Sorry Whtail in Mt.I misunderstood your post.
John. It really cracks me up when hunter says to leave the hide on when quartering as it keeps the meat cleaner, when the elk is covered with mud, feces, and unrine from a wallow and all that sticky stuff is on the hide from it's pecker up to it's front legs from breeding or in rut.
I had an elk that fell in a beaver pond after I shot it.I had to pull her out using my mule.You can bet she got skinned right away to get all the mud off.
