How long could deer stay in the back of a truck?

[police women of America]

So I want to apply for some special permits for deer tomorrow and there are some ranches that you can try to win a permit to hunt there but they are all the way in eastern Washington.

So my question is could the deer stay in the back of a truck for the whole drive home? it would be a 7+ hour drive including getting the deer to the truck. Also if it is possible what would be a good way to keep the meat cool and dry?
and here's another question what's the best way to carry the deer back to the truck? (after gutting it of course)

thanks!

[Woodchuck]

All depends on temps, just be safe and buy a big igloo cooler and pack it with ice for the ride. 

[Colville]

Gutted and Skinned.  In a tarp and packed inside and out with bags of ice. Should do just fine. Otherwise, quarter and use ice chests or bone it out and do the same.  With no hide/insides you can cool em right down. Check the ice when you make the usual stops.

[police women of America]

Gutted and Skinned.  In a tarp and packed inside and out with bags of ice. Should do just fine. Otherwise, quarter and use ice chests or bone it out and do the same.  With no hide/insides you can cool em right down. Check the ice when you make the usual stops.

could I still do that if I left the hide on? I doubt I could find a place to skin it.

[police women of America]

All depends on temps, just be safe and buy a big igloo cooler and pack it with ice for the ride. 

thanks! 

[Tony]

Be on the safe side and use a cooler with ice.

As far as how to get it back to the truck, invest in a good pack frame and everything needed to quarter it up.

[vandeman17]

Like others side, the two keys are 1) getting it gutted and cooled as soon as possible. 2) Temps when shot and for the drive home. During the later part of the year, we have no issue with our deer going bad and that includes long drives home from Montana. One thing that we try to do is prop the body cavity open in the back of the truck to keep air flowing and that will help keep it cool.

[bobcat]

Skin it and quarter it on the ground, then pack it on your back to the truck. Put meat in cooler with plenty of ice.

[LeviD1]

Skin it and quarter it on the ground, then pack it on your back to the truck. Put meat in cooler with plenty of ice.

 
or even gut it, drag to the truck. Skin it on the ground and quarter it then Pack it in ice. Im almost confused on how this is a real question though? Unless you have not been hunting before i gues. If theres a will theres a way!

[vandeman17]

I have killed a few deer in my day and have never once put them on ice. Never had an issue with spoilage.... If its cool, we immediately gut and get the cavity cooled down. If it is warmer, we do the same but also skin the get all the heat out. As long as its not in the direct sun or in an enclosed area we have been good to go. Everyone has their own method and as long as it works for you, keep doing it. 

[Stein]

I always gut, skin and quarter.  Put it all into game bags and on ice as soon as possible unless it is below 30 degrees.  I spend so much money on hunting that another $10 in ice really seems foolish to not invest.

[fish vacuum]

There's a post at the top of this forum on how to bone-out a deer. Boning out a deer allows you to just pack the meat out. The meat can ride in coolers with ice for the trip home.

[Westside88]

When hunting away from home it's a good idea to check out options for hanging deer in a cooler also. I haven't had to do it, but it's good to have a plan. Then if needed it could be quartered and transported in a cooler

[police women of America]

Skin it and quarter it on the ground, then pack it on your back to the truck. Put meat in cooler with plenty of ice.

 
or even gut it, drag to the truck. Skin it on the ground and quarter it then Pack it in ice. Im almost confused on how this is a real question though? Unless you have not been hunting before i gues. If theres a will theres a way!

the question is very real. I'm the first one in my family to take a interest in hunting so I just need to learn a few simple things before this hunting season.

[police women of America]

thanks for all the great answers!