ultramag Report post Posted October 16, 2008 I have the late nov hunt 36b with a few people and was wondering what to do with the meat if you harvest a deer. I don't want to have to leave and come home early,is there somewhere I can take the meat and have it processed. or can I store it in ice chests. Usaully when something has hit the dirt it was time to leave and with several tags to fill I need a plan. what do you guys do in this situation. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Red Rabbit Report post Posted October 16, 2008 Bring a large ice chest filled with frozen water jugs. Bone out the meat and place it and the cape in the chest. The use of the frozen jugs will keep the meat dry, as some feel wet meat encourages bacterial growth and water in the muscle fibers. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Browning'sCustomMeat Report post Posted October 16, 2008 Best thing you can do is just what RR said. Cool and Dry is the best. There have been times where i have had some meat come in, in ice chests where it has melted, and if the animal was gut shot or quartered to when the hunter shot, most of the meat became tainted because it marinated in the dirty ice water. -Jeremy- Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ultramag Report post Posted October 16, 2008 thanks guys I thought of that. I wasn't sure if that would be good enough to keep the meat dry though. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Browning'sCustomMeat Report post Posted October 16, 2008 You may have a little sweat coming off the jugs, nothing to worry about though. Just keep an eye on it, the meat may bleed out a little, just dump it every so often and everything will be just fine. Best of luck to ya!! -Jeremy- Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NOFX Report post Posted October 16, 2008 Ive got question that relates. What about a backcountry hunt where ice chests cant be packed in? I am talkin like a 6 hr pack-in with 3 tags. Whats the best way to handle an opening morning kill? How long is too long? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
trufletch Report post Posted October 16, 2008 If the animal goes down any more than about 1/2-3/4 miles from access,my brother and I will usually butcher the deer on the spot. We carry gallon size freezer bags, take our time and put the cut meet in the bags. Roll up the hide and head-put on our pack frames and head to camp. Place meat in the ice chest on tops of blocks of ice or frozen water jugs. Now we don't have spoilage issues. We do backpacking trips from time to time as well, all I can say is it depends on outside air temp. We still butcher on the spot, keep the meat in the freezer bags in the shade, if it's real warm outside we hump it back to our main camp and get it into the ice chests. Trufletch Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Browning'sCustomMeat Report post Posted October 16, 2008 Bone it out, let it hang on a limb so that the air can blow around, it will help cool the meat a great deal. And yes, outside temp matters a great deal. But if you let it air cool for a while, that dramatically decreases the chances of spoiling. As soon as you reach the chests put the meat inside. May want to pull the meat out of the bags and let cool again just in case it may have heated again by being in the pack with the sun on it ( Southern units exp. ) Just a little extra care will go a long way and you and your meat cutter will be happy with the outcome! -Jeremy- Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bubenhee Report post Posted October 16, 2008 I also have a 36B hunt (Nov 7). I have never shot a deer. Will the meat be okay if you hang it in a Game bag? Or do you have to pack it in a cooler? Reading this post has me a little confused. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ultramag Report post Posted October 16, 2008 I also have a 36B hunt (Nov 7). I have never shot a deer. Will the meat be okay if you hang it in a Game bag? Or do you have to pack it in a cooler? Reading this post has me a little confused. the meat should be ok overnight but I wouldn't let it hang during the day unless its real cool outside. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tommat Report post Posted October 16, 2008 True story......my first Coues hunt...my first big game hunt as a matter of fact....16 years old....me and my buddies had been planning, packing, talking about it for months.......36C....crammed my beat up ole Datsun car with tents, food, the works...got there Thur afternoon. There were three of us...one tag. we get up opening morning at 'O dark thirty....hike in a mile or so...wait for the sun.....not two min into shooting light...small 3X3 walks out 200 yds away....my buddy smokes him with one shot.....gut 'em. hump back to camp...and then at that moment realize our adventure is over.....well we just couldn't go back to town...hung him in a tree and goofed off for a couple more days......we got back to town and showed his Dad our deer...he was P O'd.....didn't buy our story at all about getting it "the night before". That was some strong flavored deer......but I was hooked for life....shot my first big game (javelina) in the exact spot the next season..... As Bon Hirsch used to say...get the hide off before it hits the ground. Keep it cool and dry. If the weather's warm and you can't get to town I have wrapped a deer in a sleeping bag with ice bags in the day to insulate it and keep it cool. Has worked well for me in the past. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
firstcoueswas80 Report post Posted October 17, 2008 Bryan, when we knock one or two down, you and I can take a trip into the processors in Tucson. I usually skin em, bag em, then wrap a tarp around them with a foot or two or space to keep the sun off of them... If we kill it in the morning, let it sit and take it in the next morning.. Have never ever had a problem, and we have done this with about a dozen deer, during all different seasons minus the archery. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NativeRat Report post Posted October 17, 2008 ?? What processor are you using in Tucson? I didn't know anyone was doing that in town anymore. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tommat Report post Posted October 17, 2008 ?? What processor are you using in Tucson? I didn't know anyone was doing that in town anymore. Yea I've been going to Wilcox.... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
azpackhorse Report post Posted October 17, 2008 ?? What processor are you using in Tucson? I didn't know anyone was doing that in town anymore. Yea I've been going to Wilcox.... I've been using WGP for several years, I think that's who Casey uses as well. Jonathan does and exceptional job. His number is 520-292-2262, cell# 520-349-9635. He is off of Ruthrauff Rd. not too far from I-10 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
