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  #1  
Old 05-12-2013, 07:03 PM
rogo rogo is offline
 
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Default How much does a bull elk weigh once gutted ?

I'm looking at getting one of those hitch cargo box mounts for my vehicle.

The ratings say they are good up to 500lbs.

How much have your bull elks weighed once gutted. ( bone still in, quartered i guess)
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Old 05-12-2013, 07:10 PM
elkhunter11 elkhunter11 is online now
 
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My heaviest bull was 538lbs at the butcher. That is no hide, no legs, no head, no internals. The average mature bull is around 400 lbs in the same condition.
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Old 05-12-2013, 07:55 PM
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I would estimate 600-650
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Old 05-12-2013, 08:32 PM
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Elk Hunter17 Elk Hunter17 is offline
 
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All the elk we shot were between 380 and 450, that's with no hide or guts.
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Old 05-12-2013, 08:35 PM
bulletman bulletman is offline
 
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Default Bull elk

My biggest wild bull was 440 pounds!
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Old 05-12-2013, 09:16 PM
Allseasons Allseasons is offline
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Elk Hunter17 View Post
All the elk we shot were between 380 and 450, that's with no hide or guts.
X7 lol
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Old 05-12-2013, 09:57 PM
Hawkhills Hawkhills is offline
 
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managed to harvest elk.Just never been able to back a truck up to them.Best wishs on that
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Old 05-12-2013, 10:38 PM
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last years elk weighed 440lbs... sure could have used one of those fancy hoists
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Old 05-12-2013, 10:44 PM
grinr grinr is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Hawkhills View Post
managed to harvest elk.Just never been able to back a truck up to them.Best wishs on that
Quad it out to road.

That said,500lb cap is a little too light IMO if your considering field dressed weight including head and hide.Skinned and quartered/bone in your pushing it....boneless meat only,no problem.
Probly better off to find a small 1000-1200lb capacity utility trailer on Kijiji for $3-400 bucks?I just recently seen brand new 1200lb "fold-ups"(folds for storage)on kijiji for $599....was tempted myself but bought something alot heavier for my needs.
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  #10  
Old 05-12-2013, 11:29 PM
rogo rogo is offline
 
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This is what I'm looking for - would like to keep the meat outside of my vehicle.
If this wont hold it - any one have any ideas on how to strengthen this ?

I want to avoid pulling a trailer if i can.

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Old 05-12-2013, 11:41 PM
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Speckle55 Speckle55 is offline
 
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Rogo... just do this and no worries even if you just do the back and hips keeping legs intact you will cut down weight.. I did my Bull Elk last year in 6 pieces and my boy and partner packed out .. neck meat and other meat make sausage/hamburger and does not need to be aged much .. just bag and take home

David

http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=...g+a+Elk+u-tube
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Old 05-12-2013, 11:42 PM
grinr grinr is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rogo View Post
This is what I'm looking for - would like to keep the meat outside of my vehicle.
If this wont hold it - any one have any ideas on how to strengthen this ?

I want to avoid pulling a trailer if i can.

Weight capacity aside,unless that carrier is ALOT bigger dimensions then the models I'm familiar with,you ain't gonna fit a bull elk onto it anyhow,quartered or otherwise.Boneless.....maybe in big Rubbermaid bins??Other than that,a big WT or mule buck field dressed will fill that rig up......bull elk??Fogetaboutit.....
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Old 05-13-2013, 01:42 AM
cochranenite cochranenite is offline
 
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If you could even put a bull elk in there , I would be worried about the bouncing going down the highway , just my thought, you will be close to max weight to. Buy a small trailer.

CN
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  #14  
Old 05-13-2013, 01:56 AM
Vingiu Vingiu is offline
 
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Hmm, those carriers are just way too tiny to carry a field dressed elk, nevermind the weight capacity. You might be able to get away with it if you also purchase a rooftop cargo basket and stow some of the carcass on that.
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Old 05-13-2013, 08:57 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Lr1000 View Post
I would estimate 600-650
I agree, a couple of my bigger bulls met those marks. If he sticks to little guys he should be 250-300 or so.


That carrier...can you put one on the front of your vehicle also [I can]?

If you're seriously considering doing this I'd separate the fronts, and meat, from the ribs, backbone and neck bones to help reduce the final weight.
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  #16  
Old 05-13-2013, 10:41 AM
bush monkey bush monkey is offline
 
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just take that picture to the welding shop, or someone that welds, and have one built to what you want! maybe you could just modify that one with extra support, and a bigger surface?
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  #17  
Old 05-13-2013, 11:15 AM
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mad fisher mad fisher is offline
 
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Building a stronger unit likely will not help you out.

The reason for the 500lb rating is because the hitches are only rated for a 500lb tongue weight.

Any more than that and you will likely wreck your mount or at least bend it.
Especially if you are fully loaded and bouncing it down a gravel road.
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  #18  
Old 05-13-2013, 11:58 AM
bush monkey bush monkey is offline
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mad fisher View Post
Building a stronger unit likely will not help you out.

The reason for the 500lb rating is because the hitches are only rated for a 500lb tongue weight.

Any more than that and you will likely wreck your mount or at least bend it.
Especially if you are fully loaded and bouncing it down a gravel road.
very good point! In that case you would have to build something that is a box extension insert that maybe uses the hitch as a mounting point, but still extends out as the tray. With the costs of fabrication, maybe time to look into a trailer!
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  #19  
Old 05-13-2013, 03:54 PM
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The Spruce The Spruce is offline
 
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I shot a bull that dressed 620, and another that dressed 570. If I was to have used a hitch mount to skin, I would estimate weight with guts out to be 800+ on a big bull while skinning. Most bulls/cows are in the 350-450 range, plus add another 100-150 for head/hide before skinning.
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  #20  
Old 05-14-2013, 12:36 AM
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Default Elk weight

My little bull elk weighed in at 320lbs at the butcher. That's 4 quarters skinned out.
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  #21  
Old 05-14-2013, 10:51 PM
6.5swedeforelk 6.5swedeforelk is offline
 
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The single elk of mine that made it to an abbatoir & certified scales weighed 663 lbs (we always process our own meat). This particular elk was a big bodied 6x6 but certainly not the biggest. I even remember the man measured the horns & they were 366.

But my concern is for someone transporting a gutted animal in the partial vacuum slipstream of a vehicle spewing unburned hydrocarbons & whatnot onto the meat, not to mention the dust, sand and ground-up coyote crap deposits. The missus will be less than enthusiastic!
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  #22  
Old 05-14-2013, 11:24 PM
6.5swedeforelk 6.5swedeforelk is offline
 
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The single elk of mine that made it to an abbatoir & certified scales weighed 663 lbs (we always process our own meat). This particular elk was a big bodied 6x6 but certainly not the biggest. I even remember the man measured the horns & they were 366.

But my concern is for someone transporting a gutted animal in the partial vacuum slipstream of a vehicle spewing unburned hydrocarbons & whatnot onto the meat, not to mention the dust, sand and ground-up coyote crap deposits. The missus will be less than enthusiastic!
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  #23  
Old 05-23-2013, 08:41 PM
recoil 5 recoil 5 is offline
 
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My 5x5 bull weighed 420 pounds in the cooler, of our local meat plant.
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