Lower leg?????

[NV_ARCH3R]

I don't understand why I see soo many pictures of people packing out quarters with the lower leg still attached. Seems to me that's a lot of just bone, dead weight to pack for no reason. Font quarters are easy just cut through the knee joint, the hinds, a bit tricky to separate at the butchers joint (stifle) rather than the hock joint, but easily doable once understood where to cut.

 

[vanish]

I'm with you there!

 

[el unit]

Normally, I cut off the lower leg- even when having horses do the work. But this year's bull, I only cut the lower leg on the midnight front quarter backpack out. The next three quarters were easier to pack on my shoulder with the lower leg, the few times I moved them, as the lower leg acted as a counter balance and handle for throwing over my shoulder.
Last year's elk, I removed all the lower legs before packing out on horse back.
I do agree, the lower leg is nothing but dead weight and more bulk.

 

[tjones]

I alway hear "well we didn't have a saw". SMH

 

[JohnCushman]

Some of us like osso bucco

 

[NV_ARCH3R]

I can't say I'm any kind of a cook but I believe osso bucco is made from the shank which still has a bit of meat on it. those lower legs are only bone and tendon, I suppose if you like bone marrow. but like I said I'm no kind of cook. Don't take offence if I'm wrong.

 

[vanish]

Some of us like osso bucco

That's the next part of the leg up higher - not the part attached to the hoof.

 

[JohnCushman]

That's the next part of the leg up higher - not the part attached to the hoof.

My bad...I misunderstood

 

[noharleyyet]

Close enuff Cush....hell, I thought it was a coffee liqueur.

 

[wytex]

Most don't know a good knife will take that joint apart.
We only leave it as stated above to carry out a quarter without a pack for the first trip out.

 

[el unit]

Most don't know a good knife will take that joint apart.
We only leave it as stated above to carry out a quarter without a pack for the first trip out.

Yes. For a number of years, I used a saw. How uneducated I was. It's so easy to use a knife to cut the lower legs off. And elk osso bucco is awesome!

 

[Gellar]

I was thinking the same thing as Cushman. Fix up some braised shanks either Osso Bucco style, barbacoa, or however you decide and you will understand why people are packing that lower leg out! After you try them you may decide to leave the loins if you are trying to save on weight, j/k!

https://honest-food.net/wild-game/venison-recipes/flank-steaks/

 

[zachthebowhunter]

Honestly sometimes I am just lazy and don't feel like doing it. And I don't really notice the extra couple pounds. Also if the pack is not very far, like my dads moose last year, I'll just leave them on.

 

[Wally Dog]

I don't think I've ever used a saw for either fronts or hinds................and I do agree, take them off.