First time for Moose - What to do with hide? (near Edmonton)

V

viking365

Regular
EE Expired
Rating - 100%
13   0   0
Just chatting with my uncle, who was excited to see a cow moose on his land while he was swathing. I have a tag, so he called me up and let me know. I haven't hunted / processed Moose before (fairly new to hunting in general). What does a person do with a Moose hide in the Edmonton area? Are there places where you can get gloves or mukluks made out of the hide or is it not worth it (don't laugh too hard if this is a stupid question:))?
 
Most people dont keep the hide.... and i think it would be a challange to find a professional to undertake the work for you($) (prepairing the hide, and then making something out of it.

If you were so inclined (good for you!) youtube is your friend, lots of knowledge there just waiting....


As for muck lucks..... big enough moose you might be able to turn into a bedding pad with out much work?
 
If you have not done much processing of dead game, think very carefully about how you will deal with everything you will find laying on the ground when you walk up to a dead moose. You need some serious equipment, or else be prepared for some serious heavy work. The hide will be the least of your concerns.

Once more I am reminded of my brother-in-law's line: "Nothing ruins a moose hunt quite as much as actually shooting one."
 
Lol, good line.

Easiest way I find is to just start at the top and work down, wether it's on it's side or what. Break it down and haul it out. Turn the big job into little one's and before you know it you're done. I find a bone saw and a hatchet handy items.

Far as the hide, it's heavy with a capital H. Ask a tanner? Halford hides in Edmonton??

I've thought about it too as I simply hate wasting something, but to be honest between my wife's and my 50+ yr old butts by the time the meat's back to the truck (usually 1/2 to 1 mile with a cart at best) we're about done in for the day.

On the bright side...we leave TOMORROW! :D :D :D whaaawwwww, wrok, wrok, wrok.
 
If you want something made of the hide, take it to Halford. They do a bunch of different things. If you don't want something made of it, take it to Halford anyways - they tan it and donate a portion to AFGA.
 
rral22 said:
If you have not done much processing of dead game, think very carefully about how you will deal with everything you will find laying on the ground when you walk up to a dead moose. You need some serious equipment, or else be prepared for some serious heavy work. The hide will be the least of your concerns.

Once more I am reminded of my brother-in-law's line: "Nothing ruins a moose hunt quite as much as actually shooting one."
Click to expand...

:D you got that right, I've done several of the big buggers solo... even more fun when you shoot them near last light, then its solo in the dark, in a swamp :redface: only good part was it was november so the swamp was frozen. :D

as for the hide I normally just take it in and donate it, so I really cant help you with your question.
 
rral22 said:
Once more I am reminded of my brother-in-law's line: "Nothing ruins a moose hunt quite as much as actually shooting one."
Click to expand...

LOL. Yes, I have heard that a few times. Should be an interesting experience.

rral22 said:
think very carefully about how you will deal with everything you will find laying on the ground when you walk up to a dead moose. You need some serious equipment.
Click to expand...

Now that has me curious...what would be on the ground (besides blood)? I was going to bring a cordless reciprocal saw or circular saw with me in the truck to help quarter the carcass. We will have a quad and access to a truck or tractor with front end loader / chains to hang the moose. When I learned to field dress a deer, my education came from YouTube...I'll need to prep myself a bit more for this one. ;)
 
BBB said:
If you want something made of the hide, take it to Halford. They do a bunch of different things. If you don't want something made of it, take it to Halford anyways - they tan it and donate a portion to AFGA.
Click to expand...

Perfect. Thanks. I have called them (waiting for call back) to get the details on this.
 
viking365 said:
Now that has me curious...what would be on the ground (besides blood)? I was going to bring a cordless reciprocal saw or circular saw with me in the truck to help quarter the carcass. We will have a quad and access to a truck or tractor with front end loader / chains to hang the moose. When I learned to field dress a deer, my education came from YouTube...I'll need to prep myself a bit more for this one. ;)
Click to expand...

