Everyday Alaska

Everyday Life in The Last Frontier

Hunting

How to Take Care of Wild Game Meat in the Field

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We’re just coming off a successful September moose hunt, so I thought what better time than now to impart some knowledge I’ve gained over the years with you regarding wild game care in the field. Some has been gained through friends and family. Others from books and videos, and yet more from trial and error. So, let me save you some time and break down these simple tips below so you can take care of wild game in the field the best way possible.

Please note that this post contains affiliate links which I may earn commission from. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Commissions from these qualifying purchases help support Everyday Alaska at no extra cost to you. Please follow the instructions on all of the recommended items. All of the information provided is my personal opinion, unless otherwise cited or noted.

Where can I learn how to field dress game and take care of wild game meat?

Taking good care of your wild game meat is just as much about knowledge as it is about having the right gear. But, how do you gain that knowledge without ruining your meat in a trial and error process? Luckily, there are a number of great resources you can use to learn about gutting and field dressing animals.

The best way to learn how to field dress and quarter out animals is first hand experience. How do you get that experience without fumbling your way through your first few animals though? Mentors. If you have friends and family that hunt, they’ll most likely be happy to have you tag along. You might not be the one doing the shooting those first few times, but putting in the grunt work, watching, participating, and learning from people who have hunted for years will give you a ton of insight into how to take care of wild game meat.

Moose meat pole Alaska hunting
Moose meat hanging up to stay dry and cool.

But, what if you don’t know anyone who hunts? Who can teach you then? Check out your local hunting and shooting organization chapters (SCI, NRA, groups local to your state like the Alaska Outdoor Council and Resident Hunters of Alaska for us northern folks). Getting involved in these organizations will help you meet like minded people who are interested in helping new hunters learn. You can also check local Facebook hunting groups to find people who are looking for hunting partners and to get more information.

Another great source of information is videos. There are a variety of great YouTube channels that discuss how to field dress and/or quarter game. The Bearded Butchers YouTube channel is a great resource, along with these videos by Outdoor Edge. Most hunting shows and how-to videos online will give you a great insight into what you’ll be seeing when you’re in the field.

Last, but not least, reading can help you learn how to take care of wild game meat in the field. Blogs (like this one!), books, and even cookbooks like this one can give you some great first hand information on game care and processing.

What gear do I need to take care of wild game meat?

The gear you need to field dress and quarter game is pretty minimal. Below, I’ll list the items we keep in our kit, along with the uses for these items.

Knives

Clearly you’ll need some good sharp knives to get the job done. One of my favorites is this one with replaceable blades. It’s so convenient and cuts through hide very well. This Outdoor Edge kit also has a variety of knives and other important tools that we have used for multiple seasons now. I would highly recommend getting both the knife with replacement blades and the knife kit. Just be aware that these are incredibly sharp, which leads me to my next item.

Making that important first cut: the tag.

First Aid Kit

As careful as you think you are or as you may try to be, accidents can happen to anyone. It’s best to be prepared incase you, your hunting partner, or anyone you come across in the field gets injured while hunting or while you’re taking care of your game in the field. These handy medical kits are great to take with you incase of any mishaps or injuries.

Knife Sharpener

A dull blade is a dangerous blade. For the knives without replacement blades you’ll need a knife sharpener to keep things running smoothly and safely. Grab the Outdoor Edge Field Dressing Kit which includes this and many other things you’ll need.

Having good quality, sharp knives make field dressing much easier and safer.

Rib Spreader

I wasn’t sure how useful or necessary a rib spreader would be until our last couple hunts. This past hunt especially sold me on the idea of this handy item since it was just the two of us gutting the moose in the field. It was an immense help to have the spreader (which is included in the above mentioned Outdoor Edge kit) for propping the ribs open while getting the guts out and cooling off the meat. I highly recommend it.

Keeping gear separated and organized will help your game processing in the field go smoother.

Bone Saw

It takes a bit of elbow grease to use, but a bone saw really comes in handy for cutting ribs and likely for other bones if an animal is smaller. The Outdoor Edge kit comes with one of these as well.

Tarps

Grab at least one or two inexpensive tarps for your field dressing and quartering. These are incredibly useful when trying to keep meat clean. Once the quarters and other meat are off the animal you can transfer it to a clean tarp to check and bag, which keeps your meat almost spotless.

Having a tarp to transfer skinned quarters to will help keep meat clean.

