TAG Bomb Bags for moose

[WonkyWapiti]

I just purchased some TAG bags from Pristine Ventures and think they are going to work out great for me for elk and deer. However, my buddies have confirmed with me that for our Alaska moose hunt we will be taking out all of our meat deboned. So now I'm looking at ordering the Bomb bags. My question is how many BOMB bags should I be looking at getting for a moose? 2 Complete sets?

 

[Becca]

I would not recommend BOMB bags for a moose, even boned out. AK moose are bigger than you think. I shot a 52" moose last fall and had nothing but BOMB bags due to circumstances (we got weathered out from a sheep hunt, weren't moose hunting but my bull was in the right place at the right time). the only piece of that bull that fit in a bomb bag was a single backstrap, and that was a squeeze. Even boned out, the muscle groups are too big to fit into the bomb sized bags unless you really cut them up, which will increase your meat loss greatly. Even then you would need at least 4 sets, maybe more. Larry Bartlett (Pristine ventures) makes some bigger moose sized TAG bags from the same material and that's the route I would highly recommend.

 

[WonkyWapiti]

OK, I've already purchased the moose sized TAG bags so I'm good to go then. Thanks Becca. This is my first trip to Alaska, was supposed to happen last year but didn't work out. The biggest animals I've killed are elk. I know I'm in for an education, luckily both guys I'm going with have plenty of experience up there.

 

[Becca]

Awesome! Look forward very much to hearing about your trip, and the moose sized tag bags should serve you well! I have seen a fair number of AK moose tip over, and I am still always surprised by the enormity of a mature bull. Here are a couple photos from my trip last fall for perspective:





The backstrap that maxed out the BOMB bag:



Any reason you all are planning to bone out the moose quarters? We always leave the quarters on the bone, only "loose" meat is boned out ribs (if allowed in the unit we are hunting, some require whole rib cage be removed from the field), neck meat, backstraps and tenderloins. Having bone in quarters makes moving/ hanging them a lot easier, the bone provides some structure so hind quarters don't turn into a 100+ lbs of jello you have to try and haul, move around, or even just rotate to keep the air circulating. Also reduces your spoilage, depending on how long you will be in the field. It's true that the quarters won't cool as quickly on the bone, but overnight temps up here in sept are usually cool enough to get the meat cooled down even with the bone still in. If you are near a river or other water source, may folks submerge contractor bag wrapped quarters in cold water to cool meat even faster.

Our fall hunting season is pretty packed, but if there is any chance you will be coming through Anchorage or Wasilla on your trip give us a shout. We always enjoy meeting folks from Rokslide and swapping hunting stories

 

[WonkyWapiti]

Well I believe the biggest reason these guys have done it this way over the years is due to weight and space. Once we get an animal down and back to camp then it will all get shuttled out via my friends piper cub. No other way of getting it out. I will definitely have to give you guys a shout.