I need to know how to skin an elk & cut meat

[idahowoodsman]

I guess my handle should really be (idahoWANNABEwoodsman) because in reality I'm a City Slicker.

My question for your guys is this: Could you recommend a book or website that will tell me exactly how to skin an elk/deer, cut meat, store the meat, etc...

I've never been hunting before but plan on it soon, and I'd like to be able to eat my own meat instead of buying it at the grocery store.

Suggestions?

Many thanks ahead of time. :)

[scoutinlife]

Field Dressing and Butchering Big Game by Monty Burch. Here's a book I recommend for ya it will help ya! ;)

[Frank]

no offense here,
but if you are to dumb to know how to skin, gut, quarter an elk, you should not be out in the bush anyway.
better take up needle point and stay on your sofa.
needles to say that you may be a danger to real hunters and woodsman.
overall, the posts on this forum get dummer every day.
disgusting!

[Dont-tread-on-me]

Frank,

Why must you be so rude ??

The guy asked an honest question!!

::)

[hanabal89]

hmmmm, im wondering if some expect all hunters to have been born with the knowledge of how to butcher an animal. simply seems like a question of a fledgling hunter that doesnt want to botch the job. good luck on your hunt, and if you get anything, enjoy the meat.

[idahowoodsman]

Field Dressing and Butchering Big Game by Monty Burch. Here's a book I recommend for ya it will help ya! ;)


Got it on my list to buy, thanks much! ;D

[tufhelp]

no offense here Frank,
but if you are to dumb to know that even YOU at some point in time, had to LEARN how to skin, gut, quarter an elk, then you should not be out in the bush even though you now apparently do know how to perform those learned skills, you should continue with your needle point and stay on your sofa. needles to say the verbose touting your own hunting skills and the denigrating of other’s field skills may be a danger to real hunters and woodsman. overall, the posts on this forum get dumber every day. disgusting!

[Slugger]

idahowoodsman.....Good luck with developing your hunting skills. Be patient,be careful,and enjoy the meat you put into your freezer! ;D ;D

[scoutinlife]

idahowoodsman welcome to the hunting world time and trial and error will be a good teacher! Best of luck on your upcoming hunts and hope you get a bounty of game my friend. Glad to be of help! ;D ;)

[MontanaVet]

OK, I'm in. First, Frank, you are one rude unhappy person. I am sure everyone you live with and work with are just happy to see you each day.

Go to the sporting goods store. Many have a video section. Look for a video called "Deer-From the field to the freezer". It will show you everything you need to know. Elk are home processed the same way.

I must say watching and doing are two different experiences. MV out!

[WolfBrother]

These urls may give you a start.

http://www.ext.vt.edu/pubs/foods/458-877/458-877.html
http://www.biggamehunt.net/sections/Elk/A_Field_Dressing_Guide_for_Elk_and_Deer_09230301.h tml

[Smoky]

Idaho: Some folks here are just better to ignore ;D.
With elk you do have one big difference, you won't be able to carry him out of the woods on your shoulders like you would a lot of deer. So you will be gutting where it falls sometimes. Have you knife and saw handy when you pull the trigger.

[Lost_River]

Idaho,

Find an experienced elk hunter and go with him to learn the ropes. It is very easy to get in over your head. I have killed more than a dozen elk and it is a very daunting task to pack out an elk alone, even for the seasoned hunter. It will exhaust you like you have never experienced

Enjoy the hunt, The work begins when you pull the trigger.

[CarolAnn]

I've got friends who live in Idaho and love to hunt elk! They let me watch home video of how they get those critters out of the woods and I was amazed at how it's done!

They used a chain saw motored winch. He'd hook up the line to the carcass, reel it out in the direction he wanted to go, and attached the winch to a big tree on the other end. THen, slowly, the motor would wind up the cable and pull the beast up the hill, over small brush, and so on.

Seems like it would just bruise the heck out of the meat, but they said it's often done that way when the kill is made miles from the truck. Can you experienced hunters tell more about this part of it? And doesn't that bumping along ruin that side of the meat? Or does it get ground up into sausage, so it wouldn't matter?

[NYCBOY]

Yo Idaho, this is a great place to ask a question like that !!! I've found very knowledgeable people here, if they don't know the answer they send u in the right direction. Me being a cityslicker myself was lucky enough to hunt with a very knowledgeable friend. Once i downed my elk [ Craig Colorado ] my friend gave me step by step instructions...and then helped carry the quartered elk out. It was a hunt of a lifetime and he made it that more satisfying by instructing me the right way to gut/quarter then butcher the meat. My advise to you is ....keep asking the questions !!! good luck !!

[fishinhunter]

try canning some of your meat.its fantastic and makes great BBQ.All you have to do is chunk up meat, put in jar, add 1 beef bulion cube for pints and 2 for quarts,put on lid and ring and can for 90 min at 10 pounds of pressure.Buy a ball blue book and follow canning times for beef.Good luck and good eating.