Muzzy Cow Hunt

[T_Ball]

I have a Muzzy cow hunt on the Aviniquin starting on Nov. 3rd. My dad and I have hunted up there in the past up there and know the country pretty well, but we haven't hunted up there this late in the season. I was wondering if the cows start to come off the mountain by that time or where might I be able to find them. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks

 

[dleonard3]

For the amount of money and effort it will take to get a cow elk found, killed, skinned, quartered, packed out, transported, butchered, wrapped, and frozen, I would recommend going down to the local grocery store and buying a bunch of beef. It's cheaper, easier, tastes better (usually), and it's cut, wrapped, and ready to throw into your freezer.

Once you get your freezer full, you can go out and have a blast filming, photographing, or just plain watching all the elk you want - for free. No season, no license required.

I'm sorry, but "meat hunters" bug me a little. It just doesn't make any sense to me. I'm sorry to be so offensive, but that's just how I feel. Lots of others feel differently, I guess.

 

[Calif_Mike]

Wow, so hunting for horns is cheaper and in some way better?

 

[bigwhiteman]

"I'm sorry, but "meat hunters" bug me a little. It just doesn't make any sense to me. I'm sorry to be so offensive, but that's just how I feel"

So the trophy hunters are better than the meat hunters! Dang I never knew that.

 

[dleonard3]

All I'm saying is, if you hunt for cow elk, what do you get? Alot of expense, a whole bunch of work, and a pile of meat if you're successful. There is no trophy to put on a wall, there's no real sense of accomplishment or victory, after all, it's just a cow. You're only trying to fill your freezer, right? Sure, hunting is fun, unless it turns frustrating like it always does for me. Maybe I'm the only one who feels this way, but it just doesn't seem like it's worth the expense, effort, and pain.

I could be wrong.........I usually am.

 

[Aaron84]

Your a idiot dbag3. He didnt ask for your oppinion on meat hunting. He asked for help on his hunt. Not everyone has to be a trophy hunter to enjoy hunting. I liked it much better when you stopped posting on here, now your back with your im better than you attitude. Are you and b bop brothers? Oh nice busted bull by the way!!!! Should have bought a bunch of beef from the store it would taste better.

 

[dleonard3]

Aaron84, nice intelligent response. I was giving him my advice on where to get some meat the easy way. Isn't that what he was asking for? At least you know that my opinion is based on my own personal experience - getting an elk out of the field and into the freezer is a major ordeal. Instead of calling me names and acting like a little school girl, why don't you try to explain your opposing view point in a logical way that all of us "idiots" can understand.

 

[one_dryboot]

Im sorry but guys that think "there way" is better bugs me a little!
Hmmm. Lets think about this a little... What meat will clog your heart faster? What one is better for you and you know it wasnt pumped full of Shiz to get them to fatten up?
Part of filling the freezer with a cow is having fun doing it and the memories. And you can do it pretty dang cheap if you cut and wrap yourself.

Have you ever bought a whole beef?? Im willing to bet it would cost more! Oh and how many memories do you have of going to the store to buy your sh!t beef???

One more thing Dlee, What did you do with your meat from your bull? did you give it away, throw it away, or just cut the head off your bull and leave it on the hill? after all its less work just to leave it for the coyotes

 

[Calif_Mike]

Elk hunting whether it be for bulls or cows is a lot of work. I shot a cow and my dad has shot two bulls. These were in the last 3 years. None of them was anymore work than the other and we don't have better memories from one than from the others.

If any of us looked at the amount of work or money involved with our sport like an accountant way we should probably quit doing what we do. For me the memories I come home with and something to feed my family with are worth it whether its a bull or cow.

