Butchering

I have come to find out that butchering a moose into manageable pieces is actually really hard, time-consuming work! Go figure.

I went at this thing entirely solo, minus some help wrapping from Butch and about an hour of cutting with Matt as an unexpected visitor Friday night. All in all, it took 24 hours total...two half days and two full days. It's satisfying work though. Except for the grinding and sausage making (I'm having a professional do that) I am able to say I did nearly all the work that goes into making this one and only moose hunt my own.

Now, I'm not saying the camp was my own, or the company, or the provided food, or the use of an ATV, or help hanging/cleaning/hauling meat bags, or the use of a large shop wasn't appreciated nor considered "help." Because it was a VITAL component. I am only referring to being able to give this moose respect in death, through my own work, time and care. Butch and Matt both expressed a knowledge of this unspoken desire of mine to go at it alone and they let me. But it speaks to the character of these two...when seeing me tired and in need...jumping in to lend a hand without being asked.



My organized butcher block


Progression #1. Front shoulder straight out of the bag.


Progression #2. All the nasty bits off


Progression #3. Breaking it down.

Progression #4. Matt showing me cutting tricks

One thing you should never do is try to estimate the cost per pound for meat when hunting big game. But if I was to do some real superficial math in my head, this is one spendy moose! If you think of essentially two weeks of time off from work, gas, gear, etc...WOW. Since I do not know the finished weight, I can't do this accurately. But overall, we're looking at about a $2,000 experience. (Good thing I could get paid while taking the time off.) And now my freezer is packed to the brim with quality meat.

And, the more I am separated from the woods and the kill...the more I am coming to grips with it. The minute details are still imprinted in my mind, but not the sadness I was feeling. And talking with other moose hunters...not one has had a moose hunting experience that didn't affect them like this one did me. Nice to know I'm not alone and I find a certain respect and comfort in that.

By the way, I finally found another hole in the moose...from the first shot. It was in the shoulder blade. THAT'S how it got both lungs. So not only were it's lungs gone when it just turned to look at me, it had a hole through a shoulder blade! Nice to finally be able to pinpoint where the shot hit...and that it was really a one shot affair. But very minute amounts of meat were damaged and literally no bloodshot.