Question for those who bone out their elk

[whuppinstick]

I own Orange Aglow (site sponsor) and we're working on some game bags for 2022.

There are generally two types of game bags for boned out meat:

1. long and narrow that are about the width of a pack frame (11-14"), but which you have to cut the rear quarter into a few pieces to fit

2. wider, more rectangular bags that will fit a boned out quarter in one piece (22-25" wide)


Which do you prefer and why?


If you have other thoughts on what you'd like to see in a game bag, please share.

[blackveltbowhunter]

I prefer the longer and leaner.

When I bone out I separate the large muscles in the rear quarters anyway, the longer bags fit in my pack better and are much easier to cinch tight eliminating the meat trying to "ball" up in the bottom. And keeps my load closer and better balanced.

As far as what I like, tough stitching, and good closure are number one. I used some zippered bags this past year and loved them. So much easier to cut and load meat in them when solo. Which seems to he the case on all my critters.

[Karl Blanchard]

Pretty much sums it up

[DrakeKill]

agreed on stitching and closures!

I like the wide mouth bags though, always solo and I don't like having to wrestle into the bags - the easier it goes in the quicker it get's hung or hauled out and less chance of it getting dirty (i may have dropped a piece or two once before  ) - i make up for the slop in the bag with some webbing or 550.

I also like materials that compress well to go into my ruck, no matter the pack there's only so much volume in there. Oh and how washable it is, I've had a few brands of meat bags that were one and done.....

[trophyhunt]

Light, strong, wide enough to fit a hind quarter, not sure about zippers, I’d take string. I currently use the caribou bags, they are what I like. 4 quarter bags, and two meat bags, I know you are asking about guys who debone, but after deboning for years, I find it better for the meat to pack out in quarters, then debone the rest of the body. Did I mention tough bags? Also, little reflective parts on the bags are great for finding your hanging meat in the dark!!!! Machine washable a must.  I would love to buy your product, I hope you knock this out of the park!  Keep the price reasonable, spending 80 bucks on 6 game bags is rough. Good luck buddy !!

[Stalker]

I prefer the longer and leaner.

When I bone out I separate the large muscles in the rear quarters anyway, the longer bags fit in my pack better and are much easier to cinch tight eliminating the meat trying to "ball" up in the bottom. And keeps my load closer and better balanced.

As far as what I like, tough stitching, and good closure are number one. I used some zippered bags this past year and loved them. So much easier to cut and load meat in them when solo. Which seems to he the case on all my critters.

   Have not used zipper bags though. 

[Buckhunter24]

Might ask a mod to put a poll on there to get more answers too. Good luck with the new product

[Stein]

I haven't seen the zipper bags yet, but getting anything into a bag by yourself is no fun.  If someone made a bag with a zipper on three sides so you could unzip the thing flat, lay your quarter or meat down, fold the bag in half over the top of the meat and zip it up I would be a buyer.  You could also do zippers on the two long sides and some sort of string or simple zip tie on the top as well.  I don't care if it is 0.256 oz heavier.

[trophyhunt]

Better be good zippers if you go that route, lots of pressure on that zipper and a blown out zipper in the backcountry would be a disaster. Just my 2 cents

[Stein]

That's a good point.

The old school mesh bags that could be rolled up actually were much easier to use than trying to wrestle an elk quarter into a sack that didn't want to cooperate.  Maybe I should try to roll up the synthetics next time.

[Rainier10]

I have only used bags with cinch strings but zippers would be awesome to lay flat load up and zip closed. I use a bullpac so wide is what I use now. I split off of the bone leaving muscle groups together. Washable multiple use is a must.

[whuppinstick]

Thanks for the replies, guys. I am intrigued by Kuiu's zippered bags but not ready to produce them just yet. I agree that a broken zipper would be bad news. I am also, as one of you mentioned, trying to produce these at a lower price point than many of the bags on the market. I've got one or two other small differences but sizing is most important for this year's samples. It sounds like there's a slight favor towards the taller, narrower bags so far. And tough stitching and reflection, which will both be standard.

Also, if these go well, we could produce larger bags for bone-in quarters in the future.

[kentrek]

It would be relatively easy to reduce the stress on a zipper with a little thought..

