collapse

Advertisement


Author Topic: Hunting in the heat.  (Read 1568 times)

Offline leonpeon2

  • Non-Hunting Topics
  • Trade Count: (+4)
  • Hunter
  • ***
  • Join Date: Dec 2012
  • Posts: 127
  • Location: Bothell
Hunting in the heat.
« on: August 26, 2016, 07:52:01 AM »
I got a question that's been on my mind for a while now and thought to ask the question here. Some of the older hunters I know always say it's to hot to hunt early season bow and that if you shoot something it will spoil pretty quick.
Any time I've got a deer it's been in the late season so the heat has never been a issue for that. Also I've been able to hang the deer in the garage in the cold weather for at least a week then butcher it up myself. I am also more of the meat in the freezer than horns but this year I got a ms deer tag so I'd like to take my time and get something nice with horns and meat of course. I even got a elk tag so was thinking early elk season too (not lucky to get a ms elk tag though)
After the shot I know to gut it out and get it cooling but how's that possible when it's 90 degrees out. I know a lot of people hunt early season for deer and elk and often get stuff on the 1st day. I'm just looking for a little insight about this to learn.
Do people just run there animal to a butcher right afterwards? Or do it themselfs ?

Some things you might ask. I hunt west side. I bow hunt. Usually do the logging roads driving around until I find a good place/sign then Get out and start walking. Usually have hunting partners but not always. Got ms deer tag, elk, bear, cougar tag combo.

Offline Timberstalker

  • Non-Hunting Topics
  • Trade Count: (+3)
  • Old Salt
  • ******
  • Join Date: Apr 2008
  • Posts: 9266
  • Location: Tri-Cities
  • Just one more ridge
Re: Hunting in the heat.
« Reply #1 on: August 26, 2016, 07:55:15 AM »
Get the animal broke down, and preferably get the bone out of the meat.  We've killed plenty of critters in the early seasons, deer, elk and bear and never lost meat. 

Bring coolers to get the meat cooled once you are back to camp.

You will be surprised how durable meat is, once you get it broke down and cooling. 

Remember two things, get the hide off and get the animal broke down.  You will be fine if you do this.
If you aint hunting, you aint livin'

Offline theleo

  • Non-Hunting Topics
  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Sourdough
  • *****
  • Join Date: Sep 2013
  • Posts: 1212
  • Location: Kennewick
Re: Hunting in the heat.
« Reply #2 on: August 26, 2016, 08:08:12 AM »
If you don't bone out the animal make a couple of cuts through the large muscle groups to help prevent bone souring. Early season hunting is a race to get the meat cooling as quick as you can.

Offline WapitiTalk1

  • Business Sponsor
  • Trade Count: (+9)
  • Old Salt
  • *****
  • Join Date: Oct 2011
  • Posts: 7912
  • Location: Wet Side, Rainier, WA
  • Groups: RMEF, NRA, US Army (R)
Re: Hunting in the heat.
« Reply #3 on: August 26, 2016, 08:18:18 AM »
Pretty much what Timberstalker said, plus:

1.  The real work starts immediately when tracking is done and you locate the elk.  Do your quick photo session and get on it!  Using the gutless method, two guys can get an elk boned out, in bags, and cooling in around an hour (if he didn't land upside down in a gully, lol). 
2.  Having an all-in-one pack help a ton; it enables you (and your buddy) to carry a good load out on the first trip vs. a few chunks of meat with tiny daypacks.
3.  Get your meat in bags right away (using chili powder or black pepper to keep the flying demons off your meat).  Use the chili powder generously on any/all exposes meat while boning out, and, all over the bags after you get the meat into them (no, it doesn't affect the flavor of the meat).  Get the meat bags into any available shade as soon as possible (normally done as each bag is filled with meat).  For the larger cloth type bags, you can hang em up on branches with para cord.  With the new, lightweight synthetic bags, you can just lay them over logs in the shade (they're not as strong as the cloth bags and may not hold up if you hang them).   
4.  Don't sleep on using cool little draws that have water; the temperature there is significantly lower than even a few yards away.  By putting a few pecker poles over the stream and laying your meat bags on them, you'll start an immediate and effective cooling of the meat.
5.  Like Timberstalker mentioned, have a few coolers available at camp to transfer your boned out meat into to continue the cooling process as you either take the meat to a processor, or, to your house for processing.  In both WA and ID, I place some block ice in two large coolers just prior to each hunt for just this purpose. 

Here's a really good VID on the gutless/boning out process.  Happy hunting! 

  https://www.yahoo.com/news/video/live-hunt-debone-elk-192935123.html

EDIT:  Just noticed this was in the deer forum; no worries, same method applies (gutless/boneless) unless you're very close to a road.  Avoid carrying out bone whenever possible :)
Darton Archery Maverick II
Traditions Vortek StrikeFire Smoke Pole
Weatherby VG-2 Boomstick
"Poking at a campfire with a stick is one of life's great satisfactions." Patrick F. McManus

 


* Advertisement

* Recent Topics

Tree stand for Western Washingtn by Shannon
[Today at 08:56:36 AM]


Range finders & Angle Compensation by kentrek
[Today at 08:42:17 AM]


Bearpaw Outfitters Annual July 4th Hunt Sale by bearpaw
[Today at 08:40:03 AM]


KODIAK06 2025 trail cam and personal pics thread by Boss .300 winmag
[Today at 07:53:52 AM]


Pocket Carry by JimmyHoffa
[Today at 07:49:09 AM]


Yard bucks by Boss .300 winmag
[Yesterday at 11:20:39 PM]


Yard babies by Feathernfurr
[Yesterday at 10:04:54 PM]


Seeking recommendations on a new scope by coachg
[Yesterday at 08:10:21 PM]


Sauk Unit Youth Elk Tips by high_hunter
[Yesterday at 08:06:05 PM]


Jupiter Mountain Rayonier Permit- 621 Bull Tag by HntnFsh
[Yesterday at 07:58:22 PM]


MOVED: Seekins Element 7PRC for sale by Bob33
[Yesterday at 06:57:10 PM]


3 pintails by metlhead
[Yesterday at 04:44:03 PM]


1993 Merc issues getting up on plane by Happy Gilmore
[Yesterday at 04:37:55 PM]


A lonely Job... by AL WORRELLS KID
[Yesterday at 03:21:14 PM]


Unit 364 Archery Tag by buglebuster
[Yesterday at 12:16:59 PM]


In the background by zwickeyman
[Yesterday at 12:10:13 PM]


A. Cole Lockback in AEB-L and Micarta by A. Cole
[Yesterday at 09:15:34 AM]


Willapa Hills 1 Bear by hunter399
[Yesterday at 08:24:48 AM]


Sockeye Numbers by Southpole
[July 03, 2025, 09:02:04 PM]

SimplePortal 2.3.7 © 2008-2025, SimplePortal