Steven Rupp's elk adventure

[srupp]

Well I'm darned well almost warm.... All gear has been washed.. Optics cleaned.. Rifle cleaned and oiled... I have completed processing the front half of the elk.. Ribs, roast, steaks... And some for German dinner sausage and a few packages of Burger. The rear half of the elk is thawing in the garage..

There are so many folks to thank... I know I'm going to miss some but I'm going to give it a try VIP RUGER, MIK,SITKA SPRUCE,BRVALLEY,SNEG.TOMOWHAWK,D6DAN AND HIS BROTHER MIKE,NOWADAWG,DALE,PG FULL MONTEY,LEADPILLERPRODUCTIONS,RACKEM,MIKE, DOUG CONNALLY,MOOSINAROUND,SWAMP MULE , ROCKSTEADY ,F350PS,BWHNTER,COACH,GOATGUY,BOXHITCH,HUNTER1947.

I learned that seven-hour hand warmers actually last 60 min., That there is no such thing as too warm... I ground blind AND A chair would've been awesome.. I heater would have been a blessing.

The elk were coming in right at dusk however by carefully glassing the trees on the edge of the hill they congregated there waiting for dusk. Three cow elk took a chance and headed into the pasture I half an hour before dark and by the time I got around to the north end a fourth cow was heading across to join them... The shot was approximately 206 yards, I was using .338 Sako... Shooting 225 grain handloaded Barnes TSX. The one-shot spined her about 4 inches behind the shoulder... Heavy breathing from being out of shape, extremely sore knees, and buck fever all contributed to the shot being somewhat high... Rifle was sited in to be 3 inches high at 100 yards..

However no tracking was needed here she dropped and never moved. I asked the rancher what are the chances of me driving my truck and where the elk Lay? And he suggested that the Ford would not make it through the 3 feet of snow.. So we went back and he got his tractor... The big tractor.. In four-wheel drive, and low gear we drove right out to the elk... With both of us cutting on the elk... It literally was 6 min. and he hooked a chain to the front legs raised the elk, the guts dropped out and we drove back to my truck.. I had brought along the ATV ramp and pulled it all out while the rancher lowered the elk on the ATV ramp as I pushed it in... Loaded in under 2 min...lol... I need one of these tractors for my sheep hunts..ha ha ha.

I gave the rancher my business card, with my address, and phone numbers and in the spring he will contact me and I will go up to 4 days of work... As a symbol of my thankfulness and appreciation for everything that he did for my family. He literally treated me like his brother.

As with all Rupp's adventures... This one comes without pictures as the camera was frozen solid in my pocket... I will take a couple pictures of the butchering and sausage making to hopefully convince someone there actually was a cow elk shot....

To all those that I've mentioned or have forgotten to mention I thank you for the advice, directions contacts and unmeasurable help, this was my first elk, we have tried a steak.. And it was wonderful rocksteady you were right.!!

The afternoon ambush worked perfectly... And I thank everyone.. For helping me put away the mid-winters meat...

cheers and thanks

Steven Rupp

[Bc Deer Hunter]

Big congrats on your elk!! Lots of meat to keep ya going to the fall :)

[835]

lol "No pics Steven" is your new name!

nice work RUPP!
gotta love the "Auto loader"

[coach]

Awesome stuff, Steven! Those tractors are pretty slick, eh! Great to hear you were successful. Enjoy the meat - there's nothing finer than grain fed cow elk. :-D

[d6dan]

Nicely done Steven. Your persistence paid off. Now that your friends with the farmer, you'll have to keep putting for that draw every year.:wink:

[albravo2]

Well done Steven! Glad the rancher was such a help.

[Spy]

lol "No pics Steven" is your new name!

nice work RUPP!
gotta love the "Auto loader"
LOl ;-)
Congrats on connecting. Now where are the pics?

[Big Lew]

Congrats Steven! Very happy for you. Sure was great for the rancher to bring his tractor along....would have been a long and painful chore for your knees otherwise if you had to pack everything out in deep snow.

[Darksith]

congrats, from what I gathered you totally earned it. Way to stick it out.

