Splitting Moose Hindquarter?

[cfdjay]

I've heard it referenced a few times to help with the pack out weight. Is there a technique to this or just a matter of sawing the hindquarter in half?

 

[thinhorn_AK]

I do it with a Wyoming saw.

I do all the other cutting and at the end I just have the rear, I stand it up, split it with the saw then haul it in 2 pieces. It's hard to do solo sometimes but doable. Much easier with another person.

 

[Snowwolfe]

Why not just bone it out?

 

[cfdjay]

Why not just bone it out?

Alaska law requires bone-in meat removed from the field

 

[Djacker]

I've split it at the joint, just have to make sure there's enough meat on the shank to make it worth splitting.

 

[cfdjay]

FAAFO, I’ve read a lot of your posts about how incredibly tough you are. I’m still trying to get to your level. I fully intend on not splitting them but I’ll be solo and prepping for worst case scenario. Thanks for your input however.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[gbflyer]

Alaska law requires bone-in meat removed from the field

You sure about that? I’ve been involved with packing moose under the watchful eye of ADFG as our area is highly monitored and regulated. We bone out plenty of it. In fact, ADFG goes so far as to advocate for gutless processing in bear country. They are strict about removing the meat from the field, in my experience how you get to that point is your business.

Maybe other units are different though, Lord knows there is lacking consistency in the game laws here.

 

[Maverick1]

I've heard it referenced a few times to help with the pack out weight. Is there a technique to this or just a matter of sawing the hindquarter in half?

No saw needed. Take it down to the joint and separate. Easy enough to leave the bone in.

 

[cfdjay]

You sure about that? I’ve been involved with packing moose under the watchful eye of ADFG as our area is highly monitored and regulated. We bone out plenty of it. In fact, ADFG goes so far as to advocate for gutless processing in bear country. They are strict about removing the meat from the field, in my experience how you get to that point is your business.

Maybe other units are different though, Lord knows there is lacking consistency in the game laws here.

Yes. Positive about the bone in for this unit.

 

[thinhorn_AK]

I've heard it referenced a few times to help with the pack out weight. Is there a technique to this or just a matter of sawing the hindquarter in half?

Sorry, misread everything. I thought you were talking about splitting the pelvis to get the rear quarters apart.

don’t split up an individual quarter, just load it up and haul it out. I’ve never seen anybody break anti individual quarter down other than sawing off the lower leg/foot/hoof which you should be doing anyways.

 

[cfdjay]

I’m not sure if I was very clear in my original post. Basically taking the typical 120lb hindquarters and breaking them down into 2 - 60ish lb pieces.

As stated above I’m hoping to not have to but want to prep for injuries etc


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[thinhorn_AK]

I’m not sure if I was very clear in my original post. Basically taking the typical 120lb hindquarters and breaking them down into 2 - 60ish lb pieces.

As stated above I’m hoping to not have to but want to prep for injuries etc


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

You could split it at the joint if you wanted to. You could also use a sled to drag it if you don’t want to carry it.

 

[Elkhuntinfool78]

I’m not sure if I was very clear in my original post. Basically taking the typical 120lb hindquarters and breaking them down into 2 - 60ish lb pieces.

As stated above I’m hoping to not have to but want to prep for injuries etc


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I looked into this as an option when I did a solo AK moose hunt a couple of years ago. I have several herniated discs in my back so just wanted to know what my options were. I was told that it was legal to cut a hind quarter into two pieces putting it at a more manageable weight as long as all meat was still attached to bone(I was hunting in a unit that required the meat to stay one the 4 leg bones)

As it turned out I also brought a roll up sled with me and used that to drag out the hind quarters. Depending on the terrain that may also be a good option for you.

 

[william schmaltz]

Maybe other units are different though, Lord knows there is lacking consistency in the game laws here.

have you never seen this page in the regs?

 

[william schmaltz]

Not ashamed to say I’ve done it twice. First was a good friend shot a very large bull 1/2 mile straight line from the lake. Probably 3/4ish mile pack. He weighs maybe 150 soaking wet with weights in his pocket. Physics are physics so I had no problem packing the hinds and I shanked em. Last year my wife and her friend shot two bulls essentially on top of each other +1/4 mile from the lake. I shanked those hind quarters instead of doing four +100lb loads.

I just remove the shank at the joint. If you wanted to make them equal weight, you would taint prime cuts by exposing them. A 90lb load is a BIG difference from a 120lb load. I want to do this stuff a long time so I’ve decided to limit packs over 100lbs to when necessary or very short distance. Much less shameful than seeing some Simple Jack hauling a quarter around with the hoof still attached

 

[Snowwolfe]

have you never seen this page in the regs?View attachment 872739

Wow,
Much has changed since I left and returned. This is a game changer for us old folks who used to bone out the entire moose and carry out what we could in our packs each trip. It was bad enough when we hunted the Koyukuk and the quarters, neck, and ribs had to be brought out intact.
I swear, Alaska F&G does more to discourage people from hunting than they do to encourage it.
Oh well, looks like I will need to pick up a small plastic sled to help get the meat out.
Thank you for pointing this out.

 

[chasewild]

have you never seen this page in the regs?View attachment 872739

My thoughts exactly


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Luke S]

I thought about this a few times but I never felt like cutting at the joint would make a big enough difference. Having the whole leg there actually makes a sort of handle for throwing it over your shoulder. Now if I was packing through thick brush I might trim it down more for size than for weight. Don't recall that I've done that though.

 

[cfdjay]

I looked into this as an option when I did a solo AK moose hunt a couple of years ago. I have several herniated discs in my back so just wanted to know what my options were. I was told that it was legal to cut a hind quarter into two pieces putting it at a more manageable weight as long as all meat was still attached to bone(I was hunting in a unit that required the meat to stay one the 4 leg bones)

As it turned out I also brought a roll up sled with me and used that to drag out the hind quarters. Depending on the terrain that may also be a good option for you.

This was more what I was talking about. I'll be sure to confirm with Fish and Game. Thanks!