 

[dleonard3]

one_dryboot, thanks for helping out with this post. Everyone has an opinion. Mine is based on my own experiences. If you get plenty of exercise, you shouldn't have any problems with clogged arteries. Granted, we don't know what has been fed to the beef we eat, but to be fair, we don't know what the elk have been eating either. If you can have fun filling your freezer with elk meat, more power to you. I'm sure it would be alot more fun if you can find a cow right next to a road on the first morning. Expecially if she drops in her tracks at the first shot. Then, if you have lots of help to get her processed and packaged, it would be great. However, in my experience, it never happens that way. The memories that will haunt me for the rest of my life is the one I experienced with the bull I just took this year. I will never forget it.

As far as your last question, my son and I packed that bull out in pieces on our backs because my deer cart broke on the first rock I came to. It wasn't that far, maybe a mile one way, but the packs were extremely heavy, and it was windy and raining/hailing and I was drenched to the bone the entire day. Once we got the meat, head, and cape out of the field and back to camp, we had to tear down my rain soaked camp and get it loaded into the trucks for the trip home. We pulled in at midnight, got a few hours of sleep, then started cutting and grinding. Twelve hourse later, I had a nice big pile of meat nestled into my deep freezer. I had alot of help by a neighbor and one of my sons. They cut and trimmed, and I wrapped and ground. It was a team effort, and I couldn't have finished it myself. I was exhausted, and I had a very difficult time getting to work the next day.

I consider this elk hunt a "once in a lifetime" experience, and I'll never do it again. If you have the stamina and mental toughness to do it, more power to you, but I don't. Now you know where I get my opinion from.

Where do you get yours from?

 

[dleonard3]

By the way T_Ball, I apologize for the way this thread has gone away from your original question. I sincerely hope you have a wonderful hunt full of fond memories. I also hope you can find a nice fat cow in a place that is relatively easy to get her out, and I hope she tastes like prime rib.

I wish I had some info on where the cows will be in November, but I don't. I can only assume that if the weather holds as warm and dry, they will still be up in the high country. It would probably take 3-4 feet of snow to drive them down to the lower country, but who knows for sure.....certainly not me.

 

[T_Ball]

I know it will take work to get the elk out. That's why we have horses. I have to say it is a lot more fun to go in the hills and get the meat, then it is to go to the store. I guess I like the adventure a little more. Even if I don't tag out it will still be a fun hunt.


It is still fun when these threads go off in a different direction then what was intended.lol

 

[Aaron84]

I am not going to explain anything so you can understand. You just rub me the wrong way always have. Maybe its due to the fact when I went by whitelabman on here and offered my help to anyone with a pinevalley cow tag, you responed in a way that upset me calling a liar and that there arent any elk in pine valley. But didnt you later post how you were deer hunnting and jumped a herd of elk in washington county? Oh and I have killed one elk my whole life it was a cow and I myself packed her out whole in the snow, was not a easy task but I did it and would do it again. On another note I have packed out several elk for buddies and thats what makes for the best memories on all the hunts I help on. Like they say the work starts once the animal hits the ground. I love it thats why they call it hunting you have to earn and work for your trophy. Even if its just a cow for meat!!!!

 

[dleonard3]

Aaron84, I'm sure my writing style, sense of humor, personality, or what ever it is, clashes with alot of people (my wife included). Don't let it bug you, your world doesn't revolve around me. You have so many other things to live for.

You and I both know there are no elk in Washington county, so stop lying (wink, wink). There's no sense in slaughtering the two bulls in the one tiny herd that used to live here, right?

Let me get this straight, you single-handedly packed out an adult cow elk by yourself? And you did it in one piece? You must be built like a truck. I hope it wasn't uphill both ways. I understand that when you kill an elk, the work begins, and it isn't easy......believe me - been there, done that. What I don't understand is, after you've had this experience, why would you want to put yourself through it again? Maybe I'm alot softer than you. I don't want to do it again. If you like that sort of adventure, go for it. I just wish someone could explain their reasoning. With what I've experienced, I just don't get it.