[moosinaround]

Way to go Steven!!! I am very happy for you, preparation and hard work pays off in spades!! I hope to post similar results soon!! Moosinaround

[srupp]

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d47/srupp/P1010004.jpg (http://s32.photobucket.com/user/srupp/media/P1010004.jpg.html)

[srupp]

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d47/srupp/P1010005-1.jpg (http://s32.photobucket.com/user/srupp/media/P1010005-1.jpg.html)

sorry Folks..first time the camera has worked in 1 week...frozen in my pack and then my coat..

cheers

Steven

[srupp]

Hey Mike...1 animal does not an expert make..however they all did seem to vacate prior to legal shooting light..even the group @ the community pasture...however after a cold night and long cold day they did seem anxious to hit the chow line...and they hung just inside of the trees waiting for dark...these 4 snuck down a low lying ravine couldn't seem em from any place but where I was...and even 200 yards in FULL winter camo...she knew something was up...caught her just before she ran off....one good thing about a spine shot?? no tracking and no blood spoiled ribs or shoulders..a "good death"..

The trails are well worn..headed to bedding areas..higher elevation...just closed the distance to where they sleep..certainly 99% would not end up in the fields to be seen prior to dark..as a couple of experienced folks mentioned ambush em...and that's what did work in my case....

Good luck Mike straight shooting..and take LOTS OF WARMS CLOTHES..

cheers

Steven

[300H&H]

Congratulations. It was VERY nice of the farmer to help with your elk. It is even nicer you are going back to help him in the spring. Two thumbs up srupp.

[kennyj]

Good for you Mr Rupp. Nice to get the odd easy one.
Congrats on your first elk.
kenny

[hunter fisher]

congrats steve! i had a feeling youd get the job done!

[srupp]

Good for you Mr Rupp. Nice to get the odd easy one.
Congrats on your first elk.
kenny

Thanks...considering hauling it out in...in 6 loads...however we don't know what "odd jobs" will take place come spring...could be Q-tips to clean out the pig pen????lol

thanks counting my lucky stars..

Steven

[rocksteady]

Awesome job Steve.... Now that you have tasted the spoils, you will be hooked on elk meat....

Now we just gotta get you in on a big bugling bull, to really cap off the elk hunting experience....

[Blainer]

Great news!!

[Kudu]

Nice looking piece of meat there Steven - enjoy the roast with a fine glass of wine.

[Elkiller]

Good job bud! You had a tractor and everything you were set right up, I should start learning from you :mrgreen:

[IronNoggin]

Way to Get 'Er Done Buddy! :wink:

Good Work!

Cheers,
Nog

[Sitkaspruce]

Looking good Steven!!!

She looks like she had some fat in her!

Glad you have a great trip, you earned it!!!

Cheers

SS

[srupp]

Hmmmmm..thanks guys.....lots had told me that this Leh was a walk in the park, a100% slam dunk....it was anything but that, and as a first time elk hunter...in a cold winter...with poor knees..going solo...it was 15 hour days..after weeks of phone calls...and literally pounds of printed maps....Even with limited mobility..I Still managed to lose 5 pounds in 4 days.

Steep learning curve...lol I made pages of notes...so that each evening I evaluated just what did I learn...and the nightly tutorials reading help from so many from this site....and a lot of questions that required plenty of phone calls.....Ken had his fair share of phone calls from me for advise on elk...
Still recalling so much I Did learn...

BIGGEST MISTAKE....GOING cheap on the hotel...next one I will insist on working heat in the room or 2 hot escorts ..lol..really surprised by how the cold affected me.....yes I did have an amazing ranch family..and the truly generous amount of support..ie tractor...however this hunt did involve perseverence....I just got up one more time than I fell..

And the sound of bulls bugling at 530 in the dark was awesome...and never heard a cow " MEW"....EXCITING TIMES...

WHO SAYS YOU CANT TEACH OLD DOGS NEW TRICKS?....

STEVEN

[beeker]

Congrats Srupp! thanks for sharing your adventure.

[tomahawk]

Way to go Steven, glad it worked out for yah!!

[glen8221]

Awesome job Steve. Solo hunts in very cold weather test your resolve. Your success shows you can overcome. Well done Sir!

[pescado]

Good job Srupp. Sounds like a fun solo trip. Enjoy your Elk.

[biggyun68]

Well done and I know what you mean about bad knees: 20 years of Rugby, Football and soccer show up 15 minutes into a hike down the hill:-D
Take care and enjoy the best wild game meat

[mountainman]

Good job Steve! Still wondering where my invite for coffee was...... :cry:
We should talk about you coming up here next fall on a Bull elk hunt, I've got a honey hole picked out and a kid who'd love to have you along.
Maybe we can discuss it over a couple days on the Skeena in July!

