Walk-In Cooler or other options?

[Parasite]

What do you guys use to store your big game such as elk while processing? Commercial walk-in cooler at home or at a local butcher? Used commercial beverage refrigerator? Shed with an AC unit and Coolbot?

Leaning towards 8K BTU AC unit and a 4x4 section of my shed with a coolbot.

[Scruffy]

A well insulated room with an A/C and a Cool Bot would be nice.  I was seeing a lot of road killed deer on my way home with no place to cool them.  I bought a commercial double door stainless refrigerator.  I can remove all the shelves and probably stuff a whole elk quartered in there.  it is on wheels so mobile around the garage and if we buy stuff in bulk we use it for groceries as well.  It is nice when making sausage and such to be able to have close to my cutting table to keep stuff cold while processing.

[huntnnw]

Probably brought home over 100 animals to process in my life and never needed a walk in or butcher... would a walk in be nice? yup , but definitely not needed.

[Parasite]

Probably brought home over 100 animals to process in my life and never needed a walk in or butcher... would a walk in be nice? yup , but definitely not needed.

I never needed one back int he midwest for whitetail ... but most of the time I would wait to shoot one until mid-November when the temps dropped and I could cool it in the garage. Wasn't sure about shooting an elk or bear in August or September to keep the meat from spoiling.

[andersonjk4]

Like huntnnw said, lots of animals killed, even in warmer early season temps, that get processed without big coolers. It all depends on how long you like to age. When the temps are too warm for hanging in the garage, I’ve always sacrificed the beer fridge. Boned out meat can be stacked on the shelves in trays or directly on the shelves. (Very messy). Or for deer remove all of the lower shelves and you can stand quarters upright in the bottom and lay the rest of the boneless meat on the upper shelves.

That being said, I am building a new house and have designed in a dedicated spot in the garage that will be an insulated room and will use an ac unit(s) and coolbot.  The AC unit/coolbot option seems way simpler and cheaper compared to a commercial walk-in option.

[huntnnw]

coolers with ice, drain open and something to lift one side up a bit to let water drain. A old fridge holds quite a bit of boned out meat if your wanting to let steak cuts sit a bit. Shot probably 30 bears between the wife and myself in Aug and early September and never had anything go bad. Anything burger or sausage/ jerky that I cant process just goes into the freezer and thats dealt with when hunting season is over.

[jrebel]

You may not “need” one but they sure are nice to have.   I converted an old shed into a walk in cooler with a ac unit and cool not. Been using it for over ten years now and love it.  There should be a post on here somewhere with all the pictures.   I’ll see if I can find it.

[NOCK NOCK]

I use an old fridge in the shop. It will handle an elk quartered an chunked up. More than one critter at a time and the butchering begins.
When I killed my moose, the shop and house fridge  were both packed as well as a couple coolers.

[CP]

I don’t bring home enough big game to warrant a dedicated cooler so, I use the old garage fridge method as well.  It holds a deer easily or, most of an elk. 

I remove the racks and put in some rods to hang as needed. 

It chills my salmon and crab during their seasons, birds during their season.  Beer during beer season.

[CP]

Please excuse my ignorance, but what is a “CoolBot”?

[Stein]

I almost always just leave it in the cooler until I cut it up.  I do have a frige set up for charcuterie that I could use but it seems like more trouble than it's worth.

[follow maggie]

Please excuse my ignorance, but what is a “CoolBot”?

https://www.storeitcold.com/product/coolbot-walk-in-cooler-controller/

[CP]

Please excuse my ignorance, but what is a “CoolBot”?

https://www.storeitcold.com/product/coolbot-walk-in-cooler-controller/

Thanks.

[elkinrutdrivemenuts]

I have used a coolbot with much success.  I like to let my meat hang for 7 days before processing.  I would advise you go with the biggest space and AC unit you can manage.   

[luvmystang67]

I built one with a cool bot, it was amazing.  My only regret was not building it in a enclosed trailer.  Sold the house, moved, and now I'm cooler-less.  Next time I build one it'll be in an enclosed trailer.

It was great while it lasted, got real cold, no issues.