 

[rraney]

If
>you can have fun filling
>your freezer with elk meat,
>more power to you.
>I'm sure it would be
>alot more fun if you
>can find a cow right
>next to a road on
>the first morning. Expecially
>if she drops in her
>tracks at the first shot.
> Then, if you have
>lots of help to get
>her processed and packaged, it
>would be great. However,
>in my experience, it never
>happens that way. The
>memories that will haunt me
>for the rest of my
>life is the one I
>experienced with the bull I
>just took this year.
>I will never forget it.
>
>
>As far as your last question,
>my son and I packed
>that bull out in pieces
>on our backs because my
>deer cart broke on the
>first rock I came to.
> It wasn't that far,
>maybe a mile one way,
>but the packs were extremely
>heavy, and it was windy
>and raining/hailing and I was
>drenched to the bone the
>entire day. Once we
>got the meat, head, and
>cape out of the field
>and back to camp, we
>had to tear down my
>rain soaked camp and get
>it loaded into the trucks
>for the trip home.
>We pulled in at midnight,
>got a few hours of
>sleep, then started cutting and
>grinding. Twelve hourse later,
>I had a nice big
>pile of meat nestled into
>my deep freezer. I
>had alot of help by
>a neighbor and one of
>my sons. They cut
>and trimmed, and I wrapped
>and ground. It was
>a team effort, and I
>couldn't have finished it myself.
> I was exhausted, and
>I had a very difficult
>time getting to work the
>next day.
>
>I consider this elk hunt a
>"once in a lifetime" experience,
>and I'll never do it
>again. If you have
>the stamina and mental toughness
>to do it, more power
>to you, but I don't.
> Now you know where
>I get my opinion from.
>
>
>Where do you get yours from?
>


Sounds to me like you must not enjoy hunting that much at all I mean you complain about having to pack out a elk a mile then all the hard work to butcher it up why dont you take your own advise and just buy your meet from the store and let the rest of us hunters enjoy our time afield with whatever trophy we decide to hunt

 

[Aaron84]

She was not a adult cow more like a young cow, and yes by myself I dragged her out. No it was not uphill both ways but it was just over three qourters of a mile drag, the snow made it possible to do. I was twenty two years old and lucky if I was 140lbs wet and wearing boots, so no not built like a truck I have a huge heart and refuse to ever give up on anything in life even when it gets hard. I enjoy challenges in life not all the time but it reminds me i can do anything when I work my ass off for something and get rewarded. I would like to say sorry for the childish name calling I wrote to you. Im sure in person your a awesome person, and I would have been more than willing to help pack out your elk its what I live for. Your bull was truely a awesome bull and I'm glad your hard work paid off. Best of luck on your future hunts.


Aaron

 

[dleonard3]

That must be my problem.

I've got two much "QUIT" in me.

 

[mevertsen]

I am sorry - but DLeanords post really got to me.

The OP asked for where the elk would be, not that its easier and cheaper to go to Smith's to fill his freezer.

I hunt cow elk. I have yet to apply for a bull hunt here in NV, but plan to next year. I will probably apply for doe pronghorn or cow elk tags in Wyoming until I get a bull tag here.

I have killed 3 elk in NV. (cows).

The last one yeilded about 150 lbs of meat.

I was by myself when I shot it.

It cost me - $120 for the license, $140 to get it cut up, probably $100 in fuel, and $20 in bullets and powder through the year of shooting and practicing, and about $60 in other misc. expenses. My dad and I ate meat from out deer and elk last year, so that was a non cost for this hunt.

So thats $420 for 150 lbs of meat, or about $2.80 per pound.

I like it better than beef, it has less cholesterol than beef, less saturated fat than beef, and I got the satisfaction of knowing I killed it, I packed it, and I got to spend a week in the hills with my dad. I had bugling bulls at 5 yards, 30 yards, and 50 yards, I got to see the changing colors for a total of 10 days, I saw sage grouse, ruffed grouse, rabbits, deer, antelope, mountain scenery, unbeleivable sunsets.