[pete_k]

Good story Steven. Note taken on the handwarmers. Congrats on the hunt.
I'm in Williams Lake today for work. I'll pop in and pick up some sausage.

[srupp]

Good job Steve! Still wondering where my invite for coffee was...... :cry:
We should talk about you coming up here next fall on a Bull elk hunt, I've got a honey hole picked out and a kid who'd love to have you along.
Maybe we can discuss it over a couple days on the Skeena in July!

Would genuinly love both ...

Give my best to the BRIDE...and the champ....

Steven

[BRvalley]

glad to hear, congrats!

[GoatGuy]

Congrats again - they are great eating elk.

Ground blind + little buddy heater + couple propane bottles + an old sleeping bag and -30 becomes 0 in a hurry.

Or do the Ourea program and bring a heater you can get a tan with.

[srupp]

Hmmmm this hunt was a meat hunt first and foremost..as well as a first attempt solo on elk..( went with Tim when he got his cow draw years ago)..so taking proper care of our "groceries " was important to me..learned a couple "tricks " from the rancher regarding field dressing an elk..one was cutting a triangle out of the brisket so it cooled faster rather than just a straight cut up the center...maybe 5 inches wide piece of brisket was completely removed...having spined her wasted zero meat..even all the ribs were pristine..and being -32 she cooled rapidly and no flies were observed..lol

So Susan and I have completely processed the entire elk boneless...ribs...steaks ..roasts..

trimmings are waiting for burger and German dinner /breakfast sausage making on Friday...break out the grinder and the sausage stuffer...so far its going according to plan..which always worries me..lol..

I do have a little Buddy heater...and will work on the ground blind for next time.....still cant believe it all came together..actually quite well all things being considered...it was a pleasant experience challenging myself with something new....and the learning involved .

I made it crystal clear to the rancher that my willingness to come back and do 4 complete days of whatever he had for me to do was not conditional on me getting and elk or not..the harvesting was the icing on top..and being newly retired I have more time than some other folks..and that not many hunters could make this commitment...it didn't detract from their genuine appreciation of the hunt openings on the ranch....for me in my situation it just seemed the right thing to do..as I have said previously..the barn door must swing both ways.....I know all the hunters appreciate the openings and the consideration of these ranchers opening their private residences to us to harvest an elk...

yes I hopefully can do this again...

cheers

Steven

[rocksteady]

Super stoked for your success...

[Xenomorph]

Congrats! Sausages, eh? :) Have you made any lanjaggers?

[BiG Boar]

And I skipped ahead to see the pictures! On thinking about it though, I've seen a cow elk before, and probably wouldn't have been able to tell a trophy one, from an average one.

Congrats on some great meat in the freezer!

[srupp]

And I skipped ahead to see the pictures! On thinking about it though, I've seen a cow elk before, and probably wouldn't have been able to tell a trophy one, from an average one.

Congrats on some great meat in the freezer!

LMAO...You are correct Dave the meat is terrific..probably the best big game I have had the good fortune to harvest..

as for the trophy caliber...she was udderly non typical.......

cheers

Steven

[Call of the Wild]

Good job Steven!! With lots of major temp swing this year and various snow conditions it's not an easy hunt as it appears to be. Enjoy the good venison, elk is top!

[Blockcaver]

Way to go Steve, nice you are retired and have time to accomplish this! An elk is a great years supply of meat for 2 people. Butchered like you did.....boneless without tallow will about guarantee excellent flavor in an elk.

[HCH]

Congrats Steven. Elk is dam tasty.

[Mik]

Sounds like you had a great adventure. Cow elk is definately one of my favorite meats, and with a spine shot like that, nothing is wasted, good clean meat and lots of it. Congratulations and thanks for sharing.

[tigrr]

Good times Steven. Sounds like you had fun. Waiting to shoot my first moose. Wife says it would be cheaper to buy a cow instead. Its just not the same. I'll be in williams puddle doing some business thursday the 13. Need a hand?

[srupp]

Hmm just waiting on some casings....all the major work is done..including warmed up.


However give me a call and I will put on coffee..today is a rest day....just do some picky honey do list...

I HAVE some great ideas for your moose Leh..

Cheers
Srupp

[Angus]

Hey Steve, glad it all came together for you. Good job!

