Ideas needed for Homemade Deer Cooler
 

Where I hunt, we get plenty of warm days during the early bow season. Because of the heat, I have found myself passing on some easy doe shots on a Saturday merely because I was worried about keeping the carcass cool until leaving for home on Sunday.

Knowing that I cannot afford to buy and install a real walk-in cooler. I want to try an build a homemade cooler to keep the deer at a safe temperature.

Has anyone on here ever made one?

(I'm thinking of making a small wooden shed, insulate the walls and use a used AC wall/window unit to drop the temp down. I figure if I can get the temp down to 50 degrees that would keep the meat safe for 48-72 hours.)

If there was a way to get it down to the 40's that would be perfect!

RE: Ideas needed for Homemade Deer Cooler
 

Dampland,

Look at storeitcold.com. They have a device that hooks to your AC that allows the AC to cool down below 40 degrees i believe. I am thinking about getting one myself and building a cooler.

RE: Ideas needed for Homemade Deer Cooler
 

my cousin has that same thing. It hooks up to his AC, and its basically a big walk in cooler like you would see in a restaurant kitchen. Keeps things at 41 degrees max, usually colder... around 37-38 degrees

RE: Ideas needed for Homemade Deer Cooler
 

BUILD A SHED AND USE THAT FOAM INSULATION THEY USE AROUND THE OUTSIDE OF FOUNDATIONS OF HOMES ITS ABOUT 2 INCES THICK WE ARE PLANNING ON MAKIN ONE OURSELVES ALSO

RE: Ideas needed for Homemade Deer Cooler
 

Here's what a friend of mine does. Buy an old refrigerator that works. You can buy them for $50 or maybe get one free. Take all the racks out and make some racks you can hang from. You have to quarter the deer, though, but that's not a problem.

RE: Ideas needed for Homemade Deer Cooler
 

The fridge idea makes sense to me. If you remove the head and lower legs, you may not need to quarter an average size doe.

RE: Ideas needed for Homemade Deer Cooler
 

I made a room out of 2" rigid big enough for a good deer x2 and hook upthe AC unit blowing in and the room is perfect for a 2-3 day storage for sure even at 70 degree outside temps

RE: Ideas needed for Homemade Deer Cooler
 

Thanks for the replies thus far. I took a look at that storeitcold.com website, and it looks pretty interesting.

RE: Ideas needed for Homemade Deer Cooler
 

at my old camp, we always had several fridges going...indoors... one or two were reserved for meat only, we just left the normal racks in and put the quarters in.....turned the temp control way down, and place some sort of catch pan in the bottom for the blood that may drain......i guess an old towel would be efective as well. good luck with your planning.

RE: Ideas needed for Homemade Deer Cooler
 

A friend of mine used an old soda machine with all the racks removed. With the head and feet removed I have seen as many as 4 deer in the thing. He fashioned some king of rack to hang them from, can't remember how. I saw another guy just make a 6x6 temporary room in his garage, enclosed with heavy insulation like mentioned aboveand used and old air conditioner to keep the meat cool, not sure if he used thecontracptions mentioned before.

Jim

RE: Ideas needed for Homemade Deer Cooler
 

I have one of those insulated cooler boxes that they used to use to deliver frozen stuff to stores. It was the smaller one like would be on a 1 ton truck. It is 6X8 feet. A hole was cut in the back and a 110 air conditioner put in. You can turn it down cold enough to freeze water and will hold 10 deer no problem.

RE: Ideas needed for Homemade Deer Cooler
 

couldn't you always just cut and wrap it right away?

RE: Ideas needed for Homemade Deer Cooler
 

Look on craigslist for someone selling an old chest freezer that still works. I found a couple between $25-75. They look like crap but will keep your deer cold.

I know this is an old thread, but last year I made an DIY air conditioner controller to make a walk in deer cooler. We have used it many times to cool and hang deer during the warmer weather into November.

A insulated shed would be the nicest way to go. But I have been thinking about just a fridge or full size freezer. I don't think you would have to do alot with a freezer, Cut them off at knees

I would think a doe wouldn't take that much in a fridge. Cut the head off and feet. I have also been thinking about this for keeping bear bait.

The is a deabte on wether you should. Lots of people do.

But sometimes you just don't want to. Maybe long drag getting out or finding. Long days in fall too, could be late. It would be nice to have the option. At home I think about having to work the next day if it is late already.

Fast quartering and throwing in coolers isn't bad way. Maybe you do quick and dirty on neck.