Spike bull or Cow ?

[Killzone]

Which make better table fare, a young spike bull elk or a cow?

Got a 600 lb + cow that was super lean, tastes good, guts had to weigh about 100 lbs, what a gut pile.

 

[DLS]

Depends on the elk. I've had some great tasting cows, as well as spikes. I've also shot a couple very old cows that did not eat well at all. Never had a bad spike. Interstingly, some of the best elk I've ever eaten were 6 pt. bulls. I think that any elk that is healthy and has been eating good forage up to the age of about 8 or 9 will be good eating, regardless of bull or cow. I've shot 3 elk that did not eat well at all, and the common denominator in all three was that they were very old, 12-14 years old. Two of those were cows, one a huge old bull.

 

[Killzone]

Thanks for the info, may take a spike if I get a shot. Be there Dec 20, maybe 19th

 

[jryoung]

I shot a 2pt and a cow in the same year many moons ago. Both were very comparable in terms of flavor. The cow was late season and she had been in the sage feeding prior.

 

[Killzone]

How do you tell the cow age at 200 to 400 yrads away. For that matter up close even??? dead on the ground.

 

[XDHUNTER]

How do you tell the cow age at 200 to 400 yrads away. For that matter up close even??? dead on the ground.

Watch her pee....

If it shoots 6"to 12", its a young cow...if just flows on her legs its an old cow...:lol bashing sign:



oohh Boy... iam gone!!!!

 

[OR186]

A yearling cow will stand about as tall as a spike. Either one is really good but don't worry to much about it. I've had some huge cows you could cut with a fork.

 

[DLS]

The old cows that I shot were pretty obvious. Their backs sagged, they were hollow hipped, and both had a fair amount of gray/white hair on their faces. One of them had a radio collar and ear tags from Montana fish and game, so we found out that the cow in question was 14 1/2 years old.

 

[24mileboy]

I have never had a bad cow elk. I have had several that were 10+ years old and were great eating. I shot a spike last year and it was very good also. The best I had was a calf three years ago!

 

[Killzone]

I WILL be hunting this sat, not sure if there is any difference, hope to have a choice of shots.

 

[hank4elk]

Never had bad elk.What area are you hunting? And if there are lots of spikes around and not many good bulls in area ,take the spike.IMHO

 

[Killzone]

I Can only shoot a spike or a cow on this hunt. Im hunting near Show low , Az

Happy Holidays, gona process it myself with a large manual grinder, have the bags, wraping paper etc. etc

 

[OR186]

If you're going to grind it all it doesn't matter what you shoot. Take the biggest one. Have you ever had a tough burger?

 

[hank4elk]

Well good luck and good hunting Killzone. I'm in NM, but near by(relativly speaking). Go for the cow there,they are huge around these parts .And there's no shortage of good bulls in that part of AZ.

 

[WItoAZ TP]

Spike bull or cow?

I shot this spike bull this season and the flavor is excellent. It weighed about 400 pounds on the hoof. Since this was my first elk, I don't have anything to compare it to but at the rate my wife and kids are consuming the meat, it must be good!

 

[ltdann]

I shot this spike bull this season and the flavor is excellent. It weighed about 400 pounds on the hoof. Since this was my first elk, I don't have anything to compare it to but at the rate my wife and kids are consuming the meat, it must be good!

I with you friend, the family's ripping thru the elk meat pretty quick. I think of all the game I've brought home, they like elk the best. That's good, 'cause it means I can hunt more!

 

[REM3006]

I shot a cow elk at New Castle, Colorado last Friday. The meat was so tender and really taste good. My daugther-in law who's kinda picky on game meat did'nt realized she's eating an elk meat that wife cooked. If you ask which one is better ? Bull or Cow ? I choose the Cow.:mooning:

 

[Rick]

I've only shot bulls, but elk is my son's favorite meat. In his opinion, wild pig is second, quail third, then pheasant and he likes venizon, too. We've never tried whitetail deer, though - I've heard it is better than mule deer?

The elk I've had all tasted much like beef.

 

[daddy63]

Rem3006,


Nice cow elk there. Was this a guided hunt? I'm interested in trying a hunt like this next year. Thanks.