whitetail does.


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[wytx]

The pee covered belly is more of a concern than the hocks.

 

[spike camp]

The pee covered belly is more of a concern than the hocks.

Why’s that?
You don’t even need to touch the belly of an Elk when quartering.