[molshunter]

:-DHello Steven, just saw you had some luck. I am new to this site and have a tag for 7-20 for elk. Would you be willing to give me some good advice where to go?

[nature girl]

Steven, I am so glad you got yourself a elk. To bad Susan didnt go with you.

[jaeger]

Hmm just waiting on some casings....all the major work is done..including warmed up.


However give me a call and I will put on coffee..today is a rest day....just do some picky honey do list...

I HAVE some great ideas for your moose Leh..

Cheers
Srupp

Hi Steven,
Congratulations on your successful Elk hunt!

Just made some fresh Apple and Cinnamon Elk Dinner sausages for one of our game banquets here in the Okanagan turned out fantastic. I like the Rytek Kutas Book on making sausages for ideas then modify them to my liking.

P.S Congratulations on your retirement.
Cheers Jaeger

[abbyfireguy]

Congrats on the elk and retirement. Hopefully I will do both in the next year and a bit..
Relax and stay warm...

[chilcotin hillbilly]

Atta boy Steve, that weather sucked!! I had to hunt everyday in that crap!

[srupp]

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d47/srupp/P1010006.jpg (http://s32.photobucket.com/user/srupp/media/P1010006.jpg.html)

so the last part of processing this elk is to grind, mix, and make burger and sausage... I started by breaking out the hundred and 50 pound digital scale... It has a separate digital reading display, and is easily zeroed out to account for the weight of the bin.. And makes accurately separating 20 pounds of burger very easy. I also have a small digital scale for mixing spices.. I.e. 19 g of pepper per 20 pounds of the specific recipe..

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d47/srupp/P1010006.jpg (http://s32.photobucket.com/user/srupp/media/P1010006.jpg.html)

[srupp]

The next step is grinding the residual of the elk, here is a one and three-quarter horsepower Cabelas grinder... Is extremely powerful, quiet and efficient....

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d47/srupp/P1010007-1.jpg (http://s32.photobucket.com/user/srupp/media/P1010007-1.jpg.html)

[srupp]

As can be seen here this puppy puts out a pretty impressive run grind rate... I expect I could do all 40 pounds in under 6 min. it is important that the meat is partially frozen, at least very well chilled, and I store the auger the plates and blades in the freezer overnight... It makes for a better grind. I also match up a set of blades with a grinder plate and these never get separated a specific blade for a specific plate... And I never grind more than twice more in this case would be worse.

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d47/srupp/P1010008.jpg (http://s32.photobucket.com/user/srupp/media/P1010008.jpg.html)

[srupp]

The top holds about 12 pounds of meat and as fast as I can run it down the throat Susan is filling the hopper constantly.. It actually takes longer to wash machine than grind the burger... And this machine does an awesome job....
http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d47/srupp/P1010009.jpg (http://s32.photobucket.com/user/srupp/media/P1010009.jpg.html)

[srupp]

The next step involves mixing, a very very important part of the process and making sausage.. I started by making a wooden platform in my woodworking shop.. Not pretty but functional..

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d47/srupp/P1010011.jpg (http://s32.photobucket.com/user/srupp/media/P1010011.jpg.html)

[srupp]

Next I added a surplus one and a half horsepower electric motor....

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d47/srupp/P1010012.jpg (http://s32.photobucket.com/user/srupp/media/P1010012.jpg.html)

[srupp]

The next step was adding a hand mixer... Powered by a hand crank... I swapped out the plastic bushings and replaced them with proper bearings...

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d47/srupp/P1010013.jpg (http://s32.photobucket.com/user/srupp/media/P1010013.jpg.html)

[srupp]

The final step was to have a machinist build me an adapter between the motor and the mixer... The result is the ability to have a coffee while the meat mixture and spices and water are perfectly blended..

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d47/srupp/P1010014-1.jpg (http://s32.photobucket.com/user/srupp/media/P1010014-1.jpg.html)

[srupp]

Next up is actually making the sausage... And here I have been truly blessed... As the Cadillac of all sausage stuffers is actually a machine from Germany... Many years ago my buddy Detlef brought me this machine in his luggage all the way from Goslar Germany... It is incredibly perfect for turning out sausage... However it is ridiculously expensive..... In my humble opinion if one is talking sausage... One is talking DICK..it holds 12 pounds per hopper..

