Moose Retrieval

Was alone when I pinned this last year.
Took me 8 hours to bone him out and pack frame it out only 1/3 of a mile.
It is a bit of a daunting task and I'm getting to old for that kind silliness.
Deer are not much of a big deal to me, still a hassel, but not like a damn moose.
I wish I would have had my calf sled in the truck that day, I took it out the day before & forgot to toss it back in.

Nothing ruins a good moose hunting trip more than some clown actually shooting one that isn't standing in the ditch :)

IMG-1-Copy.jpg
 
Was alone when I pinned this last year.
Took me 8 hours to bone him out and pack frame it out only 1/3 of a mile.
It is a bit of a daunting task and I'm getting to old for that kind silliness.
Deer are not much of a big deal to me, still a hassel, but not like a damn moose.
I wish I would have had my calf sled in the truck that day, I took it out the day before & forgot to toss it back in.

Nothing ruins a good moose hunting trip more than some clown actually shooting one that isn't standing in the ditch :)

IMG-1-Copy.jpg

Beautiful animal. I bet the beer fridge was empty that night!
 
Why use a stone boat, when you can buy a nice calf hauling sled at the local ag store ? Light, easily stored and designed for hauling weight. :confused:

Grizz

Fits a full size cow? How many uses do you think it would be good for in cold weather, bashing off trees and down rocks? My stone boat is 70+ years old, two guys lift it in the truck, drive the atv on top. But ya that calf hauler would he nice for deer and calves.
 
We use 2 methods the first is a 600 foot length of 1 inch rope and pulleys. The system works very well if it's close enough to a road to use the trucks to pull the rope

2nd method is an ATV and small trailer for the times method 1 isn't an option. The trailer is a very compact dumper style with a winch for loading the moose and has a swivel built into the tongue so the terrain it can handle is super rough. This fall I'll take pictures when I'm up at moose camp.

Quartering has never been necessary since we started using the little trailer.
 
Dress out in the field, skid back to camp. Done this lots over the years in Alberta. Leave hide on, lift antlers up tied to back of quad, attach rope and away you go. In some situations we have had to have the quad pulled by another. Skin out at camp and hang. Now most of us in our moose camp group have Side x Sides. We send someone back to camp and pick up a tub trailer within reasonable distance away. We totally debone and place meat into clean 5 gallon pails and quarter up the animal in the field, and hang when we get back to camp.



As far as the veggie oil in a chainsaw, I seen some old timers I come across hunting before and that's how they did it and placed in a tub trailer.
 
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I use an arctic toboggan that I got from an outfitter supply shop - Works great especially with 2 people.
 
What would they use the chain saw for? Cutting the legs off the quarters? Separate the ribs from the back? Just curious.

We used it to quarter the moose - split the backbone down the middle, cut the feet off, etc. That's the only time we used the old 08.
 
Live there till the meat is gone and you have to go home.

2-3 weeks your loved ones will be happy to see you.
 
Was alone when I pinned this last year.
Took me 8 hours to bone him out and pack frame it out only 1/3 of a mile.
It is a bit of a daunting task and I'm getting to old for that kind silliness.
Deer are not much of a big deal to me, still a hassel, but not like a damn moose.
I wish I would have had my calf sled in the truck that day, I took it out the day before & forgot to toss it back in.

Nothing ruins a good moose hunting trip more than some clown actually shooting one that isn't standing in the ditch :)

IMG-1-Copy.jpg

Hat's off!
 
The next time I get a deer that I have to pack out, I may try my furniture dolly that has very big tires or a wheelbarrow - you could probably fit a quarter of moose in/on one. Last fall, I damn near died hauling a fairly big doe out of the bush. Almost broke my neck when I tripped on my tongue.

Make sure you have a tire repair kit, or solid tires. A buddy tried hauling a deer out on his own with a fridge cart and got a flat 10ft from where he loaded it. It definitely did not make things easier that day. He would have been better with rope and some poly tarp at that point.
Now the transport of choice is an ice fishing sled.
 
What would they use the chain saw for? Cutting the legs off the quarters? Separate the ribs from the back? Just curious.

Being older they just decided it was easier for them with chainsaw to cut thru bone, right thru spine and ribs and and ease to move in smaller pieces.

IMO way more work. It’s so easy to your your knife around the hip and joint sockets to separate the quarters.
 
We want the full quarters because the bones are nice in those roasts and soups.
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Pull the gut out first by opening the belly and cutting along - keep that knife sharp, moose hair will dull it quickly. Grab the esophagus and walk away with the gut.
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Leave the skin on to protect the meat until it's out of the bush, and mandhandle those quarters into the truck. A pole or makeshift stretcher can make carrying a quarter a 2 man job for those slogs across the bogs - it certainly helps when you can drive right up to the kill site though!
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We skin the quarters while they're hanging - this moose hung only overnight and went to the butcher. Each quarter was 115lbs with the skin off and it was very tender with no wasted meat. An older animal I would probably hang longer.

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Overall it's a great time - after the animal is down is when the work starts!

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We used it to quarter the moose - split the backbone down the middle, cut the feet off, etc. That's the only time we used the old 08.
Being older they just decided it was easier for them with chainsaw to cut thru bone, right thru spine and ribs and and ease to move in smaller pieces.

IMO way more work. It’s so easy to your your knife around the hip and joint sockets to separate the quarters.

I see, actual full quarters. I've cut deceased cattle apart with a chainsaw for bear bait and it's a messy and stinky affair.
 
I'll pass on the Chainsaw idea, thanks. Reminds me of the 'Scarface' scene.
I can remember my Dad dismantling carcasses with very little effort and a hunting knife..145 lbs soaking wet he was... I'd rather struggle to achieve his skill than firing up a chainsaw. Just my opinion of course.
Seems messy IMO
 
we quite often use a small chainsaw to buck off the legs in a pinch but there are better tools for the job.
The rechargeable sawzalls are extremely handy though and not as heavy as a chainsaw, they don't smell and get fuel or oil on your clothes and they don't spray you with bonechips and meat shreds like the chainsaw does.... been there done that.

just burn the paint off the Sawzall blade before use ;)
 
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