Citric Acid, Spray Bottle, Water

Why do you need this interesting combination of items? Flies. Mix citric acid with water and spray it on your wild game meat to create a protective crust that will keep flies at bay. It works extremely well, and we’ve never had any issues using it. We even spray it on the game bags after the meat has been placed in them.

Protecting the meat with some spray.

Game Bags

It probably comes as no surprise that we use the Alaska Game Bags. We have tried others, but these work the best. They are sturdy, strong, stretch well, and are easy to clean. They come in a variety of sizes for whatever your target animal may be.

Our stash of game bags ready to go.

Gloves

It’s really personal preference whether you want to wear gloves or not while field dressing your animal, but it’s highly recommend that you do use gloves.

Thermacell

Once an animal is down the bugs go absolutely wild. You’ll want a Thermacell around to keep the bugs at bay while you process your kill.

Thermacell on a hunt
Putting the Thermacell to work while we process a moose.

What are some tips for taking care of game meat?

One of the best things you can do to take care of game meat is to know how to quarter and field dress it correctly, which you can learn by checking out the above tips. The next thing is to keep it clean and dry, which I’ll go over in these next few tips.

Keep It Clean

Pick off any leaves, hair, or other debris ASAP. The meat will be sticky and the tackiness of it will pick up any little thing it touches, so clean it off as quickly as possible because once the meat starts to cool off the debris will become adhered to the meat.

Keep It Dry

Keeping your meat dry will help prevent spoilage. Using one of the aforementioned tarps will help with this, along with hanging it on a meat pole or at least placing it up off the ground so your game bags aren’t resting on wet ground.

Meat staying cool, dry, and ventilated after the hunt.

Keep It Cool

This may be one of the harder meat care tips to keep depending on how remote your hunting area is and what the weather is like. Try to store your meat in a shaded area, hang it from a meat pole if possible, and get it back to a freezer as soon as you can.

Keep It Ventilated

Keeping airflow around the meat will help to keep it dry, cool, and keep it from spoiling while you’re in the field. A meat pole does the trick for this, but also keep ventilation and the other tips in mind when transporting meat out of your hunting area. If you’re moving it in the bed of a truck, keep it on a pallet or have something between the meat and the bed. This will keep good ventilation going and prevent the heat from the truck from spoiling your meat.

The last thing you want to do is waste any of your wild game meat, so I hope these tips I’ve learned through the years help you learn how to best take care of your wild game meat and get the most out of your harvest. If you’re looking for more hunting tips, check out our hunting tips, tricks, and lessons post. Happy hunting!

Totes of tasty moose burger after some hard days of work.

The Everyday Alaska Journal: Year 1, Weeks 1-3

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Welcome to September in Alaska, or, as it is commonly referred to, “moose hunting season”, which is a busy time in our household. We normally head north, with at least a full day’s travel ahead of us to get to our hunting spot, but this year David drew an any bull tag near our house on the Kenai Peninsula, so we were hunting close to home this season.

Moose hair found during moose hunting season.
There was a lot of moose sign around, including some clumps of moose hair.

Please note that this post contains affiliate links which I may earn commission from. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Commissions from these qualifying purchases help support Everyday Alaska at no extra cost to you. Please follow the instructions on all of the recommended items. All of the information provided is my personal opinion, unless otherwise cited or noted.

The season started September 1st, but we avoided the Labor Day weekend crowds and headed out to Clam Gulch on the fifth. The areas we normally hunt are private land and fellow hunters are few and far between. Hunting this new area was a whole different ballgame. The parking area where we left the truck and unloaded the side by side wasn’t too busy most days, but once we struck out on the trails there were camps and four wheelers in every turn out.

Alaska State Troopers checking moose hunters.
Our first time getting checked by the Alaska State Troopers. The area is a popular local spot, so they come out to check licenses. Had a great chat with our local AST.

The first day was mostly spent exploring and getting a lay of the land and trail system. The roads were decent and people brought their vehicles way back in to road hunt, camp, or unload their ATVs. Main roads just kept branching off left and right, and there were many off shoots to check out. We found a more open area that seemed to be ideal for sitting and calling or waiting for moose pass through, which is where we sat for a few of the days.

A cow and calf frequented this area, but didn’t seem bothered by us, other four wheelers, or any calling. And she didn’t have a bull trailing her yet, so she and her little (but still big!) calf leisurely walked through the small meadow and the calling, waiting, raking, and more waiting didn’t produce any bull sightings during our time in that spot. It was definitely too early for the rut to be starting, so we realized that we’d just have to happen upon a bull while checking out the trails or spot one over the brush on the side of the trails to get a chance at filling the freezer. This determination led to David creating an addition for the Ranger: the boat seat viewing platform.

