shoot a spike every year

[tim]

Last night while eating dinner, I looked at my wife and said," I shoot should shoot a spike every year, this guy is really good."

While I like to look at the herd bulls on my wall, the spikes have been the tastiest. I really do enjoy that Idaho lets you hunt elk every year with an otc tag. Love it, wouldn't want to trade it for anything.

 

[Ikeepitcold]

I hear that. When we hunted ID we where there for meat. Small Bulls where always better eatin then the bigger ones for sure. You got me craving a elk steak.

 

[tim]

one is marinating as we type.

 

[25contender]

First Elk I killed was a Spike back in the late 80s and I remember how good it was. I must say though the cow I shot this year is going fast!! I like Chopped or Tenderized steak with the older animal. I bought a tenderizer this year and what a difference in the older bull Danny shot.

 

[PlainsHunter]

First Elk I killed was a Spike back in the late 80s and I remember how good it was. I must say though the cow I shot this year is going fast!! I like Chopped or Tenderized steak with the older animal. I bought a tenderizer this year and what a difference in the older bull Danny shot.

May I ask- what tenderizer did you get? I butcher all my deer and hopefully an elk someday and would like to get a tenderizer

 

[ScottR]

I put in for cow tags every year for that reason. Even raghorn bulls can be a little tough at times. Field care still trumps bull age though.

 

[Gr8bawana]

I've gotten 2 cows in Nevada in the last 4 years and the meat is outstanding.

 

[Umpqua Hunter]

My daughter shot a big huge cow in December, and it has been amazing eating. This year, we have all put in for cow tags in Oregon (still tough to draw). We will go for horns if we draw out of state.

 

[tim]

I do need to say, that my wife, rides my ass until i put one in the freezer, so i always shoot the first legal elk i see.
And Idaho has had second elk tags for sale for a while now. Idaho plans on having second elk tags on sale again this year.

 

[Elkfitness]

I'll second Scott's comment about field care. I've shot old Bulls, rag horns, and cows.

I tend to shoot the first legal bull in archery season. I shot a cow couple years ago with a leftover tag and I am now almost pressured by the extended family to shoot two each year (either sex archery tag and leftover cow tag).

They have had the elk from their friends and they like mine the best. I get the skin off and hang the quarters as as soon as possible and always have the ice ready at the truck. I hunt by myself so I am able to start brining the meat out immediately.

 

[laxwyo]

I like the taste of antler. Huge antlers

 

[Tim McCoy]

For a few years I got distracted from my prime mission, meat gathering, while chasing Mulies for horns, often in the rut. My bride, after 5 years of this dereliction of duty, suggested I bring home some prime meat or learn to eat horns. Suffice to say we make sure there is a cow or two in the freezer each fall since then and try to add in a couple smaller deer too. It just makes the rest of the hunting season so much more harmonious if the wife is not buying red meat due to all the wild game in the freezer. Cow elk is our staple red meat all year and we enjoy it very much.

 

[Colorado Cowboy]

Spikes not legal here in Colorado in most units, so cows are the choice for meat.

 

[tim]

I have shot the gamut of elk, from a cow to herd bulls, I get field care. I am just saying the spikes are tasty. I think it has something to do with the spike not going thru the rut.
spike versus raghorn, I will take the spike.
spike versus a 6x6 I will shoot the 6x

 

[Elkfitness]

I've never shot a spike, but are they on par taste wise with a cow elk?

 

[shootbrownelk]

I think cows make the best eating. I've shot some spikes, they don't come close to a medium sized, yearling cow. A friend of mine shoots calves to fill his antlerless tags, he says they're the best of all. It's probably true, he's shot nothing but calves for 10 years.

 

[Elkoholic307]

I found out first hand this year that there's a big difference between a 2 year old cow and a 7 year old bull.

 

[Bitterroot Bulls]

The best elk I have ever had was an 8 year old bull.

Go figure.

I have been lucky I guess, I haven't had a bad elk yet, including raghorns. Cows are good too.

 

[Elkoholic307]

He's not bad. The cow is just much better.

 

[Joseph]

I was fortunate to draw an antlerless elk tag for the area where I live. Two years in a row and was successful both years. The meat was outstanding. My philosophy while hunting is that if I would shoot it on the last day of the season then I'll certainly shoot it on the first. If the animal is legal and I have a tag for it I will most definitely be pulling the trigger if I get a chance. I prefer does, cows, or younger bucks/bulls as far as meat quality goes and since I'm not interested in taxidermy I don't pass on younger animals.