First timer question on boned out quarter vs. bone in

[duckclay]

Hi all, I'll be heading out to CO in September for my first attempt at elk. Hell it will be my first mountain/western hunt of any kind. That said I've been lurking here since the site first started trying to glean some knowledge without becoming a pain by asking too many questions. Now something I'm thinking since I'm buying the stuff I don't have yet, is about game bags.
I realize that there are some great ones and I'll likely go with one of the ones suggested here so often (TAGS, Argali, Black Ovis, yadda, yadda...) Which size though? Up until very recently I just assumed that I would leave the quarters, bone in, and get them back to the truck. Now though there are too many states I'll be driving through that don't allow that. All meat hast to be boned out.
So, do I ..
A) Pack it out on the bone and de-bone at the truck
or
B) Bone out in the field.

I realize that there are other factors (distance to pack, etc.) but was just looking to get an opinion or twelve.

Thank you in advance!

 

[Laramie]

Here is what I use - cheap, easy, and get the job done. https://www.google.com/aclk?sa=L&ai...hUKEwjl9eetpdP3AhXXGTQIHfN_BTQQww8Ivgw&adurl=

I almost always debone in the field. If we happen to be within a 1/2 mile of the truck I'll leave the quarters whole sometimes for to save a little time.

 

[rambo2345]

I bone out the hind quarters and leave the front quarters bone in til I get to camp. The fronts are lighter and take a little more time to get all the meat off.

 

[HunterJoeMI]

Always have boned out in field. I never take any bones.

 

[LongWayAround]

I generally leave the bones in the quarters. Maybe bone out the fronts. I like having the bones for making stock to boot.

If you're close to the truck it's easier to leave them in. If you're far from the truck, they give the meat structure.

 

[roosiebull]

i almost always leave bone in unless it will save me a whole trip, which rarely is the case... i like ice aging bone in, the results are always ideal, and the less meat exposed to dirt and air, the better.

in your case, if i had to travel through states that wouldn't allow me to travel with bone in quarters, i would not pack them off the mountain, it would defeat the purpose and i wouldn't pack the extra weight in that scenario... i want as much meat recovery as possible, and bone in is the best for that... if i had to bone out, i would be setup to separate all of the meat and kind of sort it out so it's quicker to finish processing later, and would bag it all in gallon ziplocks when back to camp (probably label the bags with a sharpie), and pack in a cooler with ice and keep it that way for 4-8 days before finishing processing, that way the meat recovery would be as good as possible, and you know it's all COLD and clean

 

[FlyGuy]

I only debone if it will save me a long, long extra trip and I’m running short on time. I like osso bucco too much. And bone marrow steak toppings. And bone broth….


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[mtnwrunner]

You'll get answers for both ways. For me and our group, we mainly backpack hunt so I see absolutely no reason to pack any unnecessary weight, as in bones, fat, bloodshot meat, etc. If I was fairly close to a pick up point, quarters would be fine.
I also use Argalis high country game bags......awesome.

Randy

 

[Hondo0925]

Pretty much what everyone else has said, it really just depends on how far back in you are. Don’t spend the money on the super expensive ones for your first elk hunt. The more expensive brand that Walmart or pretty much any and every hunting store in colorado sales will treat you just fine.
And realize that if you bone out in the field there will be significantly more meat loss. It’s so tough to bone out in the field and get it to the final processing spot and save all the dirty dried out ends. Just my experience.

 

[cnelk]

Some good reading here that’s already been discussed

How far before going boneless?

Looking at the coming season and making plans. I got to thinking, how far before you go boneless? So far the only boneless elk I have bothered with was a little over 5 miles. My buddy who is a butcher highlighted about 600 flaws, and since then I have brought everything out bone one. That...

www.rokslide.com

 

[BravoNovember]

What states are you referring to?

 

[wapitibob]

I boned out last years elk and will never do that again.

 

[Shane S]

No set plan for me. I’ve made this decision based on time of day and time of year, and whether or not I am alone. Harder to keep dirt off of meat when alone. Not sure what others do, but I feel like if there’s lots of flies and bees in midday September, I’ll keep them bone in till I can get meat to a cooler cleaner place to debone. In other words, get hide off and get it in the game bag and hanging as soon as possible. Sometimes will take one bone in quarter off the hill day of the kill, then debone early in the morning on second trip in. Get there while it’s still cool and bring a small drop cloth. Late season with snow you have lots of time to debone and be real clean about it. Unless you are in griz country, then it’s back to bone in and get it the hell away from the carcass asap!


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[Mountain425]

Always bone out in field .

 

[Indian Summer]

Forget about those different state requirements. Don’t strap your antlers in plain view for several obvious reasons and you won’t have a worry in the world. I leave bone in until it’s time to process. Less dirt/bacteria. Less dried out surface area. And you know what’s what instead of dumping balls of miscellaneous meat on a table and wondering.

Lots of good game bags on the market these days. Synthetic bags are great! I use TAG Bags and love them but take your pick. Larry Bartlett is a good dude and true blue hunter so I like supporting his business.

 

[Jethro]

What states say "no bones"? I only ask because it would not the first time I've seen that posted about states that I knew the regs were "no spine and brain". Big difference between "no spine" and "no bones".

 

[Tod osier]

Forget about those different state requirements. Don’t strap your antlers in plain view for several obvious reasons and you won’t have a worry in the world. I leave bone in until it’s time to process. Less dirt/bacteria. Less dried out surface area. And you know what’s what instead of dumping balls of miscellaneous meat on a table and wondering.

Lots of good game bags on the market these days. Synthetic bags are great! I use TAG Bags and love them but take your pick. Larry Bartlett is a good dude and true blue hunter so I like supporting his business.

I'm inclined to like this idea, BUT, there are states that throw up road blocks on the highway during season and hunters must declare if they have been hunting. I'd rather have it on the bone as you say.

Last elk I travelled through several states with (9 states), a quick check found that most considered it illegal to transport bones or brain tissue. We boned out of the field (easy pack out so no need) and put the meat in contractor bags with a couple bar rags in the bottom of each to absorb liquids and layered it in ice. Works well.

 

[Tod osier]

What states say "no bones"? I only ask because it would not the first time I've seen that posted about states that I knew the regs were "no spine and brain". Big difference between "no spine" and "no bones".

Iowa is the first you would likely hit. I understand PA does not ban bones, but lymph nodes are banned, so you are going to have to do some dissecting to get those, which amounts to pretty much boning them out.

 

[Indian Summer]

35 years of driving elk from Montana and Wyoming across interstates 80 and 90. Never stopped. Game checks in the state you hunt don’t matter. Out of sight out of mind. Keep rolling!

 

[Gerbdog]

Distance dependent for me.

If its close enough to the truck i'll always leave the bones in. Dog loves them, my backs still young enough to handle the extra weight for a dog smile (could probably just ask the processor for some extra bones but... i think my dog will know the difference, and then she will shame me).

If its far from the truck, or its all steep uphill from where im at, i debone in the field.