I don't have to worry about buying meat for at least another year and a half, which I haven't done for about 3 years anyway, so I have no clue how much the cost compares to what this elk cost me.

If you don't like to "meat" hunt, then don't, but don't rag on someone because they choose to do so.

Later,

Marcial

 

[dleonard3]

Marcial, I'm not really "ragging" on meat hunting. I just don't agree with the logic behind it. I understand all the good things you listed as to why you like to be out there. I like those too, who doesn't? Just remember - you could have done those things without the added expense and work of killing an elk, and you would have still had a great time. I just don't understand why someone having such a good time in the outdoors, would want to turn it all into back-breaking, sweaty, exhausting drudgery by killing a cow. I think we can all agree, that all the fun goes away as soon as it's time to move an elk towards a freezer. Now we have to get to work and get it taken care of.

I'm not really trying to irritate or offend anyone. It's your back, break it if you want to.

It's alot like someone who wants to make his own tires......Why? They have factories already doing that for me.

 

[dleonard3]

rraney, You're probably right. I enjoy hunting most of the time, but when things go bad, I have a pretty tough time dealing with it. Here's some examples:

1. Seeing lots of bulls, but all of the big ones are broken.
2. Passing the biggest broken bull on opening day, then not finding anything bigger the rest of the hunt because ML deer hunters are everywhere scaring the hell out of the elk.
3. HOT, DRY, DUSTY weather keeping the rut down, but a rain storm moving in and making a mess of everything.
4. A tent set up for a wood burning stove, that smokes so bad it makes you think it would be better to build a fire on the floor of the tent instead.
5. Killing a nice bull in a place that should be easy to get him out with a hand kart, but having the kart break withing 10 feet of the kill site so you have to use a backpack - which also breaks.
6. Going in to field dress the bull, but finding out he isn't dead yet, and having to knife fight him for 2+ hours, then discovering that elk don't really need lungs at that high altitude. He just refused to die - my biggest nightmare.
7. Nice cool weather with a breeze on the day we packed him out, but wet clothes and rapid onset of hypothermia quickly wearing me down to exhaustion.
8. My new HD camera with two 32Gb memory chips that takes incredible video, but everytime you shut it off, it has a chip error and it automatically fixes it by deleting everything you've filmed.
9. Finding 5 good bulls in an isolated canyon, hiking in at first light and having the bulls walk away, never to be seen again. Then tons of ATV's riding in while I nearly kill myself trying to get back out of that canyon on foot. Nobody offered me a ride.

I could go on and on about the best hunt I've ever been on, and the worst of it all. It's full of ups and downs.

I will take my own advise and buy beef, but only after I get all this Elk meat eaten up. I'm not the one in charge of weather or not you guys enjoy your time afield, you can do that better without me. Good Luck on all of your hunts, I hope you get a monster every time.

 

[Calif_Mike]

And they make reproduction antlers so why go to the effort of shooting a bull?

I think you're missing the point of hunting. I always say I get everything I wanted out of a trip and sometimes I even got an animal. The trip didn't go bad because of the weather or because you got an animal or your truck broke down, it was a trip because of those things. How mundane would a trip be if all you had to do was drive up the road, shoot your animal, toss it in the truck and go home?

Something else that helps to remember when starting the process of getting an animal out is that there is no real hurry unless its hot. I like to get my animal out that day but once he is gutted, skinned, quartered or whatever, you can take all the time in the world and not kill yourself in the process.

 

[mevertsen]

Good point there Calimike -

When I got my elk this year, I knew what had to be done. It was in the evening, so it would only get cooler. I just took my time, and was careful with everything I did.

It took me 5 hours and 5 manageable trips 1/2 mile one way to get that cow out. It wasn't "back breaking." It was tough, and I was tired, but knowing I had a freezer full of the best meat out there (IMO) was the best part.

