Moose field dressing

[Quesnel Kid]

I was lucky enough to harvest a Moose in the GOS season in 6-09 this year. This was my first moose as well as the first animal in a long time that I didn't have to process in the bush and back pack out (Those road hunters are onto something ;).

It was a gift Bull parked the truck walked 200 yards saw the moose, shot it, drove up loaded em up, home by 2pm. To easy!!

My question:

With deer I was taught to always remove the sent glands on the hind legs, or you run the risk of tainting the meat. Are moose the same? This moose didn't smell at all, and I didn't remove the sent glands (mostly because I forgot). What do some of you do?

Any other tips for field dressing? I was by myself and dam near had to crawl inside it to cut the wind pipe to get the lungs and hart out. A second pair of hands would have been handy!! Luckily I had lots of rope.

Cheers QK

http://i871.photobucket.com/albums/ab272/edplant/IMG_16921_zpsaa8990a0.jpg?1415160157280&1415160157643

[kilometers]

Congrats. Sometimes you get lucky and they are standing their waiting for you.
No scent glands that I no of on moose.
Rope is your friend for sure.

[M.Dean]

I've got a few Moose by my self, and trying to gut them alone is a big job, made easier if you have a Quad and winch you can get real close to the animal with. One trick I use, even if there's other guys around is too take one of the front legs and hook it in behind the horns, and tie it with a small piece of rope. And if possible tie one of the rear legs to a near by tree, or bush or and thing that'll give you room to start gutting. As far as cutting the wind pipe, I use my 136 Husky and cut the brisket up until I hit the throat, makes it way easier for sure! I use the saw on the pelvis too, but real carefully! The glands on the rear legs I leave until I get the critter home and cut them out when I cut the rear legs down for hanging. I've seen guys carry a real light weight block and tackle setup in there packs, works great for spreading the legs apart on Moose too. And when your up to your shoulders in Moose guts and blood and gagging, just think, you could still be trying to find one, so smile and be happy about it!!!

[srupp]

Hmmm if only a mest bull I take a 10Inch WIDE SWATH downthe throat to the hind end so hair isnt an issue on the central incision...then I cut the throat, then from the brisket to the throat to remove that esophogus..
Steven

[Ferenc]

I myself never touch the glands

moose or deer... But to all that decide to remove the glands do so. But use another knife to gut the animal.

[Sitkaspruce]

If you don't touch the glands with your knife, you won't taint the meat. I have never removed the glands until I get home or I pack the animal out.

Cheers

SS

[Quesnel Kid]

Thanks for the tips. Added a photo of the beast. My wife says he looks handicapped cuz he only has one antler :) I think he is handsome and man is he tender.

[luckofthedraw]

Congrats on your moose.

[835]

never worried about scent glands on deer.......
but thats me...

funny moose!

[Paulyman]

battery powered reciprocating saw with a demolition blade makes quartering much easier.

[swampthing]

I myself never touch the glands

moose or deer... But to all that decide to remove the glands do so. But use another knife to gut the animal.

Sounds right to me.

[835]

battery powered reciprocating saw with a demolition blade makes quartering much easier.

10-4 make sure its a demo!
But bring a few methods to split with you..... in case one fails. We blew the head off a Makita Recip half way through the job...
2 hatchets works really well too... place one on the cut and hit it with the other.... Rather then chopping it, chopping sends more bone fragment. place and hit is cleaner and more accurate.

[HuntingAndBoating]

I use my Portable Winch (http://shop.westcoastwinch.com/) to hang and dress, even if I hunt in groups, but it's especially useful when you're alone.

[srupp]

Hmmm I have a boat loader over the canopy...put half the moose on the back of the atv ramps...hook the 2 ropes from the boat loader to the back of the atv ramp...this lifts the back of the ramp..and slides the whole ramp inside the canopy with the moose.repeat for back half..easy peasy..
Cheers
Srupp

[Onesock]

I think removing the scent glands from a deer is the cutting the throat when you get up to the animal. No need to do either!

[srupp]

Hmm I cut the neck on non trophy animals to severe their esophogus.....fast and perfect location..
Steven

[HuntingAndBoating]

What about with trophy's?

[Sniperdan]

I recently learned the Gutless field dressing method. I have done 6 deer now using this method, it is fast, it is clean, you can do it by yourself regardless how big the animal is and you only need a sharp knife to do the entire job including removing the head (unless you want the ribs when you are done then you need a small saw or garden shears). Just do a youtube search for 'gutless field dressing'. I recommend the Fred Eichler videos.

[Bear Chaser]

Gutless is the way to go unless there is a tractor with front loader handy.

[guest]

Learn the gutless method ...... A PACKER showed me the gutless method ... Saves money to start with if you do use a butcher , ( personally I dont I do it myself ) saves time and is clean and well worth the effort. I use it on most of my family and I's harvests when it happens.

CT

[nerka992003]

I had a similar situation in the GOS in 6-08. On my second day I decided to go north of highway 16 instead of my previous day, I was down in 6-09. there were no shortage of people down there. I had just parked my truck on a logging spur road and unloaded my quad. I was going to head back in on a rough logging road and hopefully escape the crowds. I was just putting my gear on and warming my quad up when a fellow drives up the road (must have been a real early bird) so he stops his truck in the middle of the road and comes over and starts talking to me. We were having a good ole conversation on moose we have seen over the year as he stands talking to me with his back to a logged off block this nice bull moose comes sundering along the ridge 220yards away(ranged with my Leica) I say holy F**K theres one.My rifle still in the truck I hurry to grab it and load the clip in and hurry across the road stand on the bank and make a nice clean shot with my 7mm STW. the moose made a few steps and was down behind a couple of trees and just like that I had a moose first one in quite a few years the guy came up and had a look and asked if I needed a hand, I said I have all day and thanked him for his offer (what was I thinking) so he continued on his way. Luckily I had my quad to pack it out as I wasn't able to get it high enough on the back of my quad and pull it to the road ,to make a long story longer I gutted it out and skinned it out on the ground which wasn't that bad so from the time /i shot it to loaded up in the truck was just under 4-1\2 hrs
http://i881.photobucket.com/albums/ac12/nerka992003/10672311_10204217740077491_8565740208901911016_n.j pg (http://s881.photobucket.com/user/nerka992003/media/10672311_10204217740077491_8565740208901911016_n.j pg.html)
http://i881.photobucket.com/albums/ac12/nerka992003/934754_10204217740357498_7556609707685899429_n.jpg (http://s881.photobucket.com/user/nerka992003/media/934754_10204217740357498_7556609707685899429_n.jpg .html)
http://i881.photobucket.com/albums/ac12/nerka992003/10155647_10204217739677481_7086647967697546186_n.j pg (http://s881.photobucket.com/user/nerka992003/media/10155647_10204217739677481_7086647967697546186_n.j pg.html)

[Quesnel Kid]

Nice. Never pass up a gift bull you never know when the next one might come along. Congrats.

[Quesnel Kid]

Learn the gutless method ...... A PACKER showed me the gutless method ... Saves money to start with if you do use a butcher , ( personally I dont I do it myself ) saves time and is clean and well worth the effort. I use it on most of my family and I's harvests when it happens.

CT

I have used the gutless method on Bear, but it honestly didn't cross my mind to try it on the moose. Maybe next time.

[Tīɡ]

looks like a unique antler he has there, congrats!

[BillyBull]

Nice bull, (always pays to have full camo and quiet as a mouse when out hunting) .... you should have offered a nice cold wobbly pop to your new lucky charm guy instead of the 4 hour alone time working the bull yourself --- :-P