Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Elk Hunting advice on late season cow elk hunting please

Well, you can always cook it slow in stews, and spaghetti sauce. I eat most of it that way, and maybe why boning works for me.

I'm an old guy hunting alone. I have to bone it to get it out. Especially, now that I hunt the muzzy season that has warm temps.

Ditto. I have learned to avoid the lead cow in late seasons. Unless you really, really like jerky.

The later in the year these old cows are killed, the poorer quality the meat is depending on how much of their body fat they have used. Those January kills are usually the pits if food has been scarce.

No way there is still a season for hunting these, is there???
They will not be standing around in view where I am going...

Here is what I have been told, re finding a nice meat elk...

Look for one straight in the back, and a spring in their step.

Good advice on not taking the lead cow, had not considered that.

When they bunch up in the late season, they'll likely be where they can see everything. A few years ago, my buddy invited me to go along on the last day of his cow hunt. It was -16 and 20 to 30 mph wind. We found the elk, about 40 of them, lying on a ridgetop right out in the wind. There was no possible way to get within 1000 yds. They'll put up with some serious weather in order to feel safe.

I took picture that last year. A lot more snow this year.

Yes. These late season hunts are typically focused on reducing numbers or hazing them off of ag lands or stacks. Start with the wildlife folks and then perhaps Agr advisors or the larger Ag supply stores.