Boning A Spike Elk In Wilson Unit *3 Photos*

[StevenB]

This topic of Boning animals has brought up a lot of different angle.

There are people who have "boned out their animal" and left front quarters, neck, and otherwise usable meat. Some must think that boning is a code work for wasting part of an animal.

After all in leaving the bones one is giving up the food value of the bones, bone marrow.

That all said I have some potos I took of an elk in 2005. I was able to carry it out in two trips thanks to boning it out, my hard core daypack, and being in pretty good shape. Oh it was almost all down hill. About 1000 feet elevation in 3/4 mile.

Here is a photo showing the location the elk was taken. Not too much of a slope but plenty of loose soil leaves and probably some dandruff or hair from the hunter. ewww



I know about the gut in method of skinning but I like the guts out and then skinning.

Whether boning or not I remove the legs below the knees first before skinnning. It keeps the soil on the hooves from falling on the skinned animal. After the leggs are off on the side I am first going to skin I skin the first inches town so I can tie the leggs with strong twine. The twine is commercial net twine with a breaking point of 200 plus pounds. 100 feet weights very little. I like having the legs tide so they can be kept still while the animal is on the ground being skinned.



Here is the begining of the elk being boned before being packed. A lot of small pieces that can be ground can be stacked and packed!!

[ehunter]

Steve that is the way we do it too. It is so much easier to work on them without thier legs sticking up. I am a gutter too we have tried the gutless method but I was not as comfortable with that again you have to do what is right for you. Looks like close quarters in there

[StevenB]

Originally Posted by ehunter

Steve that is the way we do it too. It is so much easier to work on them without thier legs sticking up. I am a gutter too we have tried the gutless method but I was not as comfortable with that again you have to do what is right for you. Looks like close quarters in there

I think one thing that can cause grief is figuring out how to cut and wrap the first time one works with a boned elk or deer.

Close Quarters...

[ehunter]

Na that makes it easier for me since we bone all out meat out to cut and wrap, but the first time you look at that pile of meat and try to remember what is what is a little confusing

Originally Posted by StevenB

I think one thing that can cause grief is figuring out how to cut and wrap the first time one works with a boned elk or deer.

Close Quarters...

[StevenB]

Originally Posted by ehunter

Na that makes it easier for me since we bone all out meat out to cut and wrap, but the first time you look at that pile of meat and try to remember what is what is a little confusing

Now a Rubiks Cube.. That is a difficult puzzle or to cut and wrap... so to speak.

[DTSportsman]

YUM, nice job.