Light weight is huge...I think I have nearly every bag on the market..and I really don't have a concern with the strength of the material as long as it's going inside my main bag

It would be really nice to have the hook and loop type system so one person can hang meat and not need to tie knots...I hate knots

I would consider having an option for material weight...some guys don't need ultralight and end up just trashing them...then complaining...while other guys are saving extra ounces so they can justify packing a btx 115...every company out there only has one option for material..people love feeling special

Just some thoughts

[snake]

cheap, stretchy, strong, breathable, disposable, long, narrow

[whuppinstick]

It would be really nice to have the hook and loop type system so one person can hang meat and not need to tie knots...I hate knots

I might have the solution for you. Stay tuned.

[Magnum_Willys]

The kuiu zippers and size are working well for me...  I’d look at those dimensions.  Needs to be pack width.

[HUNTINCOUPLE]

Bear retardant and or bear proof?

[spin05]

Look no further then the Kuiu game bags for a great example to model after.

[bearpaw]

Lightweight, durable, material that can be washed many times is what I try to find, it seems most bags available are either too lightweight and sometimes tear with your meat in them and pretty much need thrown away after one use, or the bags are made of material that is too heavy almost like canvas that nobody wants to have to carry until needed. I've got several sizes of bags, I like having multiple sizes of bags for these purposes:

Big Wide Bags - large enough to easily hold a half elk or half moose when closed
Narrow Long bags - that will hold a whole body deer
Quarter Bags - smaller version of the big wide bags, big enough to hold an elk shoulder or ham with bone in
Meat bags - For boned out meat, old pillow cases have worked ok, a little smaller would be just fine, we never seem to fill a pillow case

A synthetic blended material that is durable and lightweight would be great. I've been happy with draw strings in bags but am intrigued by the idea of zippers or hook and loop, but would that add unneeded weight to the bag? Maybe a cord similar to parachute cord but a little smaller would be a lighter weight option? It would be great to be able to buy lightweight durable washable bags to carry in your pack.

[dilleytech]

I would choose the wider bags that fit the bone in rear quarter for more options. Bigger bags filled with boneless meat are not an issue with a good pack with meat shelf or bag that cinches down. Last thing I would want is being forced to bone out a quarter if I didn’t have too.

[Alan K]

Look no further then the Kuiu game bags for a great example to model after.

 

First season with them last year, packed out a mule deer in Montana, and three blacktails in WA with them. Little to no stretch, stitched to shape, zippers, and reflective material for after dark meat recovery are my favorite aspects. I preferred to use more smaller/narrower bags than fewer larger bags so they would hold their shape better rather than the meat sagging/balling up towards the bottom of a larger bag.  Smaller bags are also easier to repack back at camp with other gear if you've got a combined meat/camp haul out to the rig. 

[Okanagan]

I’m too old to be packing meat much anymore, but I preferred the versatility and ease of loading of a larger bag.  You can cinch cord(s) or strap(s) around the middle to keep meat inside from sagging.  Some cord sewn onto the side of the bag might achieve that by allowing the user to cinch it down with built in compression straps/cords. Unless I was leapfrogging loads, I lashed large meat sacks onto a pack frame with a diamond hitch, which cinches out sagging/bulging in any direction.   

 I like a reinforced “pierced ear” or loop on each top corner that allowed me to hang the meat sack on the top vertical bars of my old frame pack, with no tying.  You just lift the meat sack on and off with no tying/untying, quick and super easy for leapfrogging loads.

I'm prob not a typical customer... 

[BlackRiverTaxidermy]

I used the kuiu zippered bags this last year and LOVED them. Would be nice to have a reinforced hanging loop at the end though. They have small loops but not quite big enough to hang on a branch to allow meat to cool down. Love the zippered entry as it allows for fast closure to keep flies/debris out while separating/boning another section of meat.

One thing that has always bugged me about game bags however, which is entirely a personal thing, is the fact that most game bag 'sets' come with 4 large quarter bags....that's it. My DREAM 'big game' set would be 5 large 'quarter' bags and 1 smaller bag, maybe half the size of the quarter bag....and here's why. 1 bag for each quarter (4), the additional for the cape which can be as large as a quarter of boned meat and as heavy. The final smaller bag for the premium cuts and 'extras'. I always carry a smaller cloth bag with me for this where I like to put the straps, loins, and heart; some guys even take the liver, kidneys, etc. When you buy the Kuiu bags, they are individual so you can get what you need, but I think a guy whos making a big game bag 'set' could do well with the added bags, IMO

[elksnout]

I'd like to see smaller bags (length) but more of them in a bag kit to help keep the meat from balling up. Keep the opening the same width of bags. I have the Caribou's and soak and wash in detergent and bleach after each use. They've held up well.

