Hind Quarter Funk

[waspocrew]

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.

 

[Muddybuddy]

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?

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.

 

[jarodjohns]

Chalk it up as a lesson learned - hind quarters and the neck will hold a lot of heat. You could always try to cook a little of it, but I'd imagine that quarter probably spoiled.

Thank you for a helpful comment!!

 

[jarodjohns]

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

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.

Okay.. I was here asking for help and advice and you proved there is always an ******* in the comment section.

 

[dfanonymous]

Thank you for a helpful comment!!

To supplement what was already said there about hind quarters holding heat..it's to the extent that even do you do quarter it, it can still get bone sour.

You have to cool that down as fast as humanly possible. The manner in which that happens is debatable and also dependent on what season you're hunting and where you are.

 

[VinceMule]

Yep, the late evening hunts = all night butchering and packing job. Sleep in the next day.

 

[crazymonkey]

Some crazy things being posted here by a guy!! The quarter is probably toast ! Elk spoil from the inside out and it sounds like you lost the quarter it was laying on . My buddy has always said if you have to leave a elk for what ever reason first gut then hide then remove the bone in the rear quarters . Just some branches under the quarter to let air cool will save the meat . The temps will dictate how much time you have before it will turn. This is from lessons learned and a few lost quarters. Things happen and not all animals can be recovered after the shot . It's part of hunting . Some are best to leave and recover in the morning so there not jumped and lost due to not being able to track and find . Again temps will dictate!!! I'd rather loose a quarter that loosea whole animal and sometimes it doesn't matter how good there hit. My last cow elk was hit with a 300wm at under 100 yds right thru the top of the heart . No blood even tho it was a clean pass thru.. shot at prime time and luckily she fell back towards the way she ran and the glow of her eye gave her away . We almost called the search for the night as there was no blood or obvious tracks. I to always have Para cord in my pack just incase I need to hang anything.

 

[Lee7588]

Okay.. I was here asking for help and advice and you proved there is always an ******* in the comment section.

Muddy gave you advise, don't shoot an animal at dark if you aren't willing to quarter it and let it cool. Due to your lack of unwillingness to do so you have at minimal lost a quarter of the elk