12 replies to this topic

[Caneman]

first time deer hunting this season... if i am fortunate enough to harvest an animal, how much time do i have before the meat spoils?this is assuming i gut the animal in the field, drag it back to the truck, and take it home for butchering/processing, knowing this will happen in the summer/early fall when temps will be warm (probably in the 90s when i get home with the animal)... maybe 24 hours from field to freezer?

[nitis]

Get it gutted then skinned ASAP then keep it out of the sunIf you can let it hang for a while the meat will be better. I am not a pro or a know it all but if properly cared for meat does not spoil that includes warmer days. Flies are your enemy

[dangerranger]

buy a good game bag. its a cheese cloth bag that will keep the bugs out of the meat. before you go hunting take your biggest ice chest and fill it with ice. you cant have too much ice! after gutting and skinning lay it down on clean plastic covered with ice and fill the body cavity with ice. that should hold you for a day or two. the faster you can cool the carcase the better the meat will taste. Oh and cover the plastic with an old sleeping bag to insulate it in the heat of the day. Best of luck DR

[Caneman]

thanks for the advice...so if i bring the animal home that day gutted and skinned, then get it on ice when i get home (several hours), it will be good the next day for processing either by me at home or if i take it to a butcher?

[mtn dog]

Maybe. But why not bring the ice and do like Dangerranger says? Your dinner guests will thank you. The main reason a lot of people don't want to try venison a second time is because they were introduced to it by a hunter who cut corners. Thank goodness we don't see deer slow-cooking on car hoods any more.

[Braz]

Ice is good, but don't get the meat in the water from the melting ice. That isn't good. Dry ice is really the best way to go.

[Air Rifle Hunter]

I was told by a professional guide/instructor (30 years of experience or more), who has hunted all over, that canvas game bags work best, and here is why:First, you definitely want to field dress the animal as quickly as possible to help cool the carcas and keep the meat from spoiling. Then place it in a canvas game bag that is large enough to handle the animal and still be able to be fully sinched (closed) to keep flies, bugs and any other contaminants off of the meat. He had mentioned that it would last at least 4 days like this since the air circulating around it would still help keep it cool. Still, getting it fully cleaned, processed and refrigerated/iced/frozen as soon as able is best. When using canvas, it keeps the carcas clean if you happen to have to drag the animal for long distances. It also keeps bird crap from seeping through the material if you happen to have to hang it due to being far away from your transportation. If canvas gets wet, it will swell keeping additional moisture or water from being able to penatrate into the bag and onto the meat; therefore it will help keep it drier if it happens to be misting, sprinkling or raining. Canvas is also very durable and can be washed numerous times which makes the bags last longer and therefore much more economical in the long run. Well, what I've noted above is how I was instructed. Like anything, I'm sure there are many ways to accomplish the same task. Some may be easier and others more effective.

[msand951]

Can you guys recommend any bags. And sites to check out.

[TonyS]

Bags? Old pillow cases work just fine. Last year I shot my buck at 8 am, got him boned out and put in the pack by 11 and back at the car at 3 pm. I put the meat in the ice chest. Got the tag signed before 4 pm.That night I put the pillowcases in the refrig and the next day started butchering. After 3 days I started up the food saver and packed it for the freezer. It really depends on how much fat you cut off and how long you prefer to age it.

[Air Rifle Hunter]

Can you guys recommend any bags. And sites to check out.

This link is where I'm going to get mine. This guy and his wife are really great and very helpful.http://dougswilderne...-GAME-BAGS.html They are very durable canvas. I'm sure there are others out there, but these are pretty reasonably priced for what you get (IMHO).

[whatjeffhunts]

The best and cheapest thing to do is go to a fabric store, buy some un-bleached muslin cloth, and have your wife or someone you know sew them in to the size bags you want. Cost you maybe ten bucks for 6 pillow case size bags

[screwwork]

TonyS1, good job on the buck..2, where did you find a woman that will let you place a deer in the refrig in a pillow case for a couple of days. Just kidding

[Divernhunter]

First go buy a large bag of black pepper at costco or some place. Take it with you. If you kill one gut and skin it quickly. Try to prop the chest open to help cool it. Then cover it with pepper inside and out all over. Then put it into a game bag and hang it up to cool in the shade. The next AM bring it down and wrap it in old sleeping bags to keep it cool in hot weather. If you use the pepper you will not need to worry about meat bees etc and it only helps the meat . When you get it home or to the locker do as a professional butcher does and wash the heck out of it. Now if you bone it out after gutting it or before going home just put it into baggies etc and in an ice chest with plenty of ice for the trip. I do this in Wy with my pronghorns and they turn out good. IF you use dry ice on the animal or boned meat be sure to wrap the ice in cardboard and tape it so you do not burn the meat. I kept a deer I got in Elko, Nev wrapped up in sleeping bags with dry ice in and around it that way for 8 days while I watched the Reno air races on my way home one year and the butcher said it was the best kept deer he had all year.The pepper works!! I have had mine next to another without and it was chewed up by meat bees and they would buzz around mine but not land. Both were in good game bags but that will not stop meat bees from getting into the meat. After the first day the guy who had been giving me a hard time about the pepper was begging for me to give him some from my extra bag I had.