Hind Quarter Funk

I'm guessing that at this point the O.P. may be regretting even posting this, which would be unfortunate. As someone else said, there is actually a lot of good advice above, but I agree some of it is pretty harsh. I'm sure the lessons were learned and the OP will not.only do better next time, but will be in a position to help another hunter not have to learn the lesson the way he did.

By the way.....congrats of harvesting an Eelk. Some people go a lifetime without that experience.

jarodjohns said:

Had a successful hunt this week in Colorado, shot the elk at 10,200 ft before dark, went in the next morning and started packing him out. Two hind quarters came down first to ice, then the two front quarters with the back straps and tenderloins, got home late last night and started processing this morning. The two front quarters had no odor, one of the hind quarters had an odor, the last hind quarter had no odor. I can't imagine it being bad but is there something that could cause this?

Click to expand...

Did you cut the bladder and spill urine on the meat?

Yep sounds like bone sour. Any bone soured meat I've been around has also started taking on a green tint to it in the spoiled area.

Carry a kill kit with 5 quarter bags and everything g else to get the job done. Extra weight in the pack but for me it's a must. Get the elk quartered that night no matter what. I hunt with a kuiu pack that allows you to come out with a quarter. I'm there so I'm coming out heavy.

Lost some meat to a grizzly. Son shot a bull that we planned on having completely packed out that day. Left two quarters laying on a log. My son took a tumble and banged his knee up. Came back the next morning to a well fed grizzly. Now I'll hang the quarters left at the site.

I have not gone on an Elk hunt yet , but would like to in the future. Thanks for posting this story, it's a hard lesson to learn, but I did learn from this .

I wouldn't feel bad about it, it happed to me the first time I went also, I'm my case I was in an unknown place one the first couple days of the hunt in a new area , and a crap guide, another long story, and advised that where the elk was to leave it till the next morning. I second the other guys and just chalk it up to a lesson learned. Grats on the meat you got.

jarodjohns said:

Appreciate all the input and will know next time. Made several calls to others and they advised against going back up and gutting and quartering and just leave it as it was.

Click to expand...

I'd start on the "inside" of the quarter that was up against the bone and trim away anything that's gray-ish. If there's not color difference, start taking thin cuts off around where the ball/socket joint was until the meat doesn't smell, then you'll know how "deep" to trim the rest. You'll figure out what the deal is w/the meat you've got.

I hope this next part doesn't sound harsh or sarcastic, it's not meant to.

Once you've got your meat managed, the next step is how not to let this happen again. Watch a few YouTube's or get a mentor that can show you how to quarter an animal "gutless", then, if you're able, get some OTC tags, offer to help friends who have tags left, or even shoot a few coyotes and practice.

Pretty much every critter on 4 legs give or take comes apart the same. Run a knife down the back from between the ears down to the tail and peel down towards the belly. Take the meat off side you've exposed, lay it on the hide, or put it in game bags, flip, repeat. Find where the short ribs are that contain the tenderloin, make a small slit and go in after them.

You don't need a hatchet or saw. You DO need a SHARP knife. If you don't have a knife that'll stay sharp through the process and you aren't confident you can touch it up in the field, get a replaceable blade knife and carry a few spares.

Unless you're in some super steep country or some kind of thick timber that doesn't allow for you to easily roll the carcass back and forth, with a little practice, a single person should be able to skin/quarter a deer/elk in 60-90min and 2 working on an animal it's 45min or less. Then you just need to decide if you're going to haul it, hide it (hide it from predators), or hang it until you can come back for the haul.

Muddybuddy said:

Only thing that makes sense. Why else would you leave a full intact animal with the hide on overnight? If you don't want to pack out, you can still quarter and hang it in a tree to cool. Not doing any of that and running back to camp makes me think you were scared to be out there.

I'll stand by my comment. Don't shoot them in the evening if you don't want to process them in the dark.

I bet that other hind quarter has some sour around the ball joint. The side that's laying against the ground will always sour faster, neck too.

Click to expand...

no point in being mean. This man didn't know, but will next time. Never made a mistake?

fta0303 said:

no point in being mean. This man didn't know, but will next time. Never made a mistake?

Click to expand...

Yep. You don't know what ya don't know. Some of the best lessons are the hardest ones.

Gutless method only takes an hour at most with 2 people. Unless this was your first elk, you knew it wasn't a good idea to leave it whole over night. I'm glad you salvaged as much as you did.

waspocrew said:

I'm a bit more selective of where and when I take shots now. Years ago, I shot a cow elk across a canyon before dark. My brothers and I were a lot more enthusiastic then, so we went in with headlamps and got the job done. Not so much now haha.

I passed a nice bull yesterday evening in a steep canyon, just due to the fact I'd need to get down to him, gut, and attempt to quarter before dark. Then try to safely get out of the canyon. Didn't want to risk it, so I was fine with just watching the bull.

Now if I had seen that bull at first light, it would've been a different story.

Click to expand...

If only more would have this thought process and discipline. Good on you!

jarodjohns said:

Who said anything about scared of the dark? How the hell would you ticket me when it was shot within legal hunting hours and I went back the next morning to retrieve?

Click to expand...

Never mind him, he's the reason they don't send donkey's to college...............

Muddybuddy said:

Really? If you're scared of the dark, then don't shoot one right before last light. Irresponsible and if I were a warden I'd give you a ticket in a heartbeat.

Click to expand...

A ticket is a tax for the government! A little friendly advice seems like a more appropriate response to the occasion.

jarodjohns said:

Had a successful hunt this week in Colorado, shot the elk at 10,200 ft before dark, went in the next morning and started packing him out. Two hind quarters came down first to ice, then the two front quarters with the back straps and tenderloins, got home late last night and started processing this morning. The two front quarters had no odor, one of the hind quarters had an odor, the last hind quarter had no odor. I can't imagine it being bad but is there something that could cause this?

Click to expand...

Does that hind quarter show a wound..??

jbur13 said:

Gutless method only takes an hour at most with 2 people. Unless this was your first elk, you knew it wasn't a good idea to leave it whole over night. I'm glad you salvaged as much as you did.

Click to expand...

Several Times, Archery Elk Hunting, someone in Our Family, would Arrow an Elk, in the last Hour, Before Dark 30 and we've Spent til', 1 or 2 AM Tracking, Quartering / Skinning Elk Quarters, then Bagging / Hanging them High, to Cool, out of,.. Bear / Coyotes, Reach !
We've Always HAD, Great tasting Elk meat and Like Vince Mule said,.. we "Slept In" the Next Morning ( then carried, the Meat, Out ).
My Dad ( a Farm Boy from, the Depression Era ) taught Me, in the 1950's to ALWAYS Skin your Animal and Let, the meat,.. Cool !
Then, take care of your Rifle !
Just last Friday, I Passed this info On, to my 14 y/o grandson, who shot, a Nice Buck Antelope ( Mid morning ) and the Meat, IS,. awesome !