CO, UT, NM or WY for Elk 2013
#21
Spike
Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 67
Thanks guys. That's very true that driving will give me much more freedom than flying. I'm not a fan of long road trips, but I guess CO isn't too bad from IL...around 15 hrs? I'd love to get more meat back home, and I guess I didn't think about the fact that a tag can be filled at the very last minute.
#22
Giant Nontypical
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location:
Posts: 6,357
The ice in jugs sounds like a good idea. It, like dry ice, prevents the meat from getting wet from melting ice. Ice in jugs may have a benefit that dry ice does not -- because ice is pretty much 32 degrees, it isn't likely to really freeze the meat. If you have packaged the meat, freezing is OK. If you haven't packaged the meat -- I do not package my meat in camp because I just don't have the kind of facilities I would have at home in my kitchen -- freezing isn't desirable (though it is not the end of the world either, particulary if the meat isn't entirely frozen).
How do you keep your jugs of ice frozen on the hunt? Do you take a deep freeze on a trailor and plug into a generator in camp? I ask because I have heard of people doing that. They don't have to run the generator all the time, either, just enough to keep a good chill on the freezer. When the outside temp doesn't get above 55 degrees during the day, you can imagine this would work pretty well. I don't have such a freezer or generator however.
How do you keep your jugs of ice frozen on the hunt? Do you take a deep freeze on a trailor and plug into a generator in camp? I ask because I have heard of people doing that. They don't have to run the generator all the time, either, just enough to keep a good chill on the freezer. When the outside temp doesn't get above 55 degrees during the day, you can imagine this would work pretty well. I don't have such a freezer or generator however.
#23
Giant Nontypical
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location:
Posts: 6,357
Thanks guys. That's very true that driving will give me much more freedom than flying. I'm not a fan of long road trips, but I guess CO isn't too bad from IL...around 15 hrs? I'd love to get more meat back home, and I guess I didn't think about the fact that a tag can be filled at the very last minute.
#24
The ice in jugs sounds like a good idea. It, like dry ice, prevents the meat from getting wet from melting ice. Ice in jugs may have a benefit that dry ice does not -- because ice is pretty much 32 degrees, it isn't likely to really freeze the meat. If you have packaged the meat, freezing is OK. If you haven't packaged the meat -- I do not package my meat in camp because I just don't have the kind of facilities I would have at home in my kitchen -- freezing isn't desirable (though it is not the end of the world either, particulary if the meat isn't entirely frozen).
How do you keep your jugs of ice frozen on the hunt? Do you take a deep freeze on a trailor and plug into a generator in camp? I ask because I have heard of people doing that. They don't have to run the generator all the time, either, just enough to keep a good chill on the freezer. When the outside temp doesn't get above 55 degrees during the day, you can imagine this would work pretty well. I don't have such a freezer or generator however.
How do you keep your jugs of ice frozen on the hunt? Do you take a deep freeze on a trailor and plug into a generator in camp? I ask because I have heard of people doing that. They don't have to run the generator all the time, either, just enough to keep a good chill on the freezer. When the outside temp doesn't get above 55 degrees during the day, you can imagine this would work pretty well. I don't have such a freezer or generator however.
#25
Giant Nontypical
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location:
Posts: 6,357
I have always butchered my own meat. I get a lot of satisfaction from this, and I am confident I do as good if not better job than a processor does. I keep my elk cold but not frozen on the way home and butcher at home. Possibly there is some aging benefit to the meat in this situation. I'm not saying there is. I myself would prefer to butcher in Colorado, package, freeze, and drive home with the meat ready to stack in the freezer. It just doesn't work out that way.
No disrespect to processors, but I know I'm getting my own meat, and I get precisely the cuts and sizes of cuts that I want.
No disrespect to processors, but I know I'm getting my own meat, and I get precisely the cuts and sizes of cuts that I want.
#26
Where in Nebraska do you call home? I am in Montana but grew up near Elkhorn and have hunted many area of Nebr.. I actually have a 6000 acre hunting lease near Big Timber,MT that has elk, deer, bear and turkeys on it about an your west of Billings,MT. Might be looking for a couple of guys to go in on lease for 2013 would include both bow and rifle seasons if your interested let me know, I am not a guide or outfitter, just like to hunt and looking for someone who is a good respectful hunter(s)
I found out over the weekend that my primary hunting partner needs knee surgery in January so depending on rehab we might be iffy for 2013...
I appreciate all the good information guys, I really do. I realize that reading up and asking on an internet board is no substitute for boots on the ground experience, which is what we're ready to get. There is so much to learn about it and we can prep all we want, but it won't come together until we're there and doing it.
#27
No disrespect to processors, but I know I'm getting my own meat, and I get precisely the cuts and sizes of cuts that I want.
#28
Spike
Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 67
Ouch. I looked at a map of CO and didn't realize that the hunting areas are all on the west side of the state. Oh well, it's not like I'll be elk hunting every year, so what the heck. I might as well enjoy the scenery. I see most of the outfitters will quarter and pack the meat out, so I won't necessarily be needing a processor, especially if I'll be driving. Thanks for the tips.
#29
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 2,358
Ouch. I looked at a map of CO and didn't realize that the hunting areas are all on the west side of the state. Oh well, it's not like I'll be elk hunting every year, so what the heck. I might as well enjoy the scenery. I see most of the outfitters will quarter and pack the meat out, so I won't necessarily be needing a processor, especially if I'll be driving. Thanks for the tips.
the other thing to remember, especially for folks like me from a TINY state like NH, is western states are BIG. I can cross through 3-4 states in a couple hours from my house. Out west, crossing one state can take days.
#30
Ouch. I looked at a map of CO and didn't realize that the hunting areas are all on the west side of the state. Oh well, it's not like I'll be elk hunting every year, so what the heck. I might as well enjoy the scenery. I see most of the outfitters will quarter and pack the meat out, so I won't necessarily be needing a processor, especially if I'll be driving. Thanks for the tips.