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Post by johna2231 on Jan 3, 2013 22:19:47 GMT -6
Gentlemen,
Tomorrow morning I'm off on a new adventure. Camper's loaded and ready to go. I've never hunted the southern part of Colorado. And I got lucky and drew a "ranch hunt" where common folk like me can actually have a rare opportunity to hunt on a private ranch. Cow elk is on the menu, we'll see how it goes. Been cold here. Supposed to get down around 7 degrees, so I'll be bundled up. Much warmer during the height of the day. Up in the mid to upper 30s. That will be nice!
I'll be using my Savage 308 Scout Rifle. First hunt with this rifle.
As some of you know I've got a freezer full of moose from the bow season. So, that makes the chances of success go through the roof (since I'll have to beg and borrow freezer space from friends to have somewhere to put it if I get one) hehe. But hey, properly wrapped wild game lasts two years for me easy, so if I'm not so lucky next year -- not a big deal.
Anyway, I'm always stoked to hunt in "new country" that I've never been in before. Wish me luck.
John
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ShadowsDad
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None boring shaver!!
"It's not the bow, it's the Indian"
Posts: 4,534
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Post by ShadowsDad on Jan 3, 2013 23:07:21 GMT -6
Good luck John!
Hey, get yourself a Foodsaver! Vacuum packed meat lasts a VERY long time. I don't care what they say, wrap it with plastic wrap then vacuum pack it. We just ate a Rib roast that was at least 5 years old and it was like the day I vacuum packed it.
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Post by wchnu on Jan 3, 2013 23:18:28 GMT -6
Good luck!!!! My Dad hunted Colorado a few years and was able to bring home a respectable 5x5. I have never gotten that chance yet. I am hoping to put together a Caribou hunt one day. Maybe Alaska or Canada. Hope you have a great hunt.
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Post by razorx on Jan 4, 2013 9:42:03 GMT -6
Good Hunting John... Enjoy Every Moment
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Post by HoosierTrooper on Jan 4, 2013 10:06:06 GMT -6
Good luck!
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Post by Trout Whisperer on Jan 5, 2013 1:07:50 GMT -6
Is this a "Ranching for Wildlife" hunt? Always wondered what it would be like to participate in one of those hunts. Hope you have a great time!
And do I understand you drew--and filled--a Shiras moose tag in Colorado? If so, congratulations! That's quite a feat right there.
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RocketMan
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Post by RocketMan on Jan 5, 2013 15:52:57 GMT -6
Enjoy your trip!!!!! Make sure to aim before you shoot. Explanations afterwards are always tricky!
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Post by johna2231 on Jan 6, 2013 20:40:09 GMT -6
Thank you all for your kind well-wishes.
Brian, I really need to look into one of those. We're been double wrapping for the past 20 some years with saran wrap, then freezer paper and it keeps meet for years. But it's a long process.
wchnu, do you bow hunt? That's 90% of my hunting these days. If so, consider yourself invited. I'd be glad to host ya.
Trout Whisperer. Yes Sir, it was a "Ranching for Wildlife" hunt. That's the only way I'm gonna afford to hunt on a private ranch like this. It was beautiful! Are you a Colorado resident? If so you should read up on them. I'll be glad to answer any questions you have here or on in PM if you'd like.
RM, good advice Sir!
Well, I just got home this evening. Last evening I got lucky and got a shot at what I thought was a "calf". I had a cow tag, so calves are legal and since I got a freezer full of moose already, "calf" sounded pretty good. Well, it turned out to be a "yearling" (still perfectly legal) but quite a bit bigger, still tender. grin!
I only took one pic with my cell phone that was a bad pic. I was stressed since it was near dark, I had to get back to the ranch headquarters to "check in" before they called out the troops to look for me, and the temp was dropping like a rock. Anyway, I gutted him out (turned out to be a male, still legal) and skinned him part way before attempting to load him whole in my pick up. Wow! That was a chore, but I got him in there and drove to the ranch entrance. Couldn't find it in the dark. They were all gone when I went to check in. I feared the worst, but signed out and called their office number and left a message that I was safe. Turns out this happens all the time and they don't worry until another day has gone by. Message to self, DON'T MESS UP out there. You're pretty much on your own. hehe.
Anyway, who hoo! I bagged my first elk. Very excited!
I got it back to camp, skinned and quartered it, got it in the coolers. I was glad I did 'cause when I woke up this morning it was 11 degrees F this morning. Would have been near impossible to skin then. Plus I got to sleep in, and have a long leisurely breakfast before starting to break down camp and head home. Good times!
The ranch manager was gone on a lion hunt nearby. There are NO deer in the area due to lion predation, so they are trying to legally lower the lion numbers in the area.
And TW, yes indeed. I took a Colorado Shiras moose (for you non-critter geeks, that's the sub species of moose that lives in Colorado. The smallest of 3 or 4 species indigenous to North America). It took 7 years to draw an archery cow tag for Unit 28 (Winter Park Area) and I got lucky and took a shot at 42 yards that resulted in a complete "pass through" with the arrow. It was the most exciting hunting moment of my life. Thanks for your kind words.
So, I just loaded some pics of the hunt and area on my computer and must try and get 'em on photo bucket etc. to try and add 'em here. I'll see to that tomorrow, I hope.
