Alaskan Moose Hunt ( part six )

iahntr · September 25, 2010, 12:34:26 PM

Here's a series of pics of gettin the moose home and a little of the processing.
Another of the real beauties of this was that he dropped right in the open meadow
and we could drive right up to him with the argo, and with Johns set up we could load him right up!

Unlike our whitetails, ya don't just roll em over, grab a leg, and hold him there while the other guts it.

With the equipment John had and the way he had it set up, it made it an "easy" task. Winches are a wonderful thing !

Once the gutting was done, the sides of the the trailer are designed to come off, and two of them are
used as rear ramps, he gets hooked up to the rear top winch and hoisted up on to the trailer.
John had not had the opportunity to try this yet with a whole moose, it worked like a charm !

We then got back to Johns meat pole and skinned and quartered the moose basically right off
the trailer, and again used the rear top winch to hoist and hang them.

We then bagged em and after these pics were taken put a big tarp over them to keep em in
the shade and cool for a few days. I think these shots give a pretty good idea of the size of these things too!

After a few days, now came the task of getting it all cut up and in the freezer. I think John and I started
setting up and cutting up around 1:30, and Dian got there around 3:30 or so (I don't remember the exact times).
We each had our stations, John would cut the meat off the bone, hand it to me and I would cut it into
steaks or chunks for Dian to grind etc. Ya gotta love a woman that will stand there and grind meat for
about 8 hours straight !

Thanks again Dian. We got done and cleaned up at midnight, and I ain't
gonna lie, my back was a might sore !! That was a long day, we were pretty whooped by the time we
sat down. But I still enjoyed every minute of it.

Every time we feed our families and sit down and enjoy this meat, I'll remember this whole trip
and how rewarding it was !

Jim, I gotta also say Thanks again for the great site you have here. Many friendships have started
as a result of this place. This trip is also one that never would have happened without it. I look
forward to meeting many more of you, and hope that it works out to do so.

Bills Custom Calls · September 25, 2010, 12:52:08 PM

Scott
Thanks for the 6 part story and pics I enjoyed the whole trip so far

looks and sounds like the trip of a lifetime for sure Congrats on the moose

FOsteology · September 25, 2010, 01:14:24 PM

Very nice! Appreciate you "taking us on your hunt". Enjoyed your narrative and pictures. Beautiful scenery. And of course, Congrats on your Bullwinkle!

FinsnFur · September 25, 2010, 03:32:42 PM

Yeah I've looked forward to every one of them posts. Very interesting.
I dont think you could have had a nicer couple escort you through their part of the world up their, then John and Dian. I'm glad you got the opportunity.

What were the average temps up there roughly? A lot of the pics looks like it just sweatshirt weather. Of course for you and I living in the North Midwest thats like 40/50 degrees.

iahntr · September 25, 2010, 06:22:30 PM

Thanks again guys.
Jim, the temps the first week I was there were like upper 50's to in the 60's during the day,
probably upper 40's at night, and rained for like the first four days. The second week was still like 60's,
probably upper 60's during the day, then it started cooling down a little during the nights, temps were
like the mid to upper 30's. Really too warm ideally for hunting, but made for some nice weather to run around in.
I'm just glad the rain stopped. When we left our camp sight by the lake, our sleeping pads were in a little water.

Dave · September 25, 2010, 08:17:16 PM

WOW!
What a great series of posts and pictures. This part six is incredble. I can't believe the size of that thing laying on the back of the trailer. But I think even more incredible is the way John has the Argo set up for doing all this stuff. Come on, the sides of the trailer double as a ramp!!! And a second winch mounted on top, in the back, for haulin a whole moose home on wheels!!! Truly amazing. Thanks for bringing me along on this one. Also love all the room in the butchers shop.
Dave

Frogman · September 25, 2010, 11:34:05 PM

Once again I say, "WOW!!" !! WTG guys and gals!!

Jim

KySongDog · September 26, 2010, 05:44:47 AM

QuoteEvery time we feed our families and sit down and enjoy this meat, I'll remember this whole trip
and how rewarding it was !

OK, so how did you get that big sucker back to the lower 48?

BTW, thanks for those pics!

alscalls · September 26, 2010, 08:27:14 AM

Awesome!!!

I can tell by the canning jars on the shelf........... John and his wife do this quite a bit.....

My kinda people........ Thanks to all of ya for a great story that started with a great forum!

iahntr · September 26, 2010, 11:42:50 AM

Thanks Dave, John's got that baby set up don't he !

He's got it built right, that's a lot of weight on a small trailer.
Thanks Jim
Semp, I just brought back a 50 lb box of meat, as one of my check in luggage, and left the rest for John and his family.
Thanks Al

coyote101 · September 26, 2010, 06:26:18 PM

Wow, it looks like you guys had a wonderful Alaskan adventure.

Congratulations on a great successful hunt, and thanks so much for the story and pictures.

Pat

iahntr · September 26, 2010, 07:31:55 PM

We really had a great time Pat. Thanks a lot.

Todd Rahm · September 26, 2010, 11:13:32 PM

Man, thats quite the ride ya got there John and set up very nicely I might add.

I remember the "Oh shit, now the works starts" voice in my head as I pulled the trigger on my lil fork. Its all worth it in the end though, especially if you process it all yourself. Good job to all of ya.

iahntr · September 27, 2010, 05:17:34 PM

For sure Todd. I wasn't disappointed when this one dropped in the open!

pitw · September 27, 2010, 08:09:23 PM

Well Scott now you have to go again

. Everyone should experience the joy of packing a huge bull moose out of the muskeg and up a 500 yd hill

. I thought John wasn't lazy until I saw all this "easy" stuff he has for doing a hard job.

How did you manage to work in a butcher shop that prominently displays some Red Wing stuff

. Thanks Scott.

shaddragger · September 27, 2010, 08:22:57 PM

Excellent story and pictures Scott! That had to rank way up there on the all time greatest list. John may claim he is no outfitter but he obviously has it figured out, judging by his rig and processing setup.

iahntr · September 27, 2010, 08:29:35 PM

Trust me Barry, I'd do it again !!

I wouldn't say John's lazy, he just works really smart !

That butcher shop / locker room, also doubles as a garage.

Thanks a lot shaddragger. Much appreciated!

KySongDog · September 27, 2010, 08:39:02 PM

Quote from: pitw on September 27, 2010, 08:09:23 PM
I thought John wasn't lazy until I saw all this "easy" stuff he has for doing a hard job.

I dayum sure know John is not lazy. The Alaska wilderness eats lazy people. In the short time I was with him I could see he thinks 4 moves ahead on everything. Why do "hard" when you can do "smart"?

pitw · September 27, 2010, 08:45:24 PM

Quote from: Semp on September 27, 2010, 08:39:02 PM

I dayum sure know John is not lazy. The Alaska wilderness eats lazy people. In the short time I was with him I could see he thinks 4 moves ahead on everything. Why do "hard" when you can do "smart"?

Semp I've seen lazy men and I've seen smart lazy men. Difference is the smart part.

Tikaani · September 28, 2010, 12:54:26 PM

Thanks for the compliments on the rig guys. All I have to say is that they are not always this easy to get out. One of the guys at work this year had to swim sixty yards out to his moose as it decided that the best place to die was in the middle of a lake. My son-in-law had to hike his out a mile and a half to his boat, we were very fortunate this year that was all.

Hunt hard, Die tired
John