Post by: ljsommer on August 26, 2021, 05:35:28 PM
I have what may be considered an "ok" opportunity on some archery elk this year (OTC) but due to life handing me a really rotten situation for the past 2 years I am currently not able to access 90% of my hunting gear. I have a good bow, a Yeti Tundra 65 cooler (48 liter capacity) and my camo. That's it.
What I don't have (access to):
Binos (working on it)
Range finder (someone is letting me borrow theirs)
Larger cooler capacity (???)
Large freezer (I think I've convinced a buddy to let me use his)
Now, my question is this: On the very low chance I get an elk on the ground, I am worried about cooler space. Elk are huge! How many/what size coolers do you usually use to transport them? Early season temps will be such that I will want to get the elk processed and in a cooler as soon as possible, and I don't have access to my mega-cooler down south.
Do you elk folks just have access to tons of cooler space to toss into your trucks? Or am I thinking about this wrong and it's not actually that big of a deal to just toss meat bags into the back of the truck?
My hunting spot is roughly 2 hours (without traffic) from my house.
Post by: HntnFsh on August 26, 2021, 05:41:11 PM
Post by: MADMAX on August 26, 2021, 05:47:10 PM
Meat bags
Shade
Air circulation overnight
Know where the closest locker is
Post by: mburrows on August 26, 2021, 06:10:47 PM
Post by: Moose Master on August 27, 2021, 09:26:12 AM
Post by: 7mmfan on August 27, 2021, 09:33:20 AM
If your hauling the meat in a pickup truck place the meat on pallets. It allows for better air circulation.
This is a good tip. I at the very least try to stand quarters up in the corners of the bed. Bagged scrap is hard but it usually cools quick just because of the small size of the pieces. You could easily toss that bag of scrap in your Yeti with some ice.
Post by: ljsommer on August 27, 2021, 10:37:56 AM
Post by: Dan-o on August 27, 2021, 10:45:45 AM
You can usually find a small stream.
Bag the quarters or boned meat and let them lay in a small stream until the heat is sucked out of the meat.
I think after the meat is cool, a 2 hour drive should be fine unless its really hot out.
Post by: johnbmyersii on August 27, 2021, 12:05:23 PM
Post by: Dan-o on August 27, 2021, 01:02:22 PM
No way would I leave quarters hanging by the creek (in cheesecloth or any other bags) in normal early archery season temperatures.
Post by: b0bbyg on August 27, 2021, 01:09:44 PM
Looks funny when you get home wearing a jacket on a hot day because it is so cold in the truck. :chuckle:
I like the pallet idea, need to see if I can find a large metal shelf to lay in truck so I can get circulation.
Post by: ljsommer on August 27, 2021, 02:37:04 PM
Last 2 elk I have got were bagged (cloth) and hung in shade until ready to head back to town. I keep a giant piece of plastic to cover the back seats folded down so the meat goes in the truck and not in the bed. This was I can crank the AC full blast for the 2 hours home.
Looks funny when you get home wearing a jacket on a hot day because it is so cold in the truck. :chuckle:
I like the pallet idea, need to see if I can find a large metal shelf to lay in truck so I can get circulation.
Do you not get blood everywhere?!
Post by: northwesthunter84 on August 27, 2021, 03:04:00 PM
Post by: NRA4LIFE on August 27, 2021, 03:49:09 PM
Post by: bracer40 on August 27, 2021, 06:21:52 PM
We've also hung meat near streams as well as placing it over stout branches over streams for days in temps as high as the 70s during the day. Meat has always been in great shape.
Post by: b0bbyg on August 30, 2021, 07:41:15 AM
Last 2 elk I have got were bagged (cloth) and hung in shade until ready to head back to town. I keep a giant piece of plastic to cover the back seats folded down so the meat goes in the truck and not in the bed. This was I can crank the AC full blast for the 2 hours home.
Looks funny when you get home wearing a jacket on a hot day because it is so cold in the truck. :chuckle:
I like the pallet idea, need to see if I can find a large metal shelf to lay in truck so I can get circulation.
Do you not get blood everywhere?!
Meat had already hung in bags a while which drained off lots of the liquid, I use the plastic to form a giant "tub" so anything that leaks stay on the plastic.
Back when I only had a suburban and no truck did this as well since I had little other option. learned that tarps are not as liquid tight as you would think. >:(
Post by: Stein on September 01, 2021, 08:37:33 AM
I pack two coolers full of ice and leave them in my truck so I can cool the meat as soon as possible.
Post by: ljsommer on September 07, 2021, 07:57:01 PM