Well, mostly what is on the ground is close to 1000 lbs of dead animal.

A front end loader and chains is a real good start. With something like that (and assuming you can get the tractor to the animal) your life will be better than mine was the last time I shot a moose.
 
viking365 said:
Now that has me curious...what would be on the ground (besides blood)? I was going to bring a cordless reciprocal saw or circular saw with me in the truck to help quarter the carcass. We will have a quad and access to a truck or tractor with front end loader / chains to hang the moose. When I learned to field dress a deer, my education came from YouTube...I'll need to prep myself a bit more for this one. ;)
Click to expand...

oh a tractor and front end loader..... now thats cheating yourself out of the full moose hunting experience.

and quarterting it is for sissies.

the real way is to gut it then drag it with your quad to the truck, then fight with trying to haul that beast up into the box with ramps and a come-along, if you remembered to bring it, if not use the little ratchet straps that you use to tie down the quad, then load the quad up on top of the moose for the drive home. Oh and do it all in the dark around midnight.

the next day you can go back and look for that knife/hatchet/hat/shirt/flashlight/etc... that you lost somewhere in the pile of guts. :D (always have extra knives ;) in your pack)

don't cheat yourself out of the experience, there are harder ways to do it :D
 
Suka said:
You forgot to mention, it landed in 6" of water/grassy muskeg, you just discovered your boots AREN'T waterproof, and it just started snowing. Oh, and a damn raven just made off with a 5lb backstrap roast you were going to take, "next trip".


Quad?? Come along?? wow, you're high tech! :)

Here's a good video by Yukon Renewable Resources: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rRjVVLW2ey0

part 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3CXZhSJhRpQ&feature=related
Click to expand...

yes a quad I'm not 30 anymore :D I like to think I've earned a few little perks over the years :D

I did say that there are harder ways to do it :D
 
Actually, I must admit, the missus and I have a couple little chinese quads this year. They wouldn't drag a moose out, but they'll get our 50+ yr old butts a few miles down a cutline to where we'll start hunting, and I made hitches so we can pull our gamecart down the cutline.

We leave here tomorrow at about 8:30AM, hows the weather in Edmonton? We're visiting son there tomorrow night, then on to points N, as in straight N for about 5 hrs by "road". :D
 
woodchopper said:
oh a tractor and front end loader..... now thats cheating yourself out of the full moose hunting experience.

and quarterting it is for sissies.

the real way is to gut it then drag it with your quad to the truck, then fight with trying to haul that beast up into the box with ramps and a come-along, if you remembered to bring it, if not use the little ratchet straps that you use to tie down the quad, then load the quad up on top of the moose for the drive home. Oh and do it all in the dark around midnight.

the next day you can go back and look for that knife/hatchet/hat/shirt/flashlight/etc... that you lost somewhere in the pile of guts. :D (always have extra knives ;) in your pack)

don't cheat yourself out of the experience, there are harder ways to do it :D
Click to expand...

LOL...little ratchet straps...I hate those things... :D

I should say I am hoping that we have access to a tractor, and that the moose is dead in the middle of a field, rather than in a swamp, or deep brush where I have to cut down trees to get to it. :)

Suka said:
Here's a good video by Yukon Renewable Resources: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rRjVVLW2ey0

part 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3CXZhSJhRpQ&feature=related
Click to expand...

Thanks! I watched those earlier today. Some of the footage was a bit grainy, but probably some of the best on YouTube for instruction. I haven't seen that type of dressing (where the skeleton is left).
 
I like the way they break it down, but there's a couple things I don't really agree with.
Namely, I cut around the anus and tie that with a string, then when you pull the guts out, the entire mess comes out together and there's no danger of feces in the cavity. (just don't puncture the bladder with your knife)

Also, I don't get why they cut the windpipe so far down. I cut it as close to the jaw as possible and there is simply no danger of spillage. There's a "hard point" midway between the chest cavity and guts you can tie a rope around for a pull point with no danger of it splitting/spilling.
But, you probably new that stuff already.

