Moose Hunters: Mickey and the boys have a bad time in the woods

Is this actually worth your time?

If you have seven minutes and want to see Mickey Mouse lose his cool while Donald and Goofy stumble around in a fake animal suit, then yes, absolutely. It’s a classic for a reason, though if you hate physical comedy that relies on people getting hit in the face repeatedly, you’ll probably want to skip it.

There is something inherently funny about the setup. Mickey is the one with the rifle, looking all serious like he’s in some gritty survival drama, while Donald and Goofy are essentially playing dress-up in a moose costume that looks like it was stitched together in ten minutes. The contrast is perfect. It’s not quite as weird as The Phantom Cowboy, but it has that same strange, old-school energy.

The costume situation

Watching the two of them try to walk in that suit is pure chaos. Donald is clearly the one doing all the complaining from the back, and Goofy just seems happy to be included. The way the suit flaps around when they start running away from the real moose? That’s the peak of the short.

The moose itself is surprisingly intense. It’s not just a background prop; it’s a character that looks genuinely annoyed by these two idiots in a suit. There’s a moment where the moose realizes he’s been duped, and his expression—well, as much of an expression as a cartoon moose can have—is genuinely threatening. It’s way more aggressive than anything I remember seeing in His Greatest Gamble.

Wait, are they actually hunting?

The whole premise is a bit dark when you stop and think about it for more than a second. They are literally out there to bag a moose. But the movie does a great job of making sure we don't feel bad for the moose, mostly because the moose is clearly the smartest person in the forest.

• The sound design during the chase scene is surprisingly crisp for a cartoon this old.
• I’m still not sure how the suit stays on them during that sprint.
• Mickey’s patience really is a superpower.

It’s the kind of thing you watch when you just need to turn your brain off. No deep themes here, just pure, unadulterated slapstick. It’s a nice break from the more dramatic fare like The Gold Trap, that's for sure. 🦌