Value of an Elk

[Ben Sellers]

Listening to the podcast with Shane Mahoney got me to thinking about the value of an elk, deer, or other game animal. I live in Alabama and we, obviously, don’t have elk. That means that it’s highly unusual and everyone wants to try it. I was blessed enough to kill an elk last year and my buddy and I split the meat. After asking around, I found that at least 36 people had one or more meals from it. Furthermore, assuming we got 150lbs of meat and a meal is 1/4 lbs per person, there were approximately 600 meals from that one elk. I have a rack hanging on a hook in the garage but that is not the true value of an elk.

 

[dirtclod Az.]

I relate the true value of an Elk no only to how many people
it might feed,but also to the memories made the lessons learned
and to being able to spend time with family and friends that otherwise
may have been missed.Also the pictures of the Elk and the adventure so
that future generations can value the Elk also.

 

[hank4elk]

Priceless to me.

 

[Ben Sellers]

I relate the true value of an Elk no only to how many people
it might feed,but also to the memories made the lessons learned
and to being able to spend time with family and friends that otherwise
may have been missed.Also the pictures of the Elk and the adventure so
that future generations can value the Elk also.

You’re right, the intangible benefits are huge for most of our hunts. I made many lasting memories. I think the podcast has me focusing on the food value. One thing I didn’t mention was that at least 10 of those people were non hunters.

 

[dirtclod Az.]

You’re right, the intangible benefits are huge for most of our hunts. I made many lasting memories. I think the podcast has me focusing on the food value. One thing I didn’t mention was that at least 10 of those people were non hunters.

Always good to bring new people into the mix,they may decide
hunting/ camping might be an enjoyable way to experience the outdoors
and spend time with friends and family.

 

[Scrappy]

I got my first elk last year as well and when word got out I had a freezer full of meat my list of friends grew. I had to start turning folks away. My neighbors probably thought I was dealing drugs.

 

[Brian in Montana]

My wife kept track of it for a few years, pounds of burger, steak, roast, etc. And compared prices at the grocery store. I don't remember the numbers but what she came out with was that even with the overhead of equipment, tags, and gas, we were saving money on meat. Not tons, but certainly some.

 

[Ben Sellers]

My wife kept track of it for a few years, pounds of burger, steak, roast, etc. And compared prices at the grocery store. I don't remember the numbers but what she came out with was that even with the overhead of equipment, tags, and gas, we were saving money on meat. Not tons, but certainly some.

I don’t encourage my wife to find the financial cost of a pound of elk! Absolutely no good would come out of that!

 

[Ben Sellers]

I got my first elk last year as well and when word got out I had a freezer full of meat my list of friends grew. I had to start turning folks away. My neighbors probably thought I was dealing drugs.

That’s the way it was for us. Everyone wanted to try elk since have never had the opportunity. Now I’m down to one roast and four packs of burger but I don’t regret the sharing. I’m thinking of making the last into snack sticks and sharing some of that too.

 

[onpoint]

"Back in the day", while checking in hunters in preparation for yet another weekend of the infamous Montana Gardiner late elk hunt, I guy I knew from Bozo showed up at the check station with one of the coveted either sex tags. He proceeded to inform me his dad, on his deathbed, told him to get his ass to Gardiner and do the hunt. His dad also told him to thank me for pointing them to the spot (the previous year) where what would be the last elk he would kill was to be found. They were looking for "an easy one", as dad was not doing so well - cancer. I knew where some were. I just so happened to be in that place at that time, involved in yet another family's elk hunt. Shoulda' been just another day above Gardiner in January....
Him looking me in the eye, tears welling up in his as he gave me his dad's thank you message, put my heart in my throat.
That story is just one of countless many describing the value of "an elk". Can't really put that value into words.
He got his bull, by the way.
Not a new story, but may apply..................................

 

[Walkathon]

I shared the elk I shot a few years back with several neighbors and it was always fun to have them over for Elk steaks and they really enjoyed them. The amount of meat from an adult cow is impressive. I'm a flat lander so getting to hunt elk on public land out west was a treat in itself.

 

[ntodwild]

Every bite of Elk Meatloaf tells me I should be thankful. Every Hunting trip tells me I should be thankful. Every scouting trip tells me I should be thankful. Every encounter, even after 35+ years of elk hunting I am amazed and the juices start flowing even in the off season. Every time dinner talk or campfire talk turns to elk hunting it brings a smile to most and some great memories. When the teachings of the outdoors are realized I am thankful. So many amazing things come from Elk hunting including respect and spiritual value for Mother Nature, life, death and so much more.

The understanding that the Native Americans had for "Value" of an elk are very much realized. To quantify something like an Elk with just the physical attributes like meat or hide or bone does not do it justice. It's far more than that.

Many of us rarely think so deeply about our Elk hunting including myself. Most of us can't really explain concisely why we do it. Its a sport or yearly event that calls us back every year, a chance to be with friends & family. It's a chance to be primal and enjoy the outdoors. So as corny as all this sounds I am over the top giddy as I plan for this season which is literally 3 weeks away for me.

Value? Such a simple word to explain this passion.

 

[davinski]

I don't recall which podcast, but one guest made an excellent point about the sheer volume of food, in the nationwide aggregate, that comes from hunting of all types. Even with the declining hunter numbers, if you had to snap your fingers and provide that same biomass of food from domestic production rather than wild game, it would be a disaster. Can't argue with the point.

 

[ida homer]

That’s the way it was for us. Everyone wanted to try elk since have never had the opportunity. Now I’m down to one roast and four packs of burger but I don’t regret the sharing. I’m thinking of making the last into snack sticks and sharing some of that too.

If you run out, that just means you have to go back... to do the responsible thing.

 

[antelopedundee]

Get caught taking one illegally and you might find out some immediate monetary cost.

 

[Exhausted]

I don’t encourage my wife to find the financial cost of a pound of elk! Absolutely no good would come out of that!

You just have to remember to compare it to organic, non-GMO, grass-fed and finished meat rather than regular old beef LOL

 

[Rzrbck918]

You just have to remember to compare it to organic, non-GMO, grass-fed and finished meat rather than regular old beef LOL

The meat is free. I’m gonna hunt regardless.

 

[RockinU]

I don't recall which podcast, but one guest made an excellent point about the sheer volume of food, in the nationwide aggregate, that comes from hunting of all types. Even with the declining hunter numbers, if you had to snap your fingers and provide that same biomass of food from domestic production rather than wild game, it would be a disaster. Can't argue with the point.

Shane Mahoney talks a lot about it.

 

[Gerald Martin]

Resident elk tag.-$19 Gas, meals, motels.....hundreds of dollars...memories, bonding and character formation...?-Priceless

 

[mtmuley]

Priceless nails it. I've killed them in my yard, and I've killed them a 9 hour drive across Montana, then a 5 mile hike from the truck. Dollars don't matter. mtmuley