In our usual hunting area glassing is king. You can take a spotting scope or binoculars and see for miles around you. At this year’s hunting spot in Unit 15 (Alaska’s hunting areas are broken up into a series of Game Management Units) that was not the case. The tall brush surrounding all sides of the trails made it difficult to see into the woods and spot moose, even if they were relatively close. After seeing many groups of hunters with one or more people standing in the bed of a sided by side to get a better viewpoint (think African safari with people standing in the bed of a Jeep for a good vantage point), David built a handy chair to see over the dense brush. But, before he put that together, we got another tip from a hunter in the parking lot.

Looking for moose from the Polaris Ranger.
Getting a view from the top as we cruised the trails.

This gentleman, who I’d assume had been hunting Unit 15 for some time, said we were missing a whole prime area, and he had seen some smaller bulls out there. Since we had the any bull tag it would be worth checking it out. So the next day we switched things up and took a new trail to explore the spot we’d missed.

The trail we took passed through a pretty well established camp. We were already told it was ok to drive through (which I would assume since it’s public land and all), but for the sake of being courteous and respectful we stopped and talked to the group at the campsite. These guys had a great setup and were very friendly. They told us there was an about twenty-five inch moose they’d seen back in the trail. The area is fifty inches or three brow tines (check out this Alaska Department of Fish and Game regulations page for details on moose antler restrictions) with the exception of the any bull tag, so we were in luck!

Our annual moose hunting picture.

While heading back to the truck as sunset was creeping in, David looked in a swamp and spotted the bull with a cow. It didn’t respond to calls and was deep in the swamp, up to its belly in water and a long enough distance from us that it would be difficult to recover. With light dwindling and the bull being too far away, we headed home to get some rest and try spot him the next day. We had seen many cows on our way to the hunting area (one precariously close to our bumper, which would have been number thirty-eight killed on Kenai Peninsula roads in the past couple months according to the road signs), so seeing this bull really got us amped up to get back out there and track him down the next morning. But, unbeknownst to us, our morning hunt would be rather short.

The next morning we cruised out to the hunting area. After unloading the Ranger and getting gear ready, we were prepared to head on back and spend the morning looking for the swamp bull. But, just a couple minutes from the parking area, I spotted two large creatures through the fog, standing in one of the few big open areas. I quickly motioned David and he pulled out his binos to see if it was a bull. Sure enough, there stood a bull with a cow, and off we went.

He stood there snacking on his breakfast as we walked closer, fairly unbothered by how close we got, just as the cows were. With two shots of the Ruger American .308 he was down and the work began. We got him field dressed and spend the next two days processing meat and filling the freezer. Our first hunt with just the two of us was a success, and we got to spend our fourth anniversary packing up moose meat. It may not be for everyone, but I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Bull moose on Alaska’s Kenai Peninsula.
Time to fill the freezer.

Here a just a few gear notes regarding this year’s moose hunt. This year I got some new Lacrosse boots to try keep my feet a bit warmer when we’re out hunting. They are Lacrosse Women’s Alpha Thermals with neoprene, and a far cry better than my solid rubber boots I’ve been using in past seasons. Although my feet were still cold (because when aren’t they cold), they were much warmer and more comfortable than usual. I’m excited to get some more use out of these.

Next up, I tried out the Sofia Adventure Pant from Ditale. These truly are “ninja quiet” as advertised! They are also incredibly comfortable, and the adjustable inseam makes it so my short legs aren’t dragging the pant hem on the ground. The large pockets hold everything I need, including a good stash of HotHands. If you’ll be in the rain, layer lightweight rain pants over these, but other than that I think these pants are fantastic.

Aside from our adventures in hunting, winterization was the name of the game. Pulling the sparse carrots and potatoes we got from the garden, stashing Trapper’s pools in the greenhouse, unhooking hoses, winterizing the camper, and other pre-winter chores occupied our time towards the end of the month. September is a busy time of year, filled with chores of the fun and exciting variety and the less exciting and more necessary type as well. All said and done, it was a very successful and productive month, and I’m ready as one can be for a slightly early start to winter.

The 10 Best Freeze Dried Meals

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There has really been a huge increase in the freeze dried meal business. More brands, more options, more variety of meals. But, what are the best freeze dried meals? Check out the list below to find out!

Peak Refuel freeze dried camping mea.
My favorite freeze dried meal: Peak Alfredo.

Please note that this post contains affiliate links which I may earn commission from. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Commissions from these qualifying purchases help support Everyday Alaska at no extra cost to you. Please follow the instructions on all of the recommended items. All of the information provided is my personal opinion, unless otherwise cited or noted.

What is a freeze dried meal?

Freeze dried meals are regular meals that have gone through the freeze drying process which removes moisture from the food. This creates long lasting, shelf stable meals that can be rehydrated and used on the go.

Eating Peak Refuel at the cabin.
Refueling with Peak at the cabin.

Who would find freeze dried meals useful?

Anyone! Freeze dried meals are good for backpacking, camping, hiking, and hunting, so they are a favorite of outdoor lovers. Also, they are fantastic for emergency food storage. If you have a natural disaster emergency kit, these are a perfect and necessary addition. There are so many benefits to this type of meal that makes them useful for everyone.

Freeze dried meal storage.
These meals are great for emergency food storage.

Why should I buy freeze dried meals and what are the benefits?

Freeze dried meals are shelf stable and have long expiration dates. They’re also relatively compact, and since they require no refrigeration it makes them easy to store. Plus, they’re are very lightweight, which makes them handy when packing for hiking and camping. According to Harvest Right and other sources, freeze dried food keeps about 97% of it’s nutritional value, which is a huge benefit, too.

Warm up at camp with some mac and cheese!

How do I cook freeze dried meals?

Just follow the simple directions on the meal bag to cook them. For most meals, you can take boiling water and pour directly into the meal pouch. Let it sit for the recommended time, stir, let it sit a bit more, and enjoy! Check into Jetboils to boil the water in a jiffy. You’ll also want a long spoon that’s made for meals like these to stir up all the ingredients in the bottom of the bag with ease.

Peak Refuel freeze dried breakfast skillet while ice fishing.
Enjoying a delicious Peak breakfast while ice fishing.

What are the best brands of meals?

As you’ll see in the list below, I think the best brands are Mountain House and Peak Refuel. They have everything from filling breakfasts and savory lunches to tasty snacks and sweet desserts. Check out my list of the best freeze dried meals below to see some of our favorites!

Peak Refuel Breakfast Skillet

Peak Refuel Mountain Berry Granola

Mountain House Macaroni and Cheese

Mountain House Chicken Fajita Bowl

Peak Refuel Chicken Pesto Pasta

Mountain House Chili Mac with Beef

Peak Refuel Sweet Pork and Rice

Mountain House Spaghetti

Peak Refuel Chicken Alfredo Pasta

Mountain House Beef Stroganoff

These meals will keep you full and fueled up for all your outdoor adventures, whether it be hiking, fishing, camping, hunting, or preparing an emergency kit. I hope you enjoy them as much as we do!

Is the Garmin inReach Really Worth It?

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Is the Garmin inReach really worth it? Considering the price tag, that’s a great question to ask before you purchase one. In this post, I’ll share with you both the perspectives of an inReach user and of the recipient of inReach messages, and let you know the pros and cons of purchasing a Garmin inReach. 

What is the Garmin inReach?

The Garmin inReach is a satellite communication device that allows for two way text communication, route tracking and sharing, and an emergency SOS button, among other things. You can Bluetooth these devices to your phone to easily text people updates, and send links to loved ones so they can track your adventures. There are a few different versions of the inReach, such as the Explorer, Mini, and Messenger. We have the full size Explorer, which I think is a little more user friendly, but the Mini is definitely more compact and lighter weight along with the Messenger, so there are perks to either model.

Please note that this post contains affiliate links which I may earn commission from. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Commissions from these qualifying purchases help support Everyday Alaska at no extra cost to you. Please follow the instructions on all of the recommended items. All of the information provided is my personal opinion, unless otherwise cited or noted.

Who would the Garmin inReach be useful for? 

The inReach is useful for everyone. Whether you are a hunter or a hiker, a biker or a road tripper, living off grid, camping, or just traveling where there is poor cell service, having an inReach as part of your gear is a necessity. Why would I say it’s a necessity? Read ahead to find out.

The inReach is great for roadtrips where you may not have cell service.

Why should I purchase an inReach?

It could save your life. Truly, I’m not exaggerating. Whether you run into a life threatening emergency while out in the woods, or have a medical emergency on a stretch of road with no cell service, the SOS button on your inReach will connect you with the Garmin Response Team who will contact the necessary emergency services, pinpoint your location, and stay in contact with you via two way texting during your emergency until emergency and rescue services arrive.

Not only is having an inReach a safety feature, it also gives you and your loved ones peace of mind. My husband brought our inReach Explorer on a sheep hunt, which ended up lasting seventeen days. It gave me peace of mind getting updates from him, he had peace of mind knowing they could contact someone in an emergency, and they could contact their transport service to arrange for a pick up as well. My parents also have an inReach. When they’re heading out on longer adventures they turn on tracking, and I can receive a tracking link to make sure they’ve made it to their destination, along with receiving text messages from them on via their inReach as well.

Garmin inReach communication.
Tracking and updates from sheep camp.

Where does the inReach work?

As you probably know, there are many parts of Alaska that are quite remote. Considering that’s where we live, it’s a pretty good place to test out a communication device like this. So far, we’ve had great luck with it. It really works everywhere, but some messages may take a little more time to send depending on where you’re at.  

When can I use this device?

Anytime. There are monthly, no contract plans for short term use, and annual service plans as well. 

What are the pros and cons of the Garmin inReach?

Okay, let’s get into it. Clearly, there are pros and cons to anything you’ll purchase. From what you’ve already read, I’m sure you can tell that I do think the Garmin inReach is really worth it, but below I’ll list the positives and negatives of this communication device so you can decide for yourself.

Cons

Cost
None of the inReach devices are cheap, but can you really put a price on safety and peace of mind? The investment you’ll make into an inReach is well worth it. If you want to save a bit of money, you can compare the different versions and see which is best for you, as prices vary depending on which device you choose. Also, there are monthly service plans, and prices vary depending on use, just like cell phone plans. But, you can activate plans for just a month at a time, and pause service when you don’t need it. 

Learning Curve
As with all new gear you’ll be using outdoors, test it at home before you take it out with you. Depending on how tech savvy you are, there may be a bit of a learning curve. Plus, you can get it paired with your phone while you’re home so you’re ready to head out in the field or road trip through with wilderness.

Take it with you anywhere, from walks in the woods with your pup to hiking up mountains.

Pros

Safety and Peace of Mind
As I mentioned above, one of the times we relied most on our inReach was during my husband’s Dall sheep hunt. He had over two weeks of strenuous hunting in the mountains of Alaska. Needless to say, without the inReach I would have been a wreck worrying about him. Thankfully, I was able to get updates from him and his hunting partner via the inReach. I also got to track parts of their trek, and received check in messages as well. “Check-in messages are messages with predefined text and recipients”, as explained by Garmin, and work great to let loved ones know things such as “made it to the campsite”, “heading back down the mountain”, or “flying out tomorrow” easily and quickly. Not only will the inReach give that peace of mind, but, as you read earlier, it can save your life, and/or the lives of those you’re with.

SOS Button
In the event of an extreme emergency, there is an SOS button on the inReach. It’s covered by a cap so you won’t accidentally press it. If there is an instance where you do have to use the SOS, the Garmin Response Team will coordinate with the appropriate agencies to assist in a solution to the emergency, all while keeping in touch with you via your inReach. To get more details on the inReach SOS, check out this article here.

Battery Life
Obviously, battery life will depend on how much you use it, and how you use it. Will you use it for tracking? How many messages will you send? This varies depending on which of the inReach devices you get as well. We have had our inReach for years now, and I really feel like it has great battery life. There are statistics on the Garmin website for usage versus batter life that will give you a good idea of how often you’ll need to charge it.

One thing to note, though, is the battery life of your phone. If you’ll have them paired and will be texting form your phone, it would be best to bring a charging cord and solar charger or small potable charger to keep everything charged up.

Size
The size of your inReach device will depend on which one you get, but they are all convenient and lightweight to carry on any treks.

So, is the Garmin inReach really worth it?

From what you’ve read above, do you think this communication device is worth it? I sure think it is. Any outdoor enthusiast, traveler, or individual living remotely should have an inReach. You really can’t put a price on safety or peace of mind, so check out the inReach here.

Snowdog Versus Snowmachine: Which One is Best for You?

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If you’re looking to add a new machine to your lineup of winter toys, or just looking for a the best way to get around during winter, chances are you’ll be looking into getting a snowmachine (or snowmobile as everyone in the Lower 48 refers to them). But have you ever looked into getting a Snowdog? Chances are, maybe you haven’t, or you’re deciding which one of the two to get. I’ve used both machines, and below I’ll give you my perspective and some facts on the Snowdog versus snowmachines to help you decide which would best fit your needs.

Please note that this post contains affiliate links which I may earn commission from. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Commissions from these qualifying purchases help support Everyday Alaska at no extra cost to you. Please follow the instructions on all of the recommended items. All of the information provided is my personal opinion, unless otherwise cited or noted.

What is a Snowdog?

A Snowdog is basically the machine version of an actual sled dog team. It’s a compact tracked machine that pulls a connecting sled(s) behind it to hold people, supplies, gear, and/or whatever else you may need to carry. The Snowdog is basically acting as the sled dogs. The machine itself is giving you the muscle to go, and the sled behind it acts as a musher’s sled would. Unlike a snowmachine/snowmobile, it is much shorter, has no connected seat, and does not have skis. Snowmachines, commonly known as snowmobiles, are much larger, heavier, tracked vehicles with skis.

The Snowdog at sunset on the Kenai Peninsula in Alaska.
The Snowdog at sunset.

What can Snowdogs and snowmachines be used for? Can they only be used during winter?

Snowmachines are solely winter vehicles. They are used for transporting people and goods, riding for enjoyment and exploring, ice fishing, hauling wood, trail grooming, hunting, chores around property, and whatever else you choose to do outdoors during winter. Snowdogs, however, are multi season vehicles. They are used for the above activities during winter, but can also be used for these applications during other seasons. This makes Snowdogs quite useful, multi-season vehicles. You won’t be using the Snowdog for hillclimbs or highmarking though. Although they do great in fairly deep snow, they can’t compete with the big dog snowmobiles when it comes to tons of powder and racing up steep mountains.

How much can I tow and how far can I go with a Snowdog versus a snowmachine?

How much you can tow with a snowmachine will depend on what type of one you get. Are you buying a snowmobile for hill climbing or trail riding? Will you have a sled you’ll be towing behind it? What kind of horsepower do you have? All of these various elements and more will determine how much you can tow.

The same goes for how far you can travel on a tank. There are a couple different things to consider when figuring this out. How big is the tank? What’s your MPG like? Will you have room to take extra fuel with you? This will vary, and checking individual specifications for the machine you’re looking at is the best way to find out. Most snowmobiles can go quite the distance on a full tank.

Snowdogs have some pretty specific stats on towing compactly and MPGs. According to the Snowdog website “the top power models of 14 hp haul up to 660lbs on snow” and “average fuel consumption is only 0.7 gal/h (41 MPG)”, which gives you an idea of how long and hard you can push it. Obviously there is a big difference in horsepower between the two, so that’s something to consider.

Polaris Indy Voyager in Eureka, Alaska. Snowmachines can climb and travel distances better in the case of Snowdog versus snowmachine.
Eureka, Alaska. Snowmachines can take you to some beautiful heights.

How does a snowmachine handle when riding compared to the Snowdog?

A lot of this is based on personal opinion since experiences will just depend on the rider. I think both the Snowdog and snowmachines are really enjoyable to ride. They each have their perks and quirks, though. Personally, I think the Snowdog is harder to steer. I don’t feel like I have the control with it like I do when I’m snowmaching. That being said, I have ridden snowmachines for decades, so I’m much more comfortable with them in general. Also, my husband just made a seat for our Snowdog sled, and sitting while operating the Snowdog rather than standing gives a much better rider experience and more control. You can also go faster on a snowmachine compared to a Snowdog, but depending on what you’re using it for speed might not matter as much.

Depending on how heavy your snowmachine is, they can sometimes be a pain to get unstuck, and you might need a little help. Snowdogs by themselves weigh only 286-440lbs depending on the model, so a solo rider likely can easily get unstuck without help.

Riding a Yamaha Phazer in the 90s in remote Alaska.
You could say I’ve got a few decades of riding in. Changed the brand of machine, but not the color!

What’s the best way to transport each machine?

There are a few different options when moving either machine. Snowmachines can be trailered, put on a sled deck, or fit in a longer bed of a truck. Snowdogs are compact enough that they can fit in the back of a larger SUV or truck easily. Of course you can always trailer them as well, but their compact size makes them convenient to load up take to the trail. However, our model of Snowdog does not have reverse, which makes it a little more difficult to unload. This is something to consider when deciding which model of Snowdog to purchase.

Snowdog being loaded into the bed of a truck.
You can easily load up a Snowdog by just walking it into the bed of a truck.

What is the cost of a Snowdog versus a snowmachine?

Now we’re getting to the part that determines many purchases in life, money! The cost of either of these machines is dependent on many things; one being where you purchase them from. If you buy either of them brand new from a dealership, you’ll pay top dollar. If you purchase them used, chances are you’ll likely get a better deal, but they may need repairs or have other issues. Both my snowmachine and Snowdog were purchased used, which saved a good sum of money. But, unless you get a very old snowmachine or a killer deal, you’ll likely be paying a lot more if you buy a snowmachine than a Snowdog, even if it’s used.

Secondly, prices are dependent on the model. We’re a Polaris household, so I’ll use their pricing as an example. If you want to buy a new model snowmobile to trail ride not get too crazy with, you might be paying $15,000-$16,000 and up. If you want to hill climb and brrrrap brrrrrap your way around, expect to pay at least $18,000, but likely $20,000 for a brand new machine. Pricy, right!?

Snowdogs, on the other hand, start out at about $4,000 brand new and go upwards of $6,200 with all the bells and whistles. What model you choose will depend on your use of it, just like with snowmachines. But, you also have to consider you’ll need a sled(s) and a seat if you’d like one, and the accessories for Snowdogs aren’t cheap. Adding in a sled and seat increases the cost by upwards of $600. Overall, though, you will pay less for a brand new Snowdog than you will for a new snowmachine, and you won’t need to buy a trailer for it if you can fit it in the back of your vehicle.

After considering the cost of new versus used, and the cost of accessories, there is the cost of repairs. There’s really no way for me to give you a good estimate of this. A lot of this cost will depend on how handy you are at troubleshooting problems yourself, how reliable your machine is, and how much replacement parts are.

Another thing to account for in your budget is insurance and registration. This will vary depending on your area, but snowmachines may require registration and insurance, while Snowdogs likely will not.

Polaris Indy Voyager on the Kenai Peninsula.
The Polaris Indy Voyager on a blue bird day on Alaska’s Kenai Peninsula.

So which one should I choose?

Honestly, one machine is not better than the other, it’s just about what’s best for how you want to use it. They’re fairly similar, but have enough differences that you can’t replace one with the other. Each has their pros, cons, and uses in the great outdoors. But, to try simplify things, below is a little list of who, what, when, where, and how they are best used to help you decide.

  • What do you plan on using your machine for? If you want to puts around the woods, do trail grooming, go ice fishing, and do some chores around the property, a Snowdog might be right for you. If you want to climb mountains and race your friends up hills, get a snowmachine.
  • Do you want to use it during multiple seasons? You’ll need a Snowdog if you want to make use of you machine during more than just winter.
  • Are you going on long rides, and how much are you bringing? If you can bring extra fuel and tow two sleds behind, a Snowdog will get you a ways in semi-deep snow. For longer distances, deeper snow, and a more comfortable ride, a snowmachine is the way to go.
  • How many people are riding? No matter which you choose, you’ll likely fit a maximum of two people on either the Snowdog or a snowmachine.
  • Which is a more comfortable ride? If your Snowdog has a seat you’ll have a much better ride than when standing. But, overall, a snowmachine will be more comfortable, especially for longer distances.
  • Is the Snowdog easier to transport than a snowmachine? Yes, Snowdogs are so easy to bring to trailheads and load into the back of your truck.
  • What’s your budget? If a lower price is a final deciding factor for you, the Snowdog will be more budget friendly.

Overall, if I had to choose, I would just pick both! But, the reason you’re reading this is to decide between two, so here is my final opinion. Honestly, it just depends on what you’d like to use it for, your capabilities, budget, snowload, and more. If you’re doing easy riding, don’t have extremely deep snow, want to use it all year, add a seat to the sled, want an easy way to load and unload, and are on a budget, choose the Snowdog. If you’re doing any hardcore riding, have deeper snow, don’t mind trailering a machine, have a place to store it half the year, are doing longer rides, and have a bigger budget, get a snowmachine.

I really hope this Snowdog versus snowmachine comparison has helped you determine which machine would best suit your needs. Any questions? Ask them in the comments below, I’d be happy to answer! Happy riding, friends!

Gifts for Outdoorsy Folks Under $25

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Please note that this post contains affiliate links which I may earn commission from. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Please follow the instructions on all of the recommended items. All of the information provided is my personal opinion, unless otherwise cited or noted.

Honestly, there are some people that are just plain hard to shop for. They may have everything they need. Maybe they’re very particular. It may just be that you don’t quite know what they’d actually enjoy and use. Luckily for you, most outdoorsy folks are always looking for new gear, are willing to try new things, and enjoy a variety of outdoor hobbies. This makes shopping for them much easier than you might think. And, lucky for you, I’m one of those outdoorsy folks, so I’ve got plenty of gift ideas to share with you!

LifeStraw

LifeStraws are water filtration straws that take contaminants, bacteria, and other unwanted particles out of water so it is safe to drink. Why is this a good gift for those who love the outdoors? Great question. When hiking, camping, or just traveling to the next adventure destination there may not always be easy access to fresh, clean water. If someone ends up in an emergency situation in the outdoors, they may run out of fresh water that they hike in with. Thus, LifeStraws are there to save the day. Plus, when you purchase a LifeStraw product, a “child in need receives safe drinking water for an entire school year”. If that’s not a win-win I don’t know what is.

Typhoon Matches

These aren’t just any old matches. Zippo Typhoon Matches come in a protective, floating container, and are windproof, water-resistant, and have an up to thirty second burn time. These are an essential addition to any outdoor or emergency gear kit.

Paracord

This versatile cord has many uses in the outdoors. Need rope to secure a tarp between trees? Grab the paracord! Did your boot laces break on your hike? Use paracord to replace them! Make it into a fish stringer, gun sling, or water bottle carrier; paracord has a ton of uses!

Travel Pillow

Having a compact, compressible pillow for camping is a great outdoor luxury. I have a Therm-a-Rest pillow similar to this one, which is over $25. You can find many compressible, and even inflatable, pillows online that are less than $25 though.

Nalgene Water Bottle

Lightweight and American made, these water bottles make the perfect gifts for outdoorsy folks.

Stopped to admire the view and hydrate.

Dry Bags

Wet gear can really put a damper on outdoor adventures. Giving the gift of dry bags will help keep gear dry and out of the elements.

Headbands

No one likes to have sweat dripping in their eyes or hair blowing in their face while you’re trying to enjoy a nice hike. Check out Bay Bands and get 15% off here!

First Aid Kit

Everyone needs a first aid kit, especially when you’re out and about in wilderness. Give the gift of a first aid kit to protect your loved ones, and add any extras you think they may need such as a SAM Splint, tourniquet, or quick clot to keep them prepared on their adventures. Also, to ensure the recipient knows how to use these items, look into first aid classes in their area to purchase for them, or notify them about the classes as well.

Socks

High quality, durable, and comfortable socks can really make a difference in a person’s time outdoors. They make perfect gifts, and you can easily find them online or in your local sporting good store.

Jetboil Fuel

Jetboils are definitely out of our $25 range, but their fuel isn’t! If your outdoorsy loved one has a Jetboil, why not grab some fuel to help them prepare for their next outdoor excursion.

Getting ready to enjoy a little camp snack.

onXmaps

onXmaps has a variety of maps you can purchase for offroading, hunting, and backcountry adventures. They are more than $25, but you can Google onXmaps promo codes and get a discount to bring it down to $25. They make great gifts, and we use our onX Hunt maps all the time.

Memberships

Chances are the outdoor lover in your life has a passion for conservation, wildlife, outdoor education, or some related cause. If that’s the case, why not sign them up for a membership to one of these organizations? Often times, if you gift a donation to the organization in someone’s name, they will send that person a letter, magazine, and sometimes another gift as well such as a backpack, jacket, shirt, travel mug, or other fun goodie. This way you’re supporting your friend’s passion as well as giving a gift.

HotHands

HotHands hand, foot, body, and toe warmers are a must for outdoor activities on those chillier days. They’re very affordable, useful, and made in America. Whomever you give them to will definitely get their use out of these handy warmers.

Dehydrated Meals

There’s nothing like a tasty Peak or Mountain House meal while you’re out hiking, hunting, biking, or camping. If you grab your friend a couple of these it makes the perfect gift!

Nothing like a tasty meal outdoors on a chilly afternoon.

Long Handled Spoon

If you think this is an odd gift for outdoorsy folks, that’s definitely understandable. I know it really does sound strange, but it’s a very handy outdoor tool. Dehydrated meal bags are fairly large and deep, so to easily eat out of them one would need a handy, dandy, long handle spoon. That’s where this comes in to play. And, if you bundle this with some meals, you’ve got the perfect gift!

If these gift ideas have helped you with your gift list shopping, leave a comment below and let me know what you purchased! Thanks for reading, and happy shopping, friends!