2024 AK Moose Prep

[SLDMTN]

We've been recommending Alaska Trophy Express for a few years now. Very easy process, meat is stored and transported safely to almost anywhere in the lower 48. No complaints from any clients so far that I'm aware of. Just make sure the brains are removed from the skull prior to dropping them off!

I've also used them to send several moose euro's south after they're cleaned and will continue to do so. Good communication, smooth process.

Alaska Trophy Express

Alaska Trophy Express, Hauling Moose & Caribou from Alaska to the lower 48

www.alaskatrophyexpress.com

*For what it's worth, I'm in no way affiliated or compensated for the plug.*

 

[roymunson]

We've been recommending Alaska Trophy Express for a few years now. Very easy process, meat is stored and transported safely to almost anywhere in the lower 48. No complaints from any clients so far that I'm aware of. Just make sure the brains are removed from the skull prior to dropping them off!

I've also used them to send several moose euro's south after they're cleaned and will continue to do so. Good communication, smooth process.

Alaska Trophy Express

Alaska Trophy Express, Hauling Moose & Caribou from Alaska to the lower 48

www.alaskatrophyexpress.com

*For what it's worth, I'm in no way affiliated or compensated for the plug.*

I can vouch for Alaska Trophy Express. Used them last year. Good communication. Got my meat and antlers to me when they said they would.

 

[Fortboy22]

I'm working through plans for my first AK moose adventure in 2025, and I thoroughly appreciate all the 'thought experiments' this thread and others like it on this site have given me, as I work through logistics.

 

[jofes]

What game bags are you guys using?

 

[VernAK]

What game bags are you guys using?

NAPA auto parts hollow weave car polishing cloth......one roll does 2/3 rds of a big bull double strength.....cut off 6' and pull it over itself.....skin it off and throw it away when done.......been using it for 40 years.

 

[wyosam]

What game bags are you guys using?

I like Argali bags myself. Light, tough, clean up easy.


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[AKDoc]

^^^That's truly interesting Vern...good idea!

...but it's T.A.G. bags all the way for me. They are so compact, light weight, and extremely strong...been using them for years...totally satisfied.

28"x 60" for the quarters and then whatever combination of other size bags you choose for pieces/parts, liver and heart.

 

[Catchfish]

I can imagine. That would be a pain. We will probably have it processed in anchorage somewhere and then have it shipped home that way when we get back the work is done and into the freezer. I wouldn’t think it would be much more than 200-300 to have it all done at a butcher.

We butcher, process and package our own meant so I could be mis informed but I believe it would be more than 300. Pretty sure I’ve seen packaging costs be a dollar a pound someplace. I know there are other places in town but one I know charges a dollar a pound for clean meat, then they have a charge if it has to be cleaned, and if it has to be deboned.

 

[roymunson]

We butcher, process and package our own meant so I could be mis informed but I believe it would be more than 300. Pretty sure I’ve seen packaging costs be a dollar a pound someplace. I know there are other places in town but one I know charges a dollar a pound for clean meat, then they have a charge if it has to be cleaned, and if it has to be deboned.

Depends what you do. if you just have them debone it, it may not be that expensive. However, my buddy lives in a big city and doesn't have a good wild game butcher in the lower 48. He got sausages made, and a bunch of processed stuff, I think he was up around $2000.

I brought everything home on the bone and my local shop did steaks, roasts, hamburger and some sausage for $800

 

[Robinhood21]

What game bags are you guys using?

We've been using these and they work great. One package is not enough though.

Amazon.com

 

[Fortboy22]

We've been using these and they work great. One package is not enough though.

How many of those particular bags are you using per moose? 9 or 10?

 

[Robinhood21]

Usually 9 bags. My last moose took 11 meat bags as it was the biggest body Moose that I’ve been a part of so far.

 

[Meknowy]

What game bags are you guys using?

