Icing your kill in the creek

[Optimusprime]

Just wondering how many of you have used a creek to cool your meat when back in a ways. If you have, did you put it in a plastic bag first or just submerge it in the water? Any problems with either method?

[jason stevens]

Normally game bags, sometimes just toss it in.only problem I've had is the crawdads eat a little after an hour or so but they cook up great.

[buglebuster]

Ive put branches above the Creek in the shade and set the meat above it in game bags. If I have garbage bags I would submerge it in the water. No way would I toss it in the water without. The water will wash out the meat, and bacteria will grow in it faster then being out.

[stickbuck]

We hang our elk overnight the first night to let it cool and then we double bag the quarters and place in a secluded creek. Double bagging with the heavy plastic bags completely keeps the moisture out. We place small sized logs over the creek to help keep any unwanted visitors from an easy meal. So far we've been very lucky and the meat has been perfect.

[Bean Counter]

What heavy plastic bag brand do you guys use?

[stickbuck]

Not sure the brand, but they are one of the biggest industrial kind at Home Depot. I want to say that they are 30-35 gallon sized bags. No draw string kind and we use zip ties to secure them.

[buglebuster]

I work at a plastic bag manufacturing company, whatever the thickest, toughest bag I find that day is what I use 

[Bob33]

What heavy plastic bag brand do you guys use?

This one:

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Husky-42-gal-Clean-up-Bags-32-Count-HK42WC032B-M/100063659

[Dan-o]

I'll always throw deer/elk in a cool creek if possible.

Fastest way to get the heat out.

I've never had any issues with bacteria, etc.    Of course their cooled off in the creek and then cut/frozen ASAP.

[go4itlab]

Yeah I agree with never dumping them in unless bags r supper duty and secured. I like to use game bags and make some raised bed across a dark cool creek bed and the lay them out across. I would even lean towards if I did have bag to lay them across if you have any area where you may suspect some water splashing up may get the meet. A lot of meat to waste be wise in your decisions

[Bean Counter]

What heavy plastic bag brand do you guys use?

This one:

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Husky-42-gal-Clean-up-Bags-32-Count-HK42WC032B-M/100063659

Thank! 

[norsepete]

In warm weather I've dunked bear & deer with hide on for 15 minutes. No problems here.

[Labredog]

Place meat in game bags, then in heavy contractor type hefty bag, then in creek to drop the meats temp. If you place the meat directly into plastic bag it gets slimy. Great way to cool the meat, had to do this last year on a 48 hour pack out, of the Margaret. At night pull the meat out of the plastic bag and creek and get it airing out. That outside layer gets a hard thin dry protective barrier that helps to protect against bugs and bacteria.

[Bofire]

  I have seen dozens of bear put in creeks on the Oly penninsula for over 20 years. They stay in with the hide on for 2-3 days until you go home.
August bear season is HOT. no bags, has not hurt a thing. There are some other guys on here have done and seen the same thing.
Carl

[billythekidrock]

I have seen dozens of bear put in creeks on the Oly penninsula for over 20 years. They stay in with the hide on for 2-3 days until you go home.
August bear season is HOT. no bags, has not hurt a thing. There are some other guys on here have done and seen the same thing.
Carl

I agree 99.9%.

I lost a little meat on one bear after a day and a half. Not a bad when compared to how many I sunk in the creek and how hot the temps were.

 I think what some don't understand is that it has to be taken care of right away afterwards. Once home, we always washed with a mixture of water and vinegar and then towel dry and place in a cooler with a fan to help dry it. 

[Sitka_Blacktail]

What heavy plastic bag brand do you guys use?

Trash compactor bags.

[MIKEXRAY]

Are you guys using plastic bags to submerge ?   I have a three foot wide creek running through my area about one inch deep or so .  Seems like you wouldn't bag in that situation but maybe I am wrong. I just cleaned the meat off,  put in good game bags and laid in the water in shade.  Maybe I should be using rocks or logs to elevate out of the water ? Bagging doesn't seem good for air circulation but I could understand if submerging was possible.  My creek is so cold it hurts your feet to stand in it for any time at all.  Thanks for the advice above.

[Tbar]

Yes use plastic bags, you want to keep meat as protected as possible.  Another option is cool during the night by hanging. Then once your meat is completely cooled use sleeping bags during the day in the coolest place possible (even in your tent). I put it in plastic bags in the sleeping bag (for obvious reasons). Use multiple sleeping bags when possible.

[boneaddict]

Most of the time I just air dry in meat bags down next to the creek in the dark shade.  If I do put it in water, I put it in plastic.

[Optimusprime]

Thanks for all the great replies fellas. I have heard that putting the meat strait in the creek with no bag for about a half hour will cool it enough but still leave enough body heat to dry it out when hung up. Not sure about the bacteria stuff. I would think it would be fine since you are going to cook it anyways. One method I heard about was to lay a sheet of visqueen in the creek bed and lat the meat on top to keep it clean. Anyone try this? Labredog, that I'd a crazy pack out. Was there any spoilage with your meat after that?

[kevinlisa06]

I had to do it last season for the spike I got opening morning. It worked great to cool the animal down when it warmed up. Then the weather changed and cooled down so we were good after that.


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[ICEMAN]

Have tossed whole gutted deer ( no bag) and skinned bear in creek with no bag and got great results.  We do wipe them down and let them dry out...skin over and then bag in quality game bags.

[Sunbkpk]

Like others, I put it into a game bag then plastic bag before dropping it into a creek. I hang it at night to cool and dry. Early season archery cow elk turned out great 2 years ago that way.

[Quaka Wacka]

In hot areas backpacking we'll put it in silnylon drybags then in the creek during the day and hung back up at night to dry back out. Even in garbage bags the meat will give off blood and fluids and provide an ideal setup for bacteria growth over acouple days.

[h2ofowlr]

 

What heavy plastic bag brand do you guys use?

Contractor bags you get at Home Depot work good.