I just posted the videos because the first time a deer hunter walks up to a dead moose it's quite a shock. I know it was for me.
 
Suka said:
I just posted the videos because the first time a deer hunter walks up to a dead moose it's quite a shock. I know it was for me.
Click to expand...

I make sure that its dead then strip down to my t-shirt because its going to be messy, oh and don't worry about getting cold you'll be workgin hard enough to keep warm.

Then when I'm done I can use my t-shirt to help clean myself up and then throw it away :D and my other shirts and jacket stay clean ;)

Dont be afraid to reach in up to your armpits to get the guts out :D but I draw the line at crawling inside :D
 
viking365 said:
Just chatting with my uncle, who was excited to see a cow moose on his land while he was swathing. I have a tag, so he called me up and let me know. I haven't hunted / processed Moose before (fairly new to hunting in general). What does a person do with a Moose hide in the Edmonton area? Are there places where you can get gloves or mukluks made out of the hide or is it not worth it (don't laugh too hard if this is a stupid question:))?
Click to expand...

Call Halford Hides in Edmonton. They can tan a hide with hair on or off. I got a very large bear hide tanned with hair on for about $200 afew years back. I don't think they make mukluks, you'd have to find someone to do that for you. :)

The other thing you can do is donate it to the Alberta Fish and Game Association. they have a "donate a hide" project every year. Proceeds go to wildlife habitat in AB. It's a good deal. I think Halford is a drop off point for the donation project. You could call Alberta Fish and Game Association in Edmonton or Halford Hides to find out.
 
viking365 said:
LOL...little ratchet straps...I hate those things... :D

I should say I am hoping that we have access to a tractor, and that the moose is dead in the middle of a field, rather than in a swamp, or deep brush where I have to cut down trees to get to it. :)
Click to expand...


Shot Placement on Moose:

Question: where's the best place to shoot a moose?
Answer: In the back of a 3/4 ton truck truck.
 
be a sissy!

woodchopper said:
oh a tractor and front end loader..... now thats cheating yourself out of the full moose hunting experience.

and quarterting it is for sissies.

the real way is to gut it then drag it with your quad to the truck, then fight with trying to haul that beast up into the box with ramps and a come-along, if you remembered to bring it, if not use the little ratchet straps that you use to tie down the quad, then load the quad up on top of the moose for the drive home. Oh and do it all in the dark around midnight.

the next day you can go back and look for that knife/hatchet/hat/shirt/flashlight/etc... that you lost somewhere in the pile of guts. :D (always have extra knives ;) in your pack)

don't cheat yourself out of the experience, there are harder ways to do it :D
Click to expand...

last year my bud and i chose to pull the entire animal (after gutting) out of the slash with his quad. it was only a couple hundred yards so no problem right? Wrong. 2 hours of backbreaking labor (my kid and i making little "roads" out of downed logs) and waiting for the battery to recharge the wee electric winch and we finally get the donkey to the road. now to put in the truck? Hmmm, hadn't thought about that. then the gods of hunting smiled on us and another group of guys rolled along. took seven of us to get him in the box. he was only 1100 lbs. or so.......
the one good thing is we had access to equipment at the workplace, but it cost us quite a bit of roasts.
This year, if the gods of hunting smile on us, we are quartering the animal where he drops and doing it smrt for once :D
OH! and to get back on track with the thread, I want to save the hide to make a moose rug. I still regret tossing the last one...............
Mooseatroadside.jpg

Moosehanging.jpg
 
jethunter said:
Shot Placement on Moose:

Question: where's the best place to shoot a moose?
Answer: In the back of a 3/4 ton truck truck.
Click to expand...

i drove into a cutblock one time, parked the truck and found a high vantage point to sit on, turned around and there was a bull moose sniffing the back bumber of my truck. didn't have a moose tag though.

since the OP's moose is in farm country, i'd say don't shot it anywhere you can't drive a tractor up too it.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom