LOP Tag

Warning. This story has to do with hunting animals for food. If this is a subject that does not appeal to you please do not read the story.

LOP means Land Owner Preference,  the lingo is used for the purchase of tags by landowners to harvest elk that have become a nuisance to the farm or forest. There are designated seasons  for LOP tags as well as what segment of the population can be harvested. The last day of the first season was January 31st and my brother had that last day to fill his tag. He made it by a couple of hours.

According to eregulations.com:

LOP tags are only valid within the registered property boundaries for which the tag is issued. All landowners and eligible applicants must purchase controlled hunt application prior to the deadline. Applications for LOP tags must indicate a landowner preference hunt choice on their application.

That big herd of elk must have figured the calendar incorrectly and thought they were in the clear since they were just hanging out in the far, far field eating all our grass. My brother was on his way over to hunt when we first noticed the herd contentedly munching away as I was headed to the barn across the river to split firewood. The herd hung around for more than an hour before meandering down to the river where the herd split in half, some crossed while some stayed where they were.

Brother was able to drop the animal in a clear area where the tractor was used to scoop her up with the forks to move her by the house side of the river for the butchering process. Another brother showed up to help with the task. and Mike with my two brothers made quick work of the project.

The meat will hang several days to cool and dry before being cut off the bone and frozen in packages of eight to ten pounds each. The process of boning out an animal takes many more hours than the actual butchering and may take a few more people helping out to get it done in one day.

LOP is a good way of thinning out the herds that cause a lot of damage in fences and eat quite a bit of grass intended for the cattle herd. The harvested animals are used for meat and do not go to waste.

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