Shower was great tonight! Head and face shave with my Schick Adjustable Injector with china Shick blade (19!), VDH soap, Thayers Super Hazel, and, of course, Krampert's Finest Acadian Bay Rum. Now I feel human again! I bet you guys didn't see that SOTD getting snuck in on ya, did ya! LOL!
Great to be back. Thanks again.
John
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RocketMan
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Post by RocketMan on Jan 6, 2013 21:58:52 GMT -6
Sounds like a very exciting - and profitable - trip so far!!!
And you are right, I for one didn't expect an SOTD coming out of your end!
I have learned something here too. I had no idea there are different species of mooseses!!! I grew up in Newfoundland where the moose run rampant. Then off to Manitoba in central Canada, where the moose tend to run at ya and ask questions later. I have really had lots of experience with the critters. But, I had absolutely no idea there were different ones. I am shocked really! I guess I am going to have to brush up on becoming a 'critter geek' and start some learning. I will start with mooseseses! And congrats on that.
Enjoy your trip.
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ShadowsDad
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None boring shaver!!
"It's not the bow, it's the Indian"
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Post by ShadowsDad on Jan 6, 2013 22:17:21 GMT -6
Sounds like a great hunt !
You filled your tag, and did it safely; successful hunt.
Is elk as good eating as moose meat is?
John, regarding the vacuumSaver. Ours is a ProII or some such. Anyway it's automated. I did an entire side of beef the first year we had it all by myself in under 2 hours. It was doing it's thing as I was getting the next bag ready. When it was done I was putting the next one in place. I bet we've had ours 12 years, so ours probably is no longer made. I also understand that the newer ones aren't as long lived. It's still worth having a vacuum sealer. BTW, I always wrap first anyway, even if it's just plastic wrap. Sometimes the vacuum fails and if plastic wrap has been frozen onto the meat, even with air in the bag freezer burn just doesn't happen.
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Post by johna2231 on Jan 7, 2013 20:39:14 GMT -6
Here's a try at pics. It's just mainly of the "lunch room" where we checked in and out of the ranch. Keep in mind, I stayed in my camper and was a public guest at this ranch. I wasn't catered to nor guided in this fancy facility. Beautiful place though! [img src="[/img]http://www.flickr.com/photos/90688894@N02/8360174794/ "] [img src="[/img]http://www.flickr.com/photos/90688894@N02/8359111499/ "] [img src="[/img]http://www.flickr.com/photos/90688894@N02/8360174570/ "] [img src="[/img]http://www.flickr.com/photos/90688894@N02/8360174138/ "] You guys know me and photos.... Hope this worked. Yes, there are various kinds mices....grin. SD: I've been wanting on of those vac sealers for years now, but I hear bad things about their longevity etc. and dependability too. Maybe I'll see if they still make the brand you have? Anyway, there is one butcher locally that has a great reputation so for the first time in 24 years I took a critter in to be processed instead of doing my own. I hope it wasn't a mistake. I know they can't take the time that I usually do so I have realistic expectations. I'm just kind of burned out on butchering after the 16 hour moose marathon...grin. Thanks again for your interest. John Attachments:
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Post by wchnu on Jan 7, 2013 21:48:34 GMT -6
Thanks for the invite John. I don't bow hunt. I have a busted elbow. Makes it hard to pull a bow and hold for a shot so just never got into it. I am a gun guy Great to hear about your hunt. Thanks for sharing.
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ShadowsDad
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None boring shaver!!
"It's not the bow, it's the Indian"
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Post by ShadowsDad on Jan 7, 2013 22:01:06 GMT -6
John, I don't think they make ours anymore and if they did it would be todays manufacture. I'd do a bunch of online research, there's better than the Tilia vac sealers. At all sorts of prices too. When this one dies I doubt our next one will be another Tilia. But we get all sorts of use out of ours, so for us a super duper one will pay off.
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Post by johna2231 on Jan 8, 2013 10:20:02 GMT -6
SD, I didn't answer one of your questions from earlier: Yes, moose is as good if not better than elk. The flavor is even more mild than elk and very closely resembles prime rib beef. Mine is a bit chewy, not tough, but chewy. I think she was an older moose. I'm still trying to figure out the right combination of tenderizer etc. to get the steaks just so. But the flavor is great and if it doesn't get any better than it is, that's fine with me.
This elk might give the moose a run for it's money table fare-wise though. It's gonna be tender it's so young.
So, I'm in no hurry to get a food saver. But was doing a little comparison on Amazon. So your's is a Tilia, not a Proll brand? There's certainly lots of different models. The bags seem expensive. Am I missing something or am I just cheap? smile. As my wife said though, by the time you figure in double wrapping etc. they might be much closer cost-wise than you'd think.
John
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ShadowsDad
Gem Star
None boring shaver!!
"It's not the bow, it's the Indian"
Posts: 4,534
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Post by ShadowsDad on Jan 8, 2013 10:51:03 GMT -6
Yes, ours is a Tilia. Check Cabelas too, they did have some really good ones. In fact Cabelas is where we got our ProII.
If you can get bag material in a roll you can make longer ones than you require. Each time it's used you'll lose approx 1". It can be used over and over. Yeah, I'm tight too, but it's not as expensive as you're picturing in the long haul. The only time I use freezer wrap is to keep sharp bones from touching the plastic bag directly. That will perforate it.
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