MOOSE MEAT

I’ve got four pounds of moose hamburger meat in my freezer, thanks to son-in-law Tim. 

Every November, this “son of Maine” dons his camo hunting suit, activates his moose “call” (more on that later) and heads downeast with a crew of high school friends and family members. “We’re so far north, we can see Canada from our camp,” Tim told me. This year, grandson Max took a few days off from college to join his dad in the annual quest.

Only 4030 permits were awarded this year in Maine for a season that began October 11 and will end November 27. Residents 10 and older pay $15 to enter the “permit only” hunt lottery and, if they’re lucky, another $52 for the permit itself. 

Tim’s group was lucky. They had two permits and bagged two of these bodaciously humongous creatures, the largest members of the deer family.

(NOTE: the photo below was taken by Ken Janes on the Kennebago River Road several years ago. These two guys are NOT part of my frozen moose meat.)

You don’t want to mess around with these guys, either. Adult bulls weigh 800 pounds, stretch nine feet long and stand six feet tall at their shoulders. They live 15 to 25 years, unless they happen to meet up with groups like my son-in-law’s.

They look big and dumb but moose are responsible for more attacks on humans than bears and wolves combined, and sit just below the hippo on the global scale of wild animal attacks. Fortunately, I have yet to encounter one on my hikes here in the Wells woods.

Their habitat of preference is thick vegetation with lots of water nearby. And despite their size and apparent clumsiness, they are not easy to spot. In fact, they are amazingly sneaky at vanishing into thicket timber and brush. Hence, “the call.”

Calling a moose, I learned, requires “rolling your tongue back and gently touching the roof of your mouth while cupping your hands over your mouth and plugging both nostrils with your two index fingers. Then, with tongue back, say ‘rrr,’ which will actually sound more like ‘rrrhh.’ This should be repeated every 20 minutes for a duration of 30 seconds.” 

Now you know. Just in case.

Back to the moose meat. People have been hunting moose since the Stone Age. A large bull provides enough meat to feed a family for months and is considered an excellent source of B vitamins.

Moose meat is similar to beef but with a gamier and tougher texture. The meat often features the flavor of the diet in the area they live, specifically a floral taste from willow buds. Popular entrees include crock pot moose with herbs de Provence and roast moose with bacon. Many Mainers swear that moose stew is to die for, others swoon over moose burgers, steaks and sausage.

Son-in-law Tim looked me right in the eye and suggested, “Make chili with this — and add beef and lots of spices too."  That’s the plan.