Craig Colorado Cow Elk Nov 20th

OldRookie · Nov 17, 2006

Greetings:

My son and I (16 year old) and wife fly out of Chicago Sunday morning on our way to Craig, CO for a late season cow hunt..

Our hunt starts Mon afternoon and we are using Rocky Mountain Ranches and doing an unguided hunt..

Are the elk migrating onto the private ground? we are hunting approx 30 mins north of Craig on a private ranch.

I have rented a full size 4x4 suv (durango or expedition, have scoped out the shipping arrangements with Caribou frt, contacted a meat processor (Quality Meats) and we are ready to go..

My only issue remaining is contacting Adventure rentals, I've left two voicemails and had nothing returned..I'd really like to rent a couple of ATV's and a trailer..Kind of leery about putting a cow elk in the back of a rented SUV, might cause a bit of an issue, if the darn thing would fit anyway without serious modification to the elk.

Anyone on the board know of another ATV rental in the area? Any info or background would be appreciated..

I'll post some pic's (hopefully) after the hunt if we do any good..

thanks in advance
Larry Hall

Flatlandr · Nov 17, 2006

I would try the online Craig Chamber of Commerce business section or town of Meeker... isn't too far away. Would think that your outfitter could arrange to get it to Quality meats for you. Used Quality meats last year, did a great job for me.

a3dhunter · Nov 18, 2006

I echo the last post.
Quality meats did a great job for me.

OldRookie · Nov 18, 2006

the outfitter recommended Brothers and said Quality were fine also..

there will be some help avail to get elk to the cooler, now we just have to connect..

thx
LH

stinky · Nov 18, 2006

get you a couple of $10 tarps and lay em on the floor and go for it.

We got snow this week in Grand Junction area...actually, close to the area.

I would expect that the mountains around Craig got some. This time of year I wouldn't want to be hunting the mountains, but down lower.

If there is not much pressure on the provate ranch, then you'll see plenty of critters, you betcha.

In fact even w/moderate pressure you'll see plenty.

HerbD · Nov 18, 2006

I'll chime in on the praise for Quality Meats - I've used them for 6 years now.

Also, I'm assuming you're hunting on one of the ranches on the east side of Hiway 13. If so, and you're fortunate to see the migration go through, you will be in for a treat.

Just be careful driving Hiway 13 at night. It could really raise your car rental premiums.

Bob D. · Nov 20, 2006

Just put it in your rented SUV. It will go in there with no problem, and no mess. What you need to do is cut the hind quarters off, cut the shoulders off, take out the backstrap, rib meat, neck meat, and tenderloins. So, in the field you will be leaving the head, and all the bones except for those bones in the hind quarters and the shoulders, which means the entire rib cage and back bone. You can then put your meat in meat bags and wrap it all up in a tarp. It won't take up hardly any room when you do it that way. Plus when you take it in to be cut and wrapped you'll be charged for a lot less weight.