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d47/srupp/P1010010.jpg (http://s32.photobucket.com/user/srupp/media/P1010010.jpg.html)

[srupp]

Final little piece of the puzzle... Is actually a little pick that I use to put some small holes in the casings once they're filled to let the air out.. It makes for tighter links.. The less air on the inside the casings helps preserve the sausage longer, looks more professional and aids in the cooking process.

I had the privilege of taking the butchering course at university in the Okanagan.. Many years ago and I've adapted that process for wild game... I also had the privilege of taking a sausage making course from a master sausage maker from Germany... And when he moved to Mexico I obtained some of his recipes... As I said I was blessed to be trained by him... And more dear to me then this training is his friendship..

So all has been checked out , the machines are cleaned, set up and working.. I have mixed the spices... Fresh hog casings have been rinsed and are currently in the fridge for 24 hours... The blades and plates are in the freezer...

Tomorrow is sausage and burger day.. I also purchased a pork picnic shoulder... As a mix for in the sausage....WHEEEW! Good thing I'm retired..

cheers

Steven

[srupp]

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d47/srupp/P1010016-1.jpg (http://s32.photobucket.com/user/srupp/media/P1010016-1.jpg.html)

[Fred1]

The next step is grinding the residual of the elk, here is a one and three-quarter horsepower Cabelas grinder... Is extremely powerful, quiet and efficient....

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d47/srupp/P1010007-1.jpg (http://s32.photobucket.com/user/srupp/media/P1010007-1.jpg.html)

Agreed! Great machine!

[vip_ruger]

Glad I could help u Steven , and that u got one. And that u didn't shoot a f-ing mule deer buck and think is was a cow elk . Because when that happens it sucks for everyone that want elk . Congrats and I'm sure we will see u there in the spring

[tigrr]

Sorry Steven after 4 hours in goverment and insurance offices I was toast. And in a bit of a foul mood!!
Please post follow up pics of those finished products.

[srupp]

Glad I could help u Steven , and that u got one. And that u didn't shoot a f-ing mule deer buck and think is was a cow elk . Because when that happens it sucks for everyone that want elk . Congrats and I'm sure we will see u there in the spring
Thank you! It was tr emendously helpful.I respected the oportunity, and the priviledge..and presented myself as best as possible...sure a lot of big mulies....made sure I didnt screw this up.

What a generous familly....the son was hilarious..knowing I knew nothing about elk but what I had recently read...and even less about farming..ranching....


Cheers

Steven

[srupp]

Sorry Steven after 4 hours in goverment and insurance offices I was toast. And in a bit of a foul mood!!
Please post follow up pics of those finished products.

Sorry for your bad day, obviously you didnt get to deal with Deanna at the govt agents office....smile..

Yes I will take a couple of processed photos,,

Cheers srupp

[srupp]

all burger is done.

75% of "hot Italian dinner sausages " is done..damn ran out of casings for last 5 pounds....have some more here momentarily...photos to follow...house smells amazing.....

cheers

Steven

[srupp]

pork shoulder roast ground for elk Hot Italian sausage..http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d47/srupp/P1010001-1.jpg (http://s32.photobucket.com/user/srupp/media/P1010001-1.jpg.html)

[srupp]

second..and final grind of the elk burger..http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d47/srupp/P1010003-1.jpg (http://s32.photobucket.com/user/srupp/media/P1010003-1.jpg.html)

[srupp]

all the elk trimmings ground up..http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d47/srupp/P1010002-1.jpg (http://s32.photobucket.com/user/srupp/media/P1010002-1.jpg.html)

[srupp]

mixing..thoroughly..

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d47/srupp/P1010005-2.jpg (http://s32.photobucket.com/user/srupp/media/P1010005-2.jpg.html)

[srupp]

final mixing..

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d47/srupp/P1010004-1.jpg (http://s32.photobucket.com/user/srupp/media/P1010004-1.jpg.html)

[srupp]

first group of sausages linked..

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d47/srupp/P1010008-1.jpg (http://s32.photobucket.com/user/srupp/media/P1010008-1.jpg.html)

[srupp]

more ready to be linked..
http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d47/srupp/P1010007-2.jpg (http://s32.photobucket.com/user/srupp/media/P1010007-2.jpg.html)

[srupp]

the last of the sausages ready to be wrapped..approx. 21 pounds of hot Italian elk sausage...I tried a sasuage patty for lunch....incredibly good..

