Newfoundland bull moose realistic meat amount

[GeorgeShaw]

I'm trying to have my gear ready for a drive up from Ohio for bull moose soon. From the internet I see meat from a bull range from 350-600 pounds, yet I've seen guy's saying substantially less. What number is realistic? Bringing 4 120qt and maybe one 150qt. what size cooler would it take for a cape if needed? Thanks everyone, super excited for this hunt I thought would never happen.

 

[Joshk358]

I shot a bull in Maine several years ago. Dressed out at 900lbs. I have 4 150qt coolers packed with meat and ice. One of those had just the frozen cape in it.

 

[Boston1]

I've been up the last 2 years and driving again this year. Each year I took medium size bulls (9 point and 12 point). We boned them out in the field and I took every scrap I could get - off the ribs, the heart, the tongue, everything edible. Both were processed in NL at a cost of around $350-$400- nothing fancy, all roasts and burger- I prefer to slice my own steaks. The meat bags dropped off at the processor weighed around 225 lbs total (their weights at check in) and I took around 180-200 lbs home (my estimate). It filled two 150 QT marine coolers to the top (no ice). I would have an extra 100-150 QT for meat just in case you get a large bull and another 150 for the cape. I've not brought a cape home, but when you pull that hide off and roll it up... it takes up a lot of space. I put an indoor/outdoor thermometer in my cooler to monitor internal temps during the drive and I get 4 full days before ice is needed. Thats about the time it's going in the freezer.

 

[noKnees]

I have been to NFLD a half dozen times and going back this year. I have had my meat cut and wrapped at Country Side arbatours near deer lake, I would say its 225-275lbs cut and wrapped. I can get it in two 150qt coolers with lots of room for ice.

 

[CRJR45]

I have been to NFLD a half dozen times and going back this year. I have had my meat cut and wrapped at Country Side arbatours near deer lake, I would say its 225-275lbs cut and wrapped. I can get it in two 150qt coolers with lots of room for ice.

I went last year and did the same , processed at Country Side , but had it shipped home to Florida . I had five boxes of meat and the rack shipped for $905 , but it was mid December before they shipped . Probably 230lbs of meat after being processed .

 

[GeorgeShaw]

I guess they aren't as big as I had thought. I watched a video from NL where a young resident couple packaged 300lb from their cow. 250lb is what my friends say they get from a Colorado bull elk. I would have guessed closer to 400 on a bull moose. I should be safe with 4 coolers then. Thanks

 

[akcabin]

I don't know about moose from NF. But in AK I generally assume that the boned of meat will be able one third of the live weight. Remember that the ground burger or sausage you get from the butcher will have suet added to it. So extra weight there.
Good luck n have fun

 

[fatlander]

Dang I didn’t realize that the moose in Newfoundland were this small. They’re basically elk sized. We had a Rocky Mountain bull elk that yielded 252 pounds of finished meat a few years ago. Two 150 quart coolers is plenty of room for that amount of finished meat.


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[Macintosh]

Maine fish and wildlife says average dressed weight for a bull taken during their season is about 800lb. Would be surprised if weights in nflnd are significantly different. So 250lb or maybe a tiny bit more of boned out meat is right in the ballpark of normal.