When I was guiding elk hunters, small rag horns and spikes were often taken. Removing hide, guts and head, I would take then to the locker plant where they were weighed. Between 225 and 250 pounds was the standard with the bones. Cows were usually @200 pounds so dressed out. With the head, hide, and guts I figured would double the weight. I have been around over 100 elk killed and have taken 38 myself so have a small amount of experience. One morning I shot an average sized older cow. Gutted it out and loaded it in my pickup. Before I got home I had to help a friend shoot a #800 (weighed) cow bison. Putting her in my truck along side the elk, the size difference dramatic. The elk looked like a fawn compared to the bison.
How much do elk weigh?
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It's a simple matter of weight ratios . . .
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Very true.
Absalom
SWCA Member, Absent Comrade
Yeah, I'm sure that was misunderstood and he was actually talking about the draw weight of his bow.
That's even More unbelievable!
According to Alexa:
"Elk or sometimes called wapiti, are one of the largest land mammals belonging to the deer family or the Cervidae family. In fact, an elk is around 5-7 times the size and weight of other deer species, such as the whitetail deer.
There are several subspecies of elk which also differ in general size and weight. The largest subspecies is the Roosevelt elk often found in Washington, Canada, Oregon, and California. The largest bull was discovered in Alaska with a weight that can reach up to 1,300 pounds (600 kilograms). Cows weigh about 573 to 625 pounds (300-544 kilograms)
The smallest elk subspecies, on the other hand, is the Tule elk generally found in California which weighs only 370 to 500 pounds (170-250 kilograms)."
"Elk or sometimes called wapiti, are one of the largest land mammals belonging to the deer family or the Cervidae family. In fact, an elk is around 5-7 times the size and weight of other deer species, such as the whitetail deer.
There are several subspecies of elk which also differ in general size and weight. The largest subspecies is the Roosevelt elk often found in Washington, Canada, Oregon, and California. The largest bull was discovered in Alaska with a weight that can reach up to 1,300 pounds (600 kilograms). Cows weigh about 573 to 625 pounds (300-544 kilograms)
The smallest elk subspecies, on the other hand, is the Tule elk generally found in California which weighs only 370 to 500 pounds (170-250 kilograms)."
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The largest and smallest are mentioned, but the most common, the Rocky Mountain elk is not. There are far more of these than the other two and cover a wider range. When most people speak of elk, they are referring to the Rocky Mountain variety.
So far, on this thread, there is a point here and a point there. But there
is a lot of bull in between.
is a lot of bull in between.
So how much do they weigh? I think I remember they are in between the two but closer to the Roosevelt.
And btw, I think that's what the gentleman was hunting. Somewhere in Co.
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Sounds like a lot of Bull!
1800 #'s would be a record Bull moose.
This is from the Rocket Mountain Elk Foundation:
Elk Facts | Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation
I've take 3 bulls in Colorado, but never weighted one. A decent bull yields around 200 pounds of meat.
If you are only getting 200 pounds off meat off your Elk................
you need to find a new Butcher, fast !!
Rifleman200-10X
Member
Perhaps the only way to answer this is to have all the elk line up, stand on the scales one by one, and see what the average is. Simple math....
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Already covered in posts #2 and #4. If hunting in Colorado and most of the mountain states, Rocky Mountain elk.
So it was, thanks.
vonn
US Veteran
If I have to hump it out around 1200 pounds ! Took 2 of us in our thirties to carry the horns of a large bull down the mountain sliding,falling,etc. the whole way to our camp.
Absalom
SWCA Member, Absent Comrade
Additionally, it needs to be reiterated that the two most common subspecies, RM and Roosevelt, are so close genetically that almost all differences in size and external appearance, such as antlers, can be blamed on the respective habitat.
It's the same as with the Alaskan coastal brown bear (Ursus arctos middendorffi) and the inland grizzly (ursus arctos horribilis).
If you put two calves or cubs from those subspecies in exactly the same environment with the same vegetation, climate, and food sources, you're going to end up with two very similar elk or bears.
So even within the subspecies, the specific habitat influences size.
Rifleman200-10X
Member
My wife, at 5'-2", used to have a T-shirt, shortly after our first child, that said: "I'm not overweight, I'm 6 inches too short." Same formula probably applies to elk......
I've killed 30+ elk over the years and I doubt that any of them went over 750 lbs on the hoof and most of them quite a bit less. There was one big-bodied 5 point bull, though, that I carried out in pieces over about 6 miles of heavy timber and rough country, and I would swear that he was at least a ton - maybe more!
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RobertJ.
Member
Perhaps the only way to answer this is to have all the elk line up, stand on the scales one by one, and see what the average is. Simple math....
Looks good in theory, however...
Elk are very shy. You may get one on the scale, but he (or especially she) will never let you see what it says.
