Just curious what all you hunters prefer for quartering elk and moose?

My partners and I usually use saws for quartering. None of the ones I've used a very good for the job:

1) Those "T" handle saws are way slow and weak- hard to get much bite going up the spine. They work, but tedious.

2)"Wyoming Saw" has better bite, but is still pretty slow. The largeish frame requires "pullin apart" the cut- tough for one guy.

3) Larger frame-type bone saws are strong and faster, but their size makes packing tough and I'm always hitting the gound, etc. with the far end. Still have to pull qtrs apart to be fast at all.


Couple guys I know swear a good small axe is better than any saw, but I've never tried one.

Know its never going to be easy. Just curious to see what others have found to make the job relatively easier and faster.

BK

PS : It always cracks me up when I see a whole elk in the bed of a pick up! How come that nevers happens to me or any of my crew?

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Well I've never hunted moose before but have taken a few elk, the only reason you need a saw is to take off the head, that is after you ring the neck with a knife. Other than that you can quarter an elk in about 50min. with nothing more than a knife, that includes taking off backstrap and tenderloins. If you like the heart then make a small incision in chest and remove it. Anything else such as miscelaneous rib meat and neck meat for burger you can remove with a knife. Which means all this is done without ever gutting the animal. All of this fits in two or three elk bags at most. The saw I use is a T style handle made by buck, I've had the same saw for ten years and it works great. Give it a try if you've never done it this way. I use the same method for deer. elknut1.

www.elknut.com
Bugling Bulls & Beyond!

I am with elknut, no need for a saw, unless it is frozen. If frozen I use a mitre saw (hand), it works really well. I have a Kershaw Alaskan Blade Trader that includes a smaller saw, skinner, drop blade and a deboning blade. I rarely use the saw but I would think it would be alright too.

When packin' meat out on horses or mules, its best to leave it in the original packaging. Big globs of bloody meat are a nuisance. Best thing is to buy a Grans For huntin' axe (or similar quality, thin, razor sharp bladed, short handle axe). I cape, skin, then peel the backstraps away from the ribs a lil' with my fingers an' very lil' knife. After halving the elk or moose, I stand the half on end if I got help, leave it flat on soft ground if alone. Usin' the axe, I chop straight down the middle of the spine. If you ain't good choppin' straight, best to use the back of a second hatchet to smack the back of the cuttin' axe so to stay on the spine. Chop down the spine an' you have 4 even weight quarters ready to put in bag pannyards or slap on the mule with a crow's foot hitch.

BJ

BJ having appreciated and learned from your previous posts (especially enjoyed your elk stalking tips!) I see where your methods on quarting an elk have there place. But there are many more hunters out there who do not use guides nor have horses in this day and age. And we like it that way! So as with everything else methods adapt and change. This method does away with messy gutting and the need for the difficult and time consuming need to cut the spine. For those of us who prefer to be in the woods on our own two feet and who like to penetrate back a fair distance, the method of field dressing I am recommending works very well, and if done properly does not include "big bloody globs of meat" We are not boning out the elk, just the ribs.
Another reason we have found for a quicker, easier method is the fact that those of us archery hunting (or rifle) in September and early October know that the temperatures can still be a mite warm, thus the need to get the meat taken care of quickly, and then out of the woods. Here's how we do it once we have an elk down..... We always have elk bags with us so we quickly and cleanly take care of the meat in the discussed method. We then pack the head and rack out along with our bow or rifle. We get back to hunting camp and after giving some high fives <img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle>we get the pack frames and determine how many guys will be needed to get the elk out. With this method two guys can pack out a rag horn or cow in one trip. If we've got a big ol' bull down it'll take three guys, although sometimes more volunteer. We've used this method for years. Believe it or not I have taught many others this method and they love it for it's simplicity and ease. What's better than an efficently taken care of animal and a fast, clean trip back to hunting camp. Lets fry up some backstrap!
Are you ready to come a huntin' with us and try a new method BJ? Your welcome in our elk camp anytime! It's just a hop skip and a jump from Wyoming to Idaho.
elknut1.

www.elknut.com
Bugling Bulls & Beyond!

Depends on how far you be in the bush. I still pack my saws, but this year I'm going to have a 18 volt reciptatating sawzall avaliable to do the work for me. <img src=icon_smile_wink.gif border=0 align=middle>

I use horses to pack in and to pack the elk and the camp back out. I quarter an elk almost ecactly like BEAVERJACK except we saw down the sides of the spine after removing the straps and tender loins. Throw them in the panyards legs up and tie em together. This is a little off topic, but, having horses around camp is a plus. The elk aren't near as likley to avoid the camp if they see four horses walking around. I've had elk walk through the makeshift corral while, don't laugh, my father and I were catching a mid day nap in the tent. Walked within 20 feet of the back of the tent. Just goes to show you, they can be anywhere!

121553 you're kidding right? Lol. Your friend in ID. elknut1.

www.elknut.com
Bugling Bulls & Beyond!

Biggest thing I don't like 'bout the no-gut method is the waste. There's 3 inch thick rib meat left fer the coyotes. An' the best part of the elk is the inner tenderloins, an' if you ain't guttin', you ain't gettin' 'em.

BJ