Moose hunting with the IronHorse - Go where an ATV cannot
For Production Manager Thomas Persson, autumn with its cool fresh air and hunting season is defintely his favorite time of the year, and this year he managed to bag a big four-point moose bull. Not only that, he loaded the moose all by himself himself onto his IronHorse and drove it alone 2.2 km through difficult terrain, including over 1 km of bog, thanks to his IronHorse. Read more below to hear how it happened.
Getting a big moose out of the deep forest can require the support of several other hunters - How did you manage to load the moose all by yourself with the Iron Horse?
With an Iron Horse and a power winch, it is quite possible if you do it calmly and methodically. I first attached the power winch around the moose's neck to move the weight of the moose forward on the machine- it's important to make sure that as much weight as possible ends up far forward on the machine, so it's important to get the head past the side of the winch tower and the shoulder area as close to the load cover as possible. I then used the manual winch to secure the head and also adjust its position if necessary. Next, I pulled up the rear body with the power winch. Here, too, it is important to get the entire rear body onto the moose's back so that it does not drag on the ground. It took about 15 minutes. If necessary, you can use a throwing block in a tree in front of the Iron Horse to pull it up a little further.
During your moose hunts, you have access to both ATVs and IronHorses. When should you choose the IronHorse over an ATV?
- It depends on the terrain. The ATV works best on well-prepared tractor roads with a relatively smooth surface, but it is usually impractical in a forest environment and once you face terrain features it is over for the ATV. On bogs and in difficult terrain, the Iron Horse is superior - in Malung I have transported 9 out of 10 moose with an IronHorse, as the ATV simply cannot get there.
What accessories are best for moose pulling?
Lennartsfors AB offers both moose platform and moose carts - on my Iron Horse, for example, there is a moose platform. I recommend a motorized winch at least for moose hunting and big game, and especially if you use the Iron Horse alone. Then if you drive down a slope or get stuck, the winch is invaluable for getting around.
Other benefits of the Iron Horse?
- You get a "clean" moose out of the forest. It's not dragged on the ground, and there are no wheels to wash up dirt. This makes for easier cutting and better quality meat.
Executive summary
Attach the cable around the neck of the moose for the most forward position possible. The shoulder area as close to the load guard as possible.
You can also use the winch via a tree in front of the machine together with a throwing block to further pull the moose onto the machine.
Put your legs up on the platform. Do not let the rear body drag on the ground.
This will make the Iron Horse difficult to steer. Also make sure that the tailgate is properly retracted. Again, you can use the winch to make the job easier.