Post by: Kingpuck on August 06, 2013, 10:54:29 PM
Been thinking about using old gallon juice jugs for the ice instead.
Really worried about meat spoilage and wasting a nice animal. Want to be fast and efficient and make sure as little meat spoils as possible. Any thoughts?
Post by: ellensburgpo on August 06, 2013, 10:58:05 PM
Post by: syoungs on August 06, 2013, 11:00:46 PM
i also have seen people use dry ice, then a layer of towels, and put their meat on that. least then you dont have water to deal with I guess, the seasons I hunt dont really require such extreme measures though, I just use my jugs with sawdust and water. ( same benefit of no melted water as well)
Post by: huntnnw on August 06, 2013, 11:11:03 PM
Post by: ICEMAN on August 07, 2013, 02:44:39 AM
Instead, simply get the hide off your game, get air to circulate around your meat. Get natural cooling started. Often game is hung at a camp in shade for a day or so if temperatures allow. If it is warmer out, get someone to town for multiple bags of ice to hang around your deer.
IMHO, temperature is just too unpredictable to expect to need ice in advance of your kill.
Post by: PA BEN on August 07, 2013, 05:19:13 AM
Post by: Skyvalhunter on August 07, 2013, 05:29:13 AM
Post by: Blacktail Sniper on August 07, 2013, 10:51:18 AM
Is there a town with a store, minit-mart, etc., fairly close to your hunting area if home is a ways away?
Some of the Wal-Mart plastic coolers can be had pretty reasonable and can be used for other trips/adventures. Or the styrofoam will work as well, just not as durable.
I like to use the juice jugs that are a half-gallon size I believe, are flat-sided so they fit together better than the roundish milk jugs. Tip, leave a couple inches at the top clear and don't put the cap on until the water is frozen to allow for expansion. Collect enough to fill your cooler, then freeze them and put in your cooler when you leave.
The solid chunks don't melt as fast (never heard of the sawdust thing, interesting idea), then you should have plenty of cold when you put meat in there, and no melted water. A cooler full of frozen jugs should last most or all day, then can add ice if needed on the way home.
Post by: Fletch on August 07, 2013, 11:13:39 AM
Post by: zackmioli on August 07, 2013, 12:24:50 PM
Post by: Alchase on August 07, 2013, 12:53:49 PM
Kingpuck, most hunters do not pack a ton of ice in advance of a deer down. Some may, I have not seen it.
Instead, simply get the hide off your game, get air to circulate around your meat. Get natural cooling started. Often game is hung at a camp in shade for a day or so if temperatures allow. If it is warmer out, get someone to town for multiple bags of ice to hang around your deer.
IMHO, temperature is just too unpredictable to expect to need ice in advance of your kill.
I agree, I would not even worry about it.
We have never had to pack ice. Get the skin off as quick as you can. We have hung deer for days in the shade, wrapped in meat bags to keep the hornets and fly's off.
This is during General rifle season, not archery or hot weather.
Post by: dmv9 on August 08, 2013, 10:30:07 AM
You've gutted the deer. And you're two miles in the backwoods. Alone.
Do you just grab the antlers and drag it back to your car or cut it up there? How do you carry the meat? another backpack?
Post by: CP on August 08, 2013, 11:05:56 AM
Post by: dmv9 on August 08, 2013, 11:23:48 AM
Post by: Smossy on August 08, 2013, 11:31:41 AM
So after the shot...From my understanding, Gutt/Skin it, Get it quartered up if you can. Get the meat hanging and cooling...
You've gutted the deer. And you're two miles in the backwoods. Alone.
Do you just grab the antlers and drag it back to your car or cut it up there? How do you carry the meat? another backpack?
Carry what you can to your vehicle with your hunting pack, then grab a frame pack that is waiting for you at your car and bring that back for your second trip, strap as much meat to your pack as you can, repeat as needed,
Post by: CP on August 08, 2013, 11:34:06 AM
Is your pack blaze orange? I'm looking for ones now.
No, I don’t hunt modern rifle. I do keep a blaze orange vest and HI-vis tape in my pack for marking spots, trails, etc.
Post by: sirmissalot on August 08, 2013, 11:49:36 AM
Post by: Sitka_Blacktail on August 08, 2013, 05:49:48 PM
In Washington, you're usually not so far from a game locker that you can't get an animal there quickly enough to get it in a cooler without ruining the meat. Check out the area you're hunting in beforehand to see what's available.
But if you're hunting within a couple hours of home, I'd just get it there as fast as I could.
Post by: fish vacuum on August 09, 2013, 09:48:42 AM
Have the coolers in the car with one or two milk jugs of ice in each. A large cooler will fit one boned out deer.
Post by: ctwiggs1 on August 09, 2013, 10:39:15 AM
Frankly I don't care about the cut of my deer. Most of it goes through the grinder anyways. I cut the meat down into whatever sizes will fit in my pack and I start walking. It's kinda Jeffrey Dahmer-ish.
As far as cooling it - my brother bought a fishing boat this year and YES ice gets expensive fast. He started freezing zip lock bags full of water in his freezer. I'll have to tell him about that saw dust trick - very cool!
Curtis
Post by: Wose on August 09, 2013, 02:28:50 PM