How Much Does An Elk Really Weigh?

[Trapper7]

This year I shot the largest cow elk I've ever shot. We took her to the local locker plant. The proprietor said it was as big as any cow elk he had taken in this year(according to his register, he had butchered over 500 elk).

I asked him what a cow elk like mine would weigh alive. My guess would have been 6-700 pounds. He said actual live weight would be more like 500 to 600. He also said a good bull is only around 700. Some might be a little heavier, but not much.

I was surprised. I admit I wouldn't be any good working in a carnival trying to guess someone's weigh, but I sure thought an elk weighed more than that. I thought some bulls tipped the scales, live weight at close to 1,000 pounds.

[M.T. Pockets]

Guessing weights on an animal can start a lot of arguments. I think most are over estimated.

I've heard if you weigh the 4 quarters of a field dressed elk, legs cut off at the hock, and double it you've got a close estimate to the animal's live weight.

I took a bull in 2003 that weighed 402 lbs. at the locker, that would put him at around 800 live weight. It was a 6 year old 6x6 herd bull in the rut. My partner took a satellite bull out of this herd that quartered at 452, the locker said it was the heaviest bull they've seen in 4 years. He was a 4 year old 5x5. In 2000 I took another bull to the same locker that quartered at 298, he was a 3 year old 5x5.

I don't know how this formula would work with cows with the different anatomy and no rack, but I would think it should be close.

If you want to see a bull that would have weighed 1,000 live on the hoof just stop at the Scheel's Sporting Goods store in Sioux Falls and see the life size mount with the world record sheds they've got upstairs. Then you'll realize that all bull elk aren't the same size.

[supersider34]

My buddy took his bull in whole and hanging at the butcher it weighed 478 pds. Thats just the carcass nothing on it.
Here is the link for RMEF. Fast facts about elk.
http://www.rmef.org/pages/elkfacts.html

[300 RUM]

My uncle runs a private Elk hunting ranch, He has the Rocky Mtn subspieces which have the largest antlers but second largest body size. The subspecies known as the Roosevelt have the largest bodies but their antlers are typically smaller than the Rocky Mtn.
Keep in mind his elk are raised on an very high protein diet. His average shooter bull is about 900 lbs live weight. Most his shooters are 4-5 years old and score the 350 to 360 range. This is a very accurate live weight because he weighs them alive and well every year in a sqeeze shute. Typically in early spring after the antlers have dropped. His heaviest bull ever weighed about 1200 lbs, he was a very large bull. I think he was 8 years old and was scored at 419 gross.
I helped him catch that big boy get him into a holding pen so they could score him. I tell you what its very intimidating to try and force a 1100 pound elk with 6 foot long antlers to go somewhere he doesnt want to go.

[300 RUM]

Here are some older pics cant find any newer ones.

[300 RUM]

more pics

[hnter]

I've kilt over 30 elk in my life and been in on the kill of many more. So I've been there-done that.

An absolutly HUGE wild bull elk might go 550-500# live weight but they aren't common, the norm would be arounf 450#. A cow is around 15% less.
I've only seen one in my life time and I didn't shoot it.
Keep in mind game meat packers are paid by weight or by species, they tend to over state/estimate (heavy thumb) weight. Weigh the darned thing prior to taking it to them, saves you money and it keeps them honest, just as locks keep honest people honest.

If your a meat packer, don't bother to scream at me, I don't care. But, by your not policing yourselves you've brought this on yourselves.
I cut & wrap all my meat myself, make no diff wether it's wild od domestic.
I don't like to pay grocery stores for its packaging either. If you want to that's OK with me, but.....

[Evan03]

how come those elk look tame, with green grass growing,

normaly a pic like these are in 3 foot of snow and were feeding.

[grayghost]

Interesting post Trapper7. I've never weighed any of my Elk, but I promise you, by the time you pack out one hind quarter (on your back) you'll swear they weigh 1,000 lbs..lol. Packing out with Horses and Mules is no free ride either. Sometimes you have a pack animal that just don't kinder to the smell, and once had a Mule that was cool unless an antler poked him. Then all hell would break lose. Needless to say, my Guide had my elk rack tied very securely and all points were covered and padded. Ride went smooth....that day. Good hunting, grayghost

[Hi Ball]

I can only say that I have only seen one bull elk in my lifetime so far in the wild (not ranch feed) that I figured would approach that 1100 pound live weight. It was a true 7 x 7 up above Hoback Juction in the year 2000.

I watched and studied that bull for over 3 hours. Nothing else to do, as there was one heck of a canyon between him and I. My range finder gave me a reading of 960 yards! My .338 mag model 70 rifle was only good for 450 yards.

Most cows will hit between 300 and 400 marker on the scales! However there are exceptions to every rule I reckon. Most younger 4 x 5 and 5 x 5 will hit that 500 to 600 mark as a general rule. It takes a very mature bull to come in at 800 to 900 pounds
on the hoof.