Sorry, can't see the zipper bags and I wouldn't buy them. Just something else to worry about and go south at the worst possible time. Drawstrings are quick and easy to hang off of a branch, etc. for cooling and they prove their reliability every year.
 
Elksnout

[bkaech]

I don't like the thin tall bags, too hard to get the meat into it. I prefer a wider bag and can work on cinching it down in my pack to keep it from balling up. I want strong material more than light weight. I would rather not buy new bags every year or 2, I can deal with a few extra oz in my pack if I can rely on the bag to last and not get holes in it when it is hanging from a tree for a few days. The closure is important, I want string or some type of closure that I can hang the heavy bag from, wrap around a limb or meat pole to let it hang over night or for a few days if needed.

[Wetwoodshunter]

So situational. I have carried OVIS sacks for a few years. I think they would be in the more square camp, I hate the plastic drawstring pulls on them. Love that they have a reflective material strip and compress real small.

We had an incident last year with a boned out elk quarter and it balled up, froze solid hanging before load 2 and we almost couldn't fit it in a Kuiu 7800. 

I would love to see a super lightweight bag that is strong enough for 70 lbs. of meat hanging slightly narrower and taller. It sounds like you also figured out a better way for the tie downs/plastic clamps instead of knotting the bageebers out of the paracord.

I am interested in seeing what you come out with. Your vests and backpack patch are top notch. 👌

[whuppinstick]

This is all very helpful information, thanks guys.

Seems like it's about even between wide and narrow bags, we might have to make both.

[blackveltbowhunter]

Both styles would sell IMO. I have tried lots of options and styles and so far none go unused. I maye taylor the hags I pack on a given hunt, depending on lots of factors, but An average elk will use 8 to 10 bags between hitting the ground and ending up on the cutting board. More if I hang it. But I usually change bags once im back at the rig. Get fresh bags, double check cleanliness of the meats and repack in dry fresh bags to go to cooler or freezer. Those bags are almost always the wider standard type bag.

[Ironhead]

For me it depends if I am deboning or just quartering. If deboning, the narrower bags are easy enough to get boned out meat in and they don't move around as much. If quartering bone in you need the wide mouth bags if you are on your own to get an Elk hind quarter in it. I prefer 5 bags total. The fifth bag is for Straps, Loins, Neck and Rib meat and Heart and Liver.

[BULLBLASTER]

I think something with the corners at the bottom sewn for some volume and then slightly wider at the top. Maybe 11 inches wide at the bottom and 14 at the top. Drawstring top. Reflective loops at the bottom, mid, and too sides are nice to help hang or tie them on a pack as well.

I have tag bomb bags and like them very well but they way they sew the top drawstring it makes the opening smaller than the rest of the bag.

[whuppinstick]

I think something with the corners at the bottom sewn for some volume and then slightly wider at the top. Maybe 11 inches wide at the bottom and 14 at the top. Drawstring top. Reflective loops at the bottom, mid, and too sides are nice to help hang or tie them on a pack as well.

I have tag bomb bags and like them very well but they way they sew the top drawstring it makes the opening smaller than the rest of the bag.

I was thinking this exact thing last night. I'm sending in the dimensions to the manufacturer this week for this year's test bags, I'll try a couple like this.

[BULLBLASTER]

I think something with the corners at the bottom sewn for some volume and then slightly wider at the top. Maybe 11 inches wide at the bottom and 14 at the top. Drawstring top. Reflective loops at the bottom, mid, and too sides are nice to help hang or tie them on a pack as well.

I have tag bomb bags and like them very well but they way they sew the top drawstring it makes the opening smaller than the rest of the bag.

I was thinking this exact thing last night. I'm sending in the dimensions to the manufacturer this week for this year's test bags, I'll try a couple like this.

Hopefully my post didnt inadvertently let any super secret game changer ideas out of the bag. 

[whuppinstick]

I think something with the corners at the bottom sewn for some volume and then slightly wider at the top. Maybe 11 inches wide at the bottom and 14 at the top. Drawstring top. Reflective loops at the bottom, mid, and too sides are nice to help hang or tie them on a pack as well.

I have tag bomb bags and like them very well but they way they sew the top drawstring it makes the opening smaller than the rest of the bag.

I was thinking this exact thing last night. I'm sending in the dimensions to the manufacturer this week for this year's test bags, I'll try a couple like this.

Hopefully my post didnt inadvertently let any super secret game changer ideas out of the bag. 

Haha, I'm sure we're not the first to think of it. Maybe there's a reason nobody is doing it..