Storing deer meat in cooler with ice? Safe?

[Cgn99]

We are hunting up in Ashcroft, bc and we caught a deer yeaterday, first time hunting woohoo! But the question i have, we skined, gutted and cut up the meat and we let it hang for a few hours to air out in -2 temps. We put the meat with bone in garbage bags and put into cooler, and threw couple bags of ice in the cooler. We stored the cooler outside over night as well. Will the meat be safe, as long as we keep putting ice in the cooler for 2 days, as we are hunting still today, and heading home tomorrow anout 4 hr drive from ashcroft, bc?

 

[sheephunter]

I wouldn't put the meat in garbage bags....they often have chemicals in them that can taint the meat. Should be fine otherwise. The initial cool down is most critical. I'd have let it hang longer in the -2 temps but you should still be fine. Congrats on the catch!

 

[saskgunowner101]

The meat will be fine, but ditch the garbage bags.

 

[Cgn99]

Thanks for the advise guys, ditching the garbage bags for sure

 

[hoytcanon]

If the temps are -2, you are best to leave the meat hanging, NOT in the cooler. Unless there is a bear problem locally... the meat will be in its best condition hung and dry.

 

[blasted_saber]

If its around 0 let it hang. Will be much better served getting the airflow then sitting in a damp cooler with water around it.

 

[BrotherRockeye]

I'd like to know how you caught a deer..?


congrats on yer first deer harvest!

 

[CyaN1de]

Next time you go out take some old (but clean) bed sheets with you to loosely wrap around the 1/4's while it hangs. Keeps the bugs, dirt, fire ash off the meat while still allowing it hang and cool properly.

And good on ya for catching the deer, most hunters shoot them in some form or another, but to each their own.

 

[blargon]

Hang it until you leave

 

[BigUglyMan]

Or those cheesecloth bags you can buy at the store. Then wash 'em in the machine next time your wife is out and save 'em for next year.

 

[BrotherRockeye]

good reminder gents...

thrift store sheets folded in half and sewn along the side and bottom make dandy game bags.

 

[Cgn99]

I'd like to know how you caught a deer..?


congrats on yer first deer harvest!

Shot it with browning 308 went threw the lungs first shot, first time hunting. Was a great day lol

 

[Cgn99]

Thanks for all the good advise, i will remember the. Bed sheets next time

 

[Skip4Play]

Make sure you rinse those sheets in cold water really good. If you have detergent contaminating the meat you might as well use garbage bags

 

[Deerdr]

Hang in open air as long as conditions are suitable...When you cooler it, still try to keep it as dry as possible ie. ice frozen in bottles, ice in leakproof, bags, or something in bottom of cooler to keep meat from touching water. As stated, DITCH the plastic bags...Let it breath... Jim

 

[ciphery]

Well in a slaughter house the meat would hang for 4-20 days in refriderator temps (3*)

 

[sheephunter]

Problem with garage hanging is meat dries out so bad due to lack of humidity control. On a deer, you end up losing most of to trimming. I hang with the hide on for this reason, a skin at butchering, providing I can get it cooled quickly but even then rarely hang a deer for more than a few days. An elk or moose I will hang longer if I can leave the hide on. The other tip with hanging is make sure the windpipe is removed as it will rot in a couple days.