Hunting Question

Okie Boarder · Ladies Man Joined: 03 Mar 2008 Posts: 10056 City: Edmond

I'm sure many of you have hunted out of town. We're going to be hunting at the in-laws in WY this year, and will be driving. What are some lessons learned on keeping meat fresh and cool for a long drive?

htownbdr · Posted: Oct 15, 2014 3:20 pm Post subject:

A properly cooled Yeti with some rock salt should last awhile.

Chad H · Posted: Oct 15, 2014 4:04 pm Post subject:

Just keep it freshly iced, vacuum sealed if possible.

jryoung · Ladies Man Joined: 19 Mar 2004 Posts: 7664 City: Man Jose

Will you be able to process in WY? In what condition do you plan on bringing it back to OK? Processed? quarters? Trimmed?

What species?

E.J. · Ladies Man Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 7597 City: Mogadishu

E.J. · Ladies Man Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 7597 City: Mogadishu

I kid, but some of my favorite "hunting" in Wyoming, is pulling sage hens. Good times, other than dressing those stinky phuckers... They were a tasty treat though, even with Ms. Mace cooking them in the field.

Okie Boarder · Ladies Man Joined: 03 Mar 2008 Posts: 10056 City: Edmond

chavez · RIP MHL 04/25/1958 - 01/11/2006

just tie it to the tailgate and head home

RampageWake · Posted: Oct 16, 2014 7:47 am Post subject: Re: Hunting Question

jryoung · Ladies Man Joined: 19 Mar 2004 Posts: 7664 City: Man Jose

If you have it in quarters, with the hide off it should be fine in a cooler. My preference is to prevent the meat from touching the ice. If possible, keep the drain open on cooler to allow the water to run our or drain it periodically.

When deer fat is exposed to oxygen it can go rancid very fast because of the high omega-3 content. When you get to the point of processing, if the fat has been exposed to oxygen for a period of time you'll need to trim it all away.

Deer fat can be used for cooking/sausage, but it is best if the carcass is cooled with the skin on. This is very difficult unless you are blessed with very cold conditions.

Okie Boarder · Ladies Man Joined: 03 Mar 2008 Posts: 10056 City: Edmond

chavez, LOL, you're so redneck.

Thanks for the feedback all. I think that gives me what I need to know. Hopefully we can get everything completely processed, so we can just pack it tight with some ice or dry ice and basically keep it frozen. If not, we'll take into account the suggestions.

Okie Boarder · Ladies Man Joined: 03 Mar 2008 Posts: 10056 City: Edmond

Well, we managed to get everything processed a couple days ahead of time. I did a layer of dry ice and regular ice at the bottom, then loaded in all the frozen pieces and sealed up the coolers. Some pieces were getting a little soft when we got home yesterday, but for the most part, everything was still frozen.

I'll do a separate thread with pics and the stories.