How much cooler space to bring home antelope?!

[syoungs]

So I'm trying to get away from dragging a freezer and trailer to Wyoming next week, and just want to make sure I'm packing enough cooler space to replace it.

We have 10 tags in our group now, with the possibility of 2 more.
All animals will be boned out, some fully processed possibly. Were hanging them in a cooler, and possibly freezing some. Plan to use dry ice in the coolers.

Right now I've got 2 large coolers, a 100qt, and a 120qt.
I assume that'll be more then enough, figure the 120 might be enough honestly, but someone, put my fears to ease!

Hoping to squeeze 4 guys gear into a short bed Ford with a canopy, I do have a hitch haul that one of the coolers may ride on.

[Bob33]

I've put 4 boned out adult antelope in one 150 qt cooler. I think trying to put ten in 220 qts would be challenging.

[spin05]

ive put a small deer in a 40qrt cooler no problem before

[Timberstalker]

I'm thinking you'll need double the cooler space you have. If not more.

[syoungs]

More cooler space it is, probably just tif a small trailer over with a freezer and such really.

Thanks for the info!

[Bob33]

The rule of thumb is that one cubic foot holds 25-35 pounds of boned meat. One cubic foot is equal to about 25 quarts. An adult doe antelope yields about 25 pounds of boneless meat. An adult buck antelope yields about 35 to 40 pounds of boneless meat.

Ten mature buck antelope would be about 350 pounds of meat. Dividing by 30 means it would take about 12 cubic feet which equates to 300 quarts needed.

[Widgeondeke]

I have fit 4 lopes into my 100qt cooler. If it was me, I would add 1 more cooler of at least 100qts.
Remember, that's just to get the meat home. you will still need coolers for your food

[Whitenuckles]

The rule of thumb is that one cubic foot holds 25-35 pounds of boned meat. One cubic foot is equal to about 25 quarts. An adult doe antelope yields about 25 pounds of boneless meat. An adult buck antelope yields about 35 to 40 pounds of boneless meat.

Ten mature buck antelope would be about 350 pounds of meat. Dividing by 30 means it would take about 12 cubic feet which equates to 300 quarts needed.

dudes killed a lot of goats. I'd listen to him!

[High Climber]

The rule of thumb is that one cubic foot holds 25-35 pounds of boned meat. One cubic foot is equal to about 25 quarts. An adult doe antelope yields about 25 pounds of boneless meat. An adult buck antelope yields about 35 to 40 pounds of boneless meat.

Ten mature buck antelope would be about 350 pounds of meat. Dividing by 30 means it would take about 12 cubic feet which equates to 300 quarts needed.

Dumb question here... how much room does that leave for ice?

[bobcat]

The rule of thumb is that one cubic foot holds 25-35 pounds of boned meat. One cubic foot is equal to about 25 quarts. An adult doe antelope yields about 25 pounds of boneless meat. An adult buck antelope yields about 35 to 40 pounds of boneless meat.

Ten mature buck antelope would be about 350 pounds of meat. Dividing by 30 means it would take about 12 cubic feet which equates to 300 quarts needed.

Dumb question here... how much room does that leave for ice?

Dry ice takes up very little space.

[boneaddict]

The rule of thumb is that one cubic foot holds 25-35 pounds of boned meat. One cubic foot is equal to about 25 quarts. An adult doe antelope yields about 25 pounds of boneless meat. An adult buck antelope yields about 35 to 40 pounds of boneless meat.

Ten mature buck antelope would be about 350 pounds of meat. Dividing by 30 means it would take about 12 cubic feet which equates to 300 quarts needed.

dudes killed a lot of goats. I'd listen to him!

Ya but has anyone checked his math. Lol 🤕

[DOUBLELUNG]

I've got pretty similar results as Bob's from 50+ pronghorn, averaged 22lbs from does and 36lbs from bucks.  A cubic foot is actually almost 30 quarts (29.9).  A cubic foot of lean meat weighs about 40 pounds (guideline for freezer space (cut and wrapped) is 30lbs/cubic foot, and I think is a good assumption for space needs including packaging and ice to transport boned out meat).  Assuming 12 adult bucks as your upper limit for tags, and no waste from bad shooting, you need a maximum of 36lbs/buck x 12bucks x 1 ft3/40 lbs x 30 qt/ft3 = 324 quarts of meat.  You will need additional capacity for ice and packaging and air, I'd add another third = 108 quarts for a grand total maximum of 432 quarts. 

I suspect you will have a mix of buck and doe tags, so plug in [(36lbs/buck x __ bucks + 22lbs/doe x ___ does) x 1 ft3/40lbs x 30qt/ft3] x 1.33 for your total, which simplifies to (36lbs/buck x __ bucks + 22lbs/doe x ___ does) quarts.  Estimate your meat yield in pounds and that will be the estimated amount of quarts cooler space you will need with allowance for airspace, packaging and ice. Easy peasy! 

[syoungs]

Super helpful guys! I really appreciate it.
.we have 4 buck tags, and 6 doe tags right now, I'm sure one member of our group will pick up 2 more does tags when were there though.

My coolers are bigger then I thought, I've got 2 120's, and a 160, and a 45 qt for some food/drinks.

That gives me 400qts, plus the 45 as a buffer.

I added some buffer to the averages listed above, figured on 40# for bucks (160 total)
And 25# for does (100 total) if we get the 2 extra tags

So 260# x 1.33= 345.8 qts
Add a 30% buffer for ice etc. 449.5 qts needed.

If my math was right I'm right in the edge of available cooler space

At least one of the coolers will have previously frozen meat, so I won't add much if any dry ice. Plus I gave myself a buffer on weights.

I think ill be ok with those 3, which I'm thinking I can get everything in the truck, and on a hitch haul, letting me bypass the trailer

Unless someone see's that I did the math wrong!

[Bob33]

That gives me 400qts, plus the 45 as a buffer.

I added some buffer to the averages listed above, figured on 40# for bucks (160 total)
And 25# for does (100 total) if we get the 2 extra tags

So 260# x 1.33= 345.8 qts
Add a 30% buffer for ice etc. 449.5 qts needed.

If my math was right I'm right in the edge of available cooler space

At least one of the coolers will have previously frozen meat, so I won't add much if any dry ice. Plus I gave myself a buffer on weights.

I think ill be ok with those 3, which I'm thinking I can get everything in the truck, and on a hitch haul, letting me bypass the trailer

Unless someone see's that I did the math wrong!

You should be fine with 400 quarts.

I look forward to your hunting report. Good luck and have fun!

[DOUBLELUNG]

So I just learned something from Bob33 - cooler capacity is measured in dry quarts, not wet quarts, so 25 per cubic foot is a better number.  I agree you will be fine with 400, and certainly with your 450!  Take lots of photos. 

Several years ago, hardcorpshunter and I had more success than anticipated, and ended up buying 3 more 48 quart coolers in Casper - I think that is a common occurrence in Wyoming in the fall, Walmart there was stacked to the ceiling with coolers at great prices, think it was less than $50 for the three.