What's the Best way to cool down the carcass?
09-12-2004 | 06:43 PM
#1
Thread Starter
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 25
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What's the Best way to cool down the carcass?
Looking for tips on cooling down your deer after field dressing in warm weather. I will be hunting in Missouri this weekend with highs in 80's and lows in the upper 50's.
I know alot of hunters that won't hunt until the weather cools down. This will be the warmest weather that I've hunted. Any tips???
I know alot of hunters that won't hunt until the weather cools down. This will be the warmest weather that I've hunted. Any tips???
09-12-2004 | 06:50 PM
#3
Nontypical Buck
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 4,504
Likes: 0
From: palm bay fl
RE: What's the Best way to cool down the carcass?
ORIGINAL: bwhunter501
What i do if im not going to be butchering it for awhile i just drag it in the shade and put a couple bags of ice in the body cavity.
What i do if im not going to be butchering it for awhile i just drag it in the shade and put a couple bags of ice in the body cavity.
09-12-2004 | 07:21 PM
#4
Typical Buck
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 590
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From: Central PA
RE: What's the Best way to cool down the carcass?
Ice would be good, but I've never used it, as by the time I get the animal loaded in the F150 and back to town, I'm starting the meat processing. I have however used the cold water from a mountain stream to submerge the carcass in... if available and if I can't get the deer out of the woods alone for one reason or another. You know, terrain, really big deer... really long drag... did I mention laziness?.
09-12-2004 | 07:29 PM
#5
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
From: Duluth Minnesota
RE: What's the Best way to cool down the carcass?
I think one of the most important things you can do is to pull the hide off -> Down to the head from a head down hanging position. I have had steam billow out from under the hide several hours after the kill in subzero temperatures during rifle season
09-12-2004 | 09:27 PM
#6
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 2,297
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From: Sooner Born, Sooner Bred!!!!!
RE: What's the Best way to cool down the carcass?
I wrap bags of ice in towels, to try and keep the water from getting on the meat. Cleaning the carcass before you hang it up or before getting it processed allows bacteria to grow inside of it. So just let the blood naturally clot inside, then fill full of ice bags but make sure that you check for it melting to keep it kinda dry.
09-12-2004 | 09:56 PM
#7
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 2,308
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From: Beautiful Western Montana
RE: What's the Best way to cool down the carcass?
I don't reccommend ice in the body cavity. I know a fellow here in Montana that shot a moose and loaded the body cavity with ice, it spoiled. Ice blocked the heat from escaping. Bigger animals dissipate heat more slowly, but that cavity should remain open and unobstructed. Skinning it to aid in the heat release helps to, just make sure you put some fly proof net bags on it.