Last year, and in 2005, I got lucky, and was able to drive to my elk, so this one humbled me a bit, but not to a point I won't do it again.

BTW - I cooked up a T-loin roast from my last elk a while back. One person tasted it, and had no clue what it was.

And people say beef tastes better - sheesh

Later,

Marcial

 

[tincup]

Damn D....... U must be from Utah or New Mexico....

 

[rackman]

Hey D I had my first bull elk hunt this year and loved every minute of it! From scouting, hiking my butt off, checking trail cameras, spending time out in the hills with my best friend and son and packing the big stinky out. It was an experience I will never forget. I hope to do it again within the next few years. Hopefully you will come around and see the joy's in hunting and not all of the negatives. Best of luck to you out there!

 

[elkantlers]

>All I'm saying is, if you
>hunt for cow elk, what
>do you get? Alot
>of expense, a whole bunch
>of work, and a pile
>of meat if you're successful.
> There is no trophy
>to put on a wall,
>there's no real sense of
>accomplishment or victory, after all,
>it's just a cow.
>You're only trying to fill
>your freezer, right? Sure,
>hunting is fun, unless it
>turns frustrating like it always
>does for me. Maybe
>I'm the only one who
>feels this way, but it
>just doesn't seem like it's
>worth the expense, effort, and
>pain.
>
>I could be wrong.........I usually am.
>


Dleo3

Each and every animal I have ever taken is a trophy to me. I put a cow elk in my freezer every year and consider it a trophy as much as any bull or buck I have ever taken.

If you have to have a set of antlers to put on the wall to consider a hunt successful and get a sense of accomplishment, I feel very very sorry for you. It is that kind of thinking that is ruining hunting.

 

[dleonard3]

rackman, it sounds like we are both alike. Although this wasn't my first hunt, this was my first "TROPHY" elk hunt, and I loved it. Like I said, it was the absolute BEST hunt I've ever been on, and I'll never forget it. I've got lots of HD video of my experiences to review and look back on.

I definitely see the joys of hunting. That's what makes us want to do it again. But for me, it seems that the best part of hunting is the thought of hunting. It's that mental preperation, the visualization of how the whole thing will fall into place - it's like a fantasy world where everything is perfect. The private seclusion and undisturbed elk you picture while scouting. The perfect camp. The perfect one shot kill on the biggest bull on opening morning which leaves the rest of the hunt to relax and soak it all in. It never seems to work out the way I hoped it would, at least for me.

Anyway, I don't see how I could ever draw another tag like this. It took me 16+ years of applying to get lucky and draw this year (the odds were still against me), and I'm nearly 48 years old now. Now I have a five year waiting period before I can even start applying again, plus another 15 to 50 years to draw again. I'll simply be too old. And of course, I would have to make some major changes in the way I hunt to try and avoid those pit-falls I ran into on this hunt.

 

[justr_86]

You have a bad atitude about it! Imo elk is THE best meat out there! Worth every step and everything they put us through! I love the whole experience, ya even packing them out. The ones we could get the truck to don't mean as much to me as the ones that came out on my back.

Elk hunting is fun, bull or cow. I think you need to try it again and look at the positive side of things and it will make your experience a lot better! Learn to laugh at stuff, its not the end of the world and hey if you don't get one you can go to the store and buy some beef!

As for the original post. It will take quite a bit of snow to move the elk from where they are now. We hunted heber east last year and the elk were still higher than we could get in the truck from the snow.

 

[Mister_Hawk]

Dtard3, Beef taste' better than Elk!? You must Smoke weed.

 

[dleonard3]

I said "(most of the time)".

That should allow for how GREAT your elk tastes.

Mine tastes kinda like he smells. He's an old, stinky, beat-up, ruttin, bull that we had to choke to death to get him to die. I would never expect him to taste like Prime Rib.