We like Caribou Gear - light, strong, fast-drying, and easy to clean

 

[kbarnes]

Last time I applied for a known shipper number with AK Airlines was 2019 and I was quoted $275 for the verification. Probably well over $400 now. It was cheaper to ship three coolers next day UPS than to just get verified. Curious has anyone done the verification lately?

Almost every outfitter has a known shipper account and most are happy to share with their clients. Worth checking with your outfitter or pilot, if applicable.

I just got my Alaska known shipper number, I put it in my company name and there was no charge, and the gal said that it doesn't have to be renewed like an individual number.

 

[Robinhood21]

Training for the hunt has hit full throttle right now. I've been weight training for the past month and last night I went for my first RUCK. Loaded up 60lbs on my Eberlestock Mainframe and went on down the road. I don't plan on doing very much asphault rucking this go round as it's hard on the knees and there's really not much terrain changes.

As I started down the road I thought I need to turn around and put some more weight on. Then a mile into it I knew I was right where I needed to be. After 2.5 miles I was sweating bullets and ready for the pack to come off.

Next week I will start hitting the only kind of terrain I have here in Kansas... the local reservoir dam, it's steep and will be as tough as it gets around here.

I will switch between weight training and rucks for the next 3.5 months until departure.


This picture was back in 2020 right before I left for my first moose hunt. The last 3 weeks of training I was hauling 125lbs. about the size of a moose hind quarter, 2.5 miles. Obviously flatland is way different then what you walk through in Alaska but it's the best I can do with what I have.

 

[nick2021]

What kind of weights are those?

Training for the hunt has hit full throttle right now. I've been weight training for the past month and last night I went for my first RUCK. Loaded up 60lbs on my Eberlestock Mainframe and went on down the road. I don't plan on doing very much asphault rucking this go round as it's hard on the knees and there's really not much terrain changes.

As I started down the road I thought I need to turn around and put some more weight on. Then a mile into it I knew I was right where I needed to be. After 2.5 miles I was sweating bullets and ready for the pack to come off.

Next week I will start hitting the only kind of terrain I have here in Kansas... the local reservoir dam, it's steep and will be as tough as it gets around here.

I will switch between weight training and rucks for the next 3.5 months until departure.


This picture was back in 2020 right before I left for my first moose hunt. The last 3 weeks of training I was hauling 125lbs. about the size of a moose hind quarter, 2.5 miles. Obviously flatland is way different then what you walk through in Alaska but it's the best I can do with what I have.
View attachment 712542

 

[Robinhood21]

What kind of weights are those?

They're actually thick chunks of rubber. We make custom gaskets and those were drops from some 3/4" thk neoprene. They weigh 12lbs a piece.

 

[Robinhood21]

Less than 3 months away! Had a scare over the weekend and thought I was going to have to cancel the trip but it looks like we're in the clear.

This dam is going to see a lot of work until I depart. Went last night until I couldn't go no more.

 

[VernAK]

We butcher, process and package our own meant so I could be mis informed but I believe it would be more than 300. Pretty sure I’ve seen packaging costs be a dollar a pound someplace. I know there are other places in town but one I know charges a dollar a pound for clean meat, then they have a charge if it has to be cleaned, and if it has to be deboned.

A 60" bull moose typically yields 600 pounds of boned out, clean meat. I've weighed several. I'm hearing cut/wrap prices of $1.50 +. Like other businesses, meat processors are unable to attract workers and are limiting intake of animals. Expect long delays.

 

[Robinhood21]

JUST OVER 6 WEEKS AWAY AND I CAN HARDLY STAND IT!

License & Locking Tags Bought... Harvest Tickets printed off.

I went ahead and grabbed a black bear tag also. We haven't seen many while out there both trips but we have seen some and you never know! Plus, last trip we were fortunate to see 5 wolverines. Two of them got within 60 yards of my cousin but neither of us had other tags in our pocked so we couldn't take them.

I also laid eyes on a wolf in 2022 so I figured a Black Bear tag could turn into a bonus animal... why not?

Cool thing is, my cousin is an AK resident so the opportunity for him to take a brown bear is there as well.