And with that and some clean up..elk 2014 is in the books errrr make that freezer..

cheers

Steven

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d47/srupp/P1010009-1.jpg (http://s32.photobucket.com/user/srupp/media/P1010009-1.jpg.html)

[Springer]

Hey i had elk Sausage this evening myself and homemade of course..gonna have to get you to teach me that fishing knot you twist these into Elmer..Thats part of the battle and not bursting an overfilled casing..

[srupp]

No problem Phil..speeds the process up ,,,,, then 1 hr in the freezer,, then they are good enough to be seperated into enough for each package...its a dexterity...algoritm,.muscle memory, concentration skill.....6 maybe 7 months tops..lol..


Cheers

Steven

[BimmerBob]

Almost finished Steven, the only thing left to do is to invite us all over for a bbq... Great thread!

[srupp]

[QUOTE=BimmerBob;1462683is Almost finished Steven, the only thing left to do is to invite us all over for a bbq... Great thread![/QUOTE]

Strangly enough,, Susan Is not a big meat eater fan salmon etc.,,,,,.it is a tremendous amount o work to singlehandadly debone an elk andcorrectly process it into boneless roasts, steaks..and bone in spareribs. Then to double grind the burger and grind some pork...mix the spices...and then mix correct spices, water..and meat and then fill casings, link em up and then wrap burger and sausages...today was 4 hours....however with an extra set of hands could have done 300 pounds in same time..the equipment and time needed , as wellas knowlege....

Hard to explain all the work and costs to Susan...when Costco is half the price...lol

Cheers

Srupp

[Mauser98]

Those Italian sausages look great.

What ratio of elk to pork do you use?

[srupp]

Hmmm..on this batch I used one very non lean shoulder pork roast...4 1/2 pounds.the rest was elk to makev20 pounds then 1 1/2 litres of cold water......


Cheers
Steven

[dingdongdenny]

looking good,guess all the pic are to make up for the missed first part,lol.Nice looking equipment,the right tools makes everthing alittle easier

[srupp]

hmmm cant believe how great tasting this elk is...tried steaks and now have a package of elk ribs getting ready for a dinner in next couple days..some reciepients of the elk Italian sausage also thought it taste like more...

Thanks again to all that helped and the rancher and family

cheers

Steven

[Bear Chaser]

Great looking sausage.
Hard to beat cow elk steaks too.

[Dale]

Congrats Steve! But like the rules clearly state...pictures or it didn't happen!....Just kidding...good job!!!!

[dippy]

Hey steven, nice to see you still are rocking the mixer and motor. I remember spending like two solid days looking for a new part when i wore out those bushing. It was so easy to mix up the batch with your setup. Thanks for that

dan



The next step was adding a hand mixer... Powered by a hand crank... I swapped out the plastic bushings and replaced them with proper bearings...

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d47/srupp/P1010013.jpg (http://s32.photobucket.com/user/srupp/media/P1010013.jpg.html)

[srupp]

elk ribs..

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d47/srupp/P1010001-4.jpg (http://s32.photobucket.com/user/srupp/media/P1010001-4.jpg.html)

[srupp]

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d47/srupp/P1010002-3.jpg (http://s32.photobucket.com/user/srupp/media/P1010002-3.jpg.html)

enjoy..we did..

cheers

Srupp

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d47/srupp/P1010002-3.jpg (http://s32.photobucket.com/user/srupp/media/P1010002-3.jpg.html)

[chinookkiller]

Nice job,congrats Srupp! thanks for sharing .

[jeff341]

Hey Steven,

I noticed you add a good amount of water to your sausage mix. I make sausages fairly regularly as well and haven't added water at all to my mixes. What do you find the benefits of doing this?

Great work by the way. Solid job.

[srupp]

hmmm water is an absolute must for proper mixing of spices..also the correct moisture content for bringing those spices out during the cooking process...and to ensure proper cooking without drying it out. I was profdessionally trained and that's how I was taught that it was IMPERATIVE to add water.

cheers

Steven

[jeff341]

Thanks Steven,

I am going to adjust my next batch and try adding water.

Cheers

[srupp]

Hmmmmm try 3 Pounds of water by weight for 12 pounds of grind....

Steven

[srupp]

Hmmm finally got arou d to those elk ribs...fantastic...truly great...good thing I drew the same antlerless elk draw again this year.
Thanks again to everyone...so many that stepped up with suggestions especially a shout out to Sitka Spruce for his wonderful advice,,
Cheers
Srupp