 

[justr_86]

>
>Mine tastes kinda like he smells.
> He's an old, stinky,
>beat-up, ruttin, bull that we
>had to choke to death
>to get him to die.
> I would never expect
>him to taste like Prime
>Rib.

LOL! That would be the only bad part about big bull hunting! When we go for a cow we like to shoot the Yearlings, easier to pack and taste soooooo damn good!

 

[dleonard3]

Picture me wispering here because I don't want anybody to hear me say this:

I ate some of my elk burger the other day, and he actually tasted pretty good. We ground the meat with bacon to add a little smokey flavor and get it to stick together better. It tastes alot better than most dog food I've tried. (HA, did you hear that?)

 

[Zeke]

dleo.

Hunting is hunting. I have agreed with ALMOST everything that you've written in the past but this time (this post) is the exception.

I've been blessed to have hunted many places on this ole blue ball and have taken enough trophy animals to bore you (Grand Slam, Full curl, elk, moose, bear, deer, caribou, pronghorn, African plains game, Asian sheep and on and on. All fair chase, most DIY)

BUT, my wife and I both have cow tags this year and I hope we work our butts off to harvest and recover! It won't top the 382" bull she shot in 2006 or the monster Marco Polo ram I shot in Tajikistan in 2008 BUT we will enjoy each other and have a fabulous time during the hunt.

My hell man, it's a hunt!

Best regards, Zeke

 

[dleonard3]

Zeke, Good luck on your cow hunts. I hope you get a couple nice young ones right next to the road. Hunting can be very fun, and very rewarding. But it can also be horrible and leave you feeling empty. I hope you always experience more of the good to offset the bad.

 

[Zeke]

LAST EDITED ON Oct-12-10 AT 04:22PM (MST)[p]dl3

Thanks, I hope so too but.....

There are tougher times and easier times, but bad times? I've hunted big game for over 40 years and have not had any bad times.

I've been snowed-in in a small tent in Alaska, stuck in the mud on the Henrys, broken tow straps, beat the heck out of my truck with chains, stranded in Arizona, lost in the San Rafael, sick in Mongolia and more. These were challenging and difficult but yet I don't think of them as bad times. I was hunting!

Possibly it's just a paradigm but I've had bad times at work! LOL

Zeke

PS; Did we ever answer his question about elk movement?

 

[Foreman4x4]

LAST EDITED ON Oct-12-10 AT 04:39PM (MST)[p]Can honestly say, I've never had a bad hunt. Some of 'em with bad weather, back breaking pack jobs, or equipment/vehicles/horses/etc. that went haywire are also some of the most memorable.

 

[Zeke]

Tball
Hunt in the same places that you would right now...unless... it snows a bunch, like a foot. At that point you will need to follow the elk to lower elevations.

Look on the south facing slopes EARLY and LATE in the day. This means you will be moving into and out of the country in the dark!

Our hunt starts the 13th of Nov and we'll be following the same plan.

Good luck and have fun. Remember, it's a hunt not work! LOL

Zeke

 

[T_Ball]

Thanks for the info Zeke. Good Luck on your hunt also.

 

[mmwb]

I don't know that country, but in my neck of the woods I expect to find the cows in early November where they have been the past couple of months.

I suppose that everyone has some of their unique reasons for hunting what and how they do. I hunt elk for the meat. The pair of earings and pendant I made from ivories for my wife look a darn sight better hanging where they do than any trophy bull I've seen hanging on a wall. I've two tags this year. Between two elk, a deer, and three antelope we will be set and a couple of other families helped out. The last 11 elk I've shot have been within 10 miles of my house. I've always processed my own meat. I want to be up hunting anyway and while both the hunt and the pack out can be a real challenge, I enjoy that aspect of it too. I also believe in self sufficiency. Self sufficiency is something you practice, not read about and put to use should the need arise.

It is too bad that some have those hunts where everything seems to go wrong and it is a miserable experiences. My experience in life has been that some of the best things in life rise out of the ashes of hardship...