There' s five of us going to CO next month for the early season muzzleloader hunt. My friend that lives there claims we' ll do real well. I hope he' s right, and I' ve tried to do my part with the preparation. We purchased five tags, 2 cow, and 3 bull. So, here' s the question. What would you meat huntetrs be looking for in a cow? Take a fawn, a one and a half year old, or would you take the biggest fattest thing you could find? I know as a whitetail hunter I' ve had my choice a number of times and just wondered which one you would take?

I think its just personal preference and mine is the biggest, fatest thing I can find. They' re as good eatin as any of em in my book.

IMO, they all eat good, but I also believe that the older they are, the tougher the meat tends to be. Handling the meat correctly after the shot can play a large roll in what it tastes like too. Get it cool, and keep it clean, and try to avoid sawing through any bone.

Hale87,
I' m a meat hunter and when I hunt elk it is the 1st leagle one that gets in my sights,if I have a choice it would be Bull,Cows and calfs and I would probaly pass on the calf and look for mom and dad.Most of my elk have been large cows(Lead).BBJ

if i was out for just meat id take the first legal bull or cow that presented me with a good shot. id pass on a calf.

I' d be looking for a medium sized cow. I wouldn' t want something too old because the meat would be tougher, although still great, just tougher. I wouldn' t want a calf because of quantity. I' d be looking for that perfect in between medium. [8D]

When I was a guide in Montana, I used to recommend to my clients to shoot the first LEGAL elk that you see. It may be the ONLY elk you have an oppurtunity to harvest. I have hunted CO the last 4 years in a row. I have been lucky enough to draw the Non Res cow tag all 4 years. (including this year) I brought home a cow the last 3 years. However, if I had not shot the elk that I did, I would have come home empty handed. This is my .02 from 18 years of hunting elk.

First legal antlerless elk from yearling size on up. Pass on the calf. Chances are if you see an actual calf, you will see some cows with it. Good luck.

The first elk that you have a tag for. Like mathewsarcher said, there may not be another chance at an elk. Not too many years that I have had multiple opportunites at elk.

Now, if I had a heard standing in a meadow and had the time to choose then I would take a cow on the bigger side of the scale. The cows all taste good.

Fat cow. Good luck on your hunt!!