Moose Retrieval

R

RatFink

Regular
Rating - 100%
1   0   0
Location
YYC
My hunting group has been drawn for a cow moose this fall so we are in the midst of getting ready for that. There will normally only be 2 of us hunting each weekend, with the third coming depending on his schedule.

So my question to the group is, what is the easiest way for two guys to retrieve a moose in hilly/semi-mountainous terrain? We hunt white tail and mulies in this area so we know how much it sucks to drag out a 150lbs carcass so what alternatives are there to doing that 4x?
 
RatFink said:
My hunting group has been drawn for a cow moose this fall so we are in the midst of getting ready for that. There will normally only be 2 of us hunting each weekend, with the third coming depending on his schedule.

So my question to the group is, what is the easiest way for two guys to retrieve a moose in hilly/semi-mountainous terrain? We hunt white tail and mulies in this area so we know how much it sucks to drag out a 150lbs carcass so what alternatives are there to doing that 4x?
Click to expand...


well if you have reasonable quad access get a sheet of 1/8" puck board and make a big 'crazy carpet' out of it with some holes along the edges to tie it up and skid out the moose whole... well after you gut it. :)

if there is snow on the ground you can drag the moose with the quad without the puck board.
 
Bring a boat trailer hand crank winch and get a strap from Princess auto to attach to a tree and with some straps / ropes you should be fine.
 
Gut it immediately, heat is your enemy. If on foot (no access to wheels of any kind, quarter it. Much easier to carry.

Dedicated chainsaw with vegetable oil is very handy and a tad messy. Your friends will never look at you the same...
 
UR2X3M4ME said:
Gut it immediately, heat is your enemy. If on foot (no access to wheels of any kind, quarter it. Much easier to carry.

Dedicated chainsaw with vegetable oil is very handy and a tad messy. Your friends will never look at you the same...
Click to expand...

^^^The mental image on this ^^^

Dexter is that you?
 
UR2X3M4ME said:
Gut it immediately, heat is your enemy. If on foot (no access to wheels of any kind, quarter it. Much easier to carry.

Dedicated chainsaw with vegetable oil is very handy and a tad messy. Your friends will never look at you the same...
Click to expand...

You don't need vegetable oil...there is enough fat and lubricant in the bone and meat to lub the bar.
 
RatFink said:
My hunting group has been drawn for a cow moose this fall so we are in the midst of getting ready for that. There will normally only be 2 of us hunting each weekend, with the third coming depending on his schedule.

So my question to the group is, what is the easiest way for two guys to retrieve a moose in hilly/semi-mountainous terrain? We hunt white tail and mulies in this area so we know how much it sucks to drag out a 150lbs carcass so what alternatives are there to doing that 4x?
Click to expand...

YouTube has several instructional videos for "gutless" quartering. The one I've used in the past removes the main quarters and backstraps while leaving the gut pile intact in the field. Each quarter weighs approx 125lbs each depending on the size of the animal. With pack frames and only two people,two or three trips back to camp will be necessary requiring quatrters to be wrapped in cheese cloth and burlap sacks (real burlap,not the plastic stuff).
 
Thanks guys - there won't be any quad access so it'll be by feet and hand that we get this thing out of the woods and to the truck.
Realistically, how long does it take to take apart a moose?
 
Depending on the field dressing experience of the crew involved and the location/ size of the bruin 1-4 hours for quarters to be done.

An important consideration that is easy to forget in the heat of the moment is where the moose is located when you shoot it. A good rule of thumb is never in the water as a cow can be standing in 4-5 feet of water easily and then someone is swimming. Mud is no fun either with 800 lbs of dead weight.
 
Tie a quarter to a pole and a guy on each end make easy work.
A good cordless reciprocating saw makes quartering fast and easy.
 
The thought of someone hunting the bush miles from a road with a chainsaw strapped to their back makes me smile.


I have broken down many moose with nothing more than a knife and a small belt hatchet. Splitting moose with a chainsaw is for road hunters. ;)
 
45C said:
Tie a quarter to a pole and a guy on each end make easy work.
A good cordless reciprocating saw makes quartering fast and easy.
Click to expand...

^^^^ great advice

gut out the moose.... same as gutting a deer just 4 x bigger. (depending on the moose of course)
break moose down into 5 pieces, Head/neck and your 4 quarters...… you now have 4 "deer" size pieces and a head/neck to pack/drag out.
There are ice fishing sleds for 40 bux that fit an average sized moose quarter very nicely. Clean the quarter, bag it in a game bag and drag it out on the ice fishin sled.
I add straps and a much better dragging strap to my ice sleds and one or 2 of them come along on every hunting trip.
 
Gut it. Quarter it. Pack it.

Bone in weighs more, but helps it hold it shape which helps with packing as well as cooling. If it's cold enough that you're not worried about spoilage I would seriously consider doing bone out.
 
Or you can take a frying pan and a few cases of beer ,with you , and have big feed .. lol

Just kidding....
You could also make a homemade stretcher.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom