The Straight Dope

Go Back   Straight Dope Message Board > Main > General Questions

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 06-02-2012, 04:23 PM
sitchensis sitchensis is online now
Member
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: revillagigedo
Posts: 1,543
Deodorizing a Moose Shed?

I just spent the week working outside of Yakutat and I found a pretty nice moose shed. It must have been a pretty recent shed because it still has good color. The shed is about 3.5’ x 1.5’.

The one problem with the shed is that it stinks. I assume they must rub some sort of gland secretions on them during the rut because that is the kind of smell it’s giving off.

Anybody have a sure fire method for deodorizing and caring for moose sheds?
Reply With Quote
Advertisements  
  #2  
Old 06-02-2012, 05:23 PM
picker picker is offline
Guest
 
Join Date: Sep 2003
That seems like an awfully small shed for a moose. How in the world did it fit?
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 06-02-2012, 05:24 PM
Ethilrist Ethilrist is offline
Guest
 
Join Date: Nov 2000
"Deodorizing a Moose Shed?"

Things I never thought I'd live to see. Oh, wait, that's a different thread.
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 06-02-2012, 05:56 PM
Dewey Finn Dewey Finn is offline
Charter Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2003
Posts: 13,214
Quote:
Originally Posted by picker View Post
That seems like an awfully small shed for a moose. How in the world did it fit?
I'm wondering if the moose shed isn't to house the moose, but instead the hunter, during hunting season.
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 06-02-2012, 06:06 PM
Dallas Jones Dallas Jones is offline
Guest
 
Join Date: Apr 2008
I believe the OP is talking about moose antlers that have been 'shed'.

You know, they fall off each year.
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 06-02-2012, 06:07 PM
Absolute Absolute is offline
There are no absolutes.
Charter Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2000
Location: In flight
Posts: 3,669
He means he found some moose antlers, and they smell.
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 06-02-2012, 06:22 PM
sitchensis sitchensis is online now
Member
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: revillagigedo
Posts: 1,543
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dallas Jones View Post
I believe the OP is talking about moose antlers that have been 'shed'.

You know, they fall off each year.
Yes sorry, Shed is a pretty common term where I’m from. Shed hunting and shed collecting are popular hobbies.

Stinky moose antlers would be more accurate.
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 06-02-2012, 06:32 PM
Chefguy Chefguy is online now
Charter Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Portlandia
Posts: 24,671
Bleach?
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 06-02-2012, 06:38 PM
Musicat Musicat is offline
Charter Member
 
Join Date: Oct 1999
Location: Sturgeon Bay, WI USA
Posts: 14,743
If a moose calls, don't antler.
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 06-02-2012, 07:25 PM
Washoe Washoe is offline
Guest
 
Join Date: Aug 2004
Mount those bad boys on the roof of your single-wide, and you should get pretty good HD reception.
Reply With Quote
  #11  
Old 06-02-2012, 07:27 PM
Rhythmdvl Rhythmdvl is offline
Charter Member
 
Join Date: Oct 1999
Location: Shakedown Street
Posts: 11,105
A moose once bit my Python.
Reply With Quote
  #12  
Old 06-02-2012, 07:47 PM
sitchensis sitchensis is online now
Member
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: revillagigedo
Posts: 1,543
Quote:
Originally Posted by Washoe View Post
Mount those bad boys on the roof of your single-wide, and you should get pretty good HD reception.
Could you please explain this joke I’m not sure I get it?
Reply With Quote
  #13  
Old 06-02-2012, 07:51 PM
Washoe Washoe is offline
Guest
 
Join Date: Aug 2004
It’s sort of a poor man’s rip-off on the “you might be a redneck if…” type of humor.
Reply With Quote
  #14  
Old 06-02-2012, 07:55 PM
sitchensis sitchensis is online now
Member
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: revillagigedo
Posts: 1,543
Quote:
Originally Posted by Washoe View Post
It’s sort of a poor man’s rip-off on the “you might be a redneck if…” type of humor.
I got it, Thanks
Reply With Quote
  #15  
Old 06-02-2012, 07:59 PM
Lukeinva Lukeinva is offline
Guest
 
Join Date: Mar 2009
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dallas Jones View Post
.... they fall off each year.
They do?
Reply With Quote
  #16  
Old 06-02-2012, 08:17 PM
Washoe Washoe is offline
Guest
 
Join Date: Aug 2004
Quote:
Originally Posted by Lukeinva View Post
They do?
Of course they do. And if you count the rings, you can tell how old the moose is.
Reply With Quote
  #17  
Old 06-02-2012, 10:23 PM
Musicat Musicat is offline
Charter Member
 
Join Date: Oct 1999
Location: Sturgeon Bay, WI USA
Posts: 14,743
Quote:
Originally Posted by Washoe View Post
Of course they do. And if you count the rings, you can tell how old the moose is.
Or how much bling they like.
Reply With Quote
  #18  
Old 06-02-2012, 10:28 PM
Garfield226 Garfield226 is offline
Guest
 
Join Date: Jun 1999
prior to realizing the correct meaning of "shed"...

Step one: Remove moose.
Reply With Quote
  #19  
Old 06-03-2012, 01:26 AM
crowmanyclouds crowmanyclouds is offline
Guest
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Quote:
Originally Posted by Chefguy View Post
Bleach?
AIUI household bleach is the worst choice for bleaching/cleaning antler and bone. If it isn't neutralized properly it causes the antler/bone to break down and the surface become chalky. Hydrogen peroxide is the preferred household chemical for bleaching/cleaning antler and bone.

Before I'd get the HP out, I give my antler/bone a couple of good scrubbings with a stiff brush and, preferably liquid anti-bacterial, soap. Just settin' them out in the sun for a few days might help a lot too, but you risk discovering why you don't find the forest floor littered with sheds . . . rodents love to eat them!
(In exchange for several large piles of BO sunflower seeds my backyard squirrels gave me the bone from a ham steak with a beautifully hand, well tooth really, fluted outside surface. )

CMC fnord!
Reply With Quote
  #20  
Old 06-03-2012, 02:20 AM
sitchensis sitchensis is online now
Member
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: revillagigedo
Posts: 1,543
Thanks Crow,

I’ve used hydrogen peroxide on skulls, the problem I’m having is that I don’t want to bleach the antler at all. I would like the keep the deep brown color because it’s such a fresh shed. I’ll try the soap and water a few times hopefully it will work.

I know all about the rodent problem, I think this one was chewed on through the winter by a porcupine. It just chewed the tips off the palm and the shed really does look good.

Last edited by sitchensis; 06-03-2012 at 02:20 AM.
Reply With Quote
  #21  
Old 06-03-2012, 06:35 AM
Musicat Musicat is offline
Charter Member
 
Join Date: Oct 1999
Location: Sturgeon Bay, WI USA
Posts: 14,743
Why are antlers called "shed"? Why not "antlers"?
Reply With Quote
  #22  
Old 06-03-2012, 08:51 AM
njtt njtt is online now
Guest
 
Join Date: Jul 2004
Quote:
Originally Posted by Rhythmdvl View Post
A moose once bit my Python.
That would involve two sheds.
Reply With Quote
  #23  
Old 06-03-2012, 11:21 AM
Chefguy Chefguy is online now
Charter Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Portlandia
Posts: 24,671
Quote:
Originally Posted by Musicat View Post
Why are antlers called "shed"? Why not "antlers"?
Local slang. And often, for moose and caribou, it's called moose or caribou horn rather than antler. Same thing, as it's all from the deer family.
Reply With Quote
  #24  
Old 06-03-2012, 02:42 PM
sitchensis sitchensis is online now
Member
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: revillagigedo
Posts: 1,543
Quote:
Originally Posted by Musicat View Post
Why are antlers called "shed"? Why not "antlers"?
I think it’s used to differentiate between animals you shot and sheds you picked up off the ground. I know shed collectors who are non-hunters that just like to have a purpose when hiking. I also know shed collectors who are hunters who like something to do out of season. Neither group would want to misrepresent their sheds as animals they killed.
Reply With Quote
  #25  
Old 06-03-2012, 03:14 PM
Morgenstern Morgenstern is offline
Guest
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Vinegar? It works for many household odors. 1 cup of hot distilled vinegar might do it.
Reply With Quote
  #26  
Old 06-12-2012, 12:18 PM
MacLir MacLir is offline
Guest
 
Join Date: Mar 2010
Quote:
Originally Posted by Morgenstern View Post
Vinegar? It works for many household odors. 1 cup of hot distilled vinegar might do it.
Aaahhh ...

You DO realize that antler is mainly calcium carbonate, right?

Dissolves in acid ...
Reply With Quote
  #27  
Old 06-12-2012, 12:42 PM
CalMeacham CalMeacham is offline
Guest
 
Join Date: May 2000
"Hey Rocky -- Watch me pull an antler out of my shed!"

"That trick never works!"


"This time for sure! Presto!"

"No doubt about it. I gotta get a new head."
Reply With Quote
  #28  
Old 06-12-2012, 01:22 PM
cmkeller cmkeller is offline
Guest
 
Join Date: Mar 1999
Washoe:

Quote:
Of course they do. And if you count the rings, you can tell how old the moose is.
And if you count the animals attached to them, you can tell how big-hearted the moose is.
Reply With Quote
  #29  
Old 06-12-2012, 03:57 PM
Annie-Xmas Annie-Xmas is offline
Charter Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2000
Location: New Jersey
Posts: 28,547
Get some zeolite at a natural foods or pet store. Put in plastic bag with shed overnight.

Zeolite is a natural mineral that will take the smell of anything out of anything. We once used it to deodorize a house that had a dead body in it for four hot July days. Mouse shed should be easy.
Reply With Quote
  #30  
Old 06-12-2012, 04:02 PM
cmkeller cmkeller is offline
Guest
 
Join Date: Mar 1999
Perhaps you could soak it in Moose-shed beer.
Reply With Quote
  #31  
Old 06-12-2012, 05:25 PM
Darryl Lict Darryl Lict is online now
Guest
 
Join Date: Apr 2005
Quote:
Originally Posted by Annie-Xmas View Post
Mouse shed should be easy.
That's because they are so tiny.
Reply With Quote
Reply

Bookmarks

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is Off
HTML code is Off
Forum Jump


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 11:17 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.7.3
Copyright ©2000 - 2013, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.

Send questions for Cecil Adams to: cecil@chicagoreader.com

Send comments about this website to: webmaster@straightdope.com

Terms of Use / Privacy Policy

Advertise on the Straight Dope!
(Your direct line to thousands of the smartest, hippest people on the planet, plus a few total dipsticks.)

Publishers - interested in subscribing to the Straight Dope?
Write to: sdsubscriptions@chicagoreader.com.

Copyright © 2013 Sun-Times Media, LLC.