Early Season Butchering-- What Should I Do?

[The Silence]

After living overseas for the last 11 years I'm having to think through everything about my deer hunting plans from the ground up. Could you all give my advice about what you do if you harvest a doe early in the season when the temps are still warm. I really want to get my kids out when the weather is still relatively nice. I did just read an article in one of the deer hunting mags where a guy who has been butchering his deer for several decades told how he hangs his deer first, then field dresses it and butchers it at the same time. He doesn't wait to age it at all. I've also thought about the HUSH program but I'm not sure if the meat processors would be open on the weekends. Anyway, I would love any imput you could give me. Thanks

 

[kelcher]

If I was going to do it by myself I would field dress it in the field ( easier to get in the truck, less mess ), get it home right away, skin it, and get to cuttin'. I would not want that meat to be in the 75 degree heat any longer than it has to. In the colder weather I don't mind letting the meat age a little ,but I still don't leave it hanging for long. Taking it to a locker is always a good choice, but like you said, if they are not open you will have to take care of it yourself anyway. I wouldn't let it hang overnight if it was going to be very warm. It probably wouldn't really hurt it too bad, but I would rather not risk it. Good luck.

 

[Rut Nut]

Quarter the deer and put it in a large cooler packed with ice. leave the drain plug open to let the water out. Also pour some vinegar over it and keep adding ice. This will also age the deer and will keep it good for several days until you get time to cut it up.

 

[blake]

This below link from the Iowa DNR may answer some of your questions about the HUSH Program.

HUSH Information

Hopefully deer hunters will purchase additional anterless tags and donate any excess deer meat that they have to the HUSH Program.

 

[kvschmid]

I processed a deer myself last weekend for the first time. It was more work than expected but really gratifying when finally finished. I quartered it up Friday afternoon, placed each quarter in a large garbage bag and put the front quarters in the fridge and the rears in the freezer. I got the fronts and neck boned out Saturday afternoon and the rears done Monday night. I read somewhere that it is not a good idea to put the quarters in bags? What do you guys do when your putting quarters in freezer or on ice, i.e., bag or no bag? BTW I did put three bags of ice in the body cavity for the trip back into town which is about an hour and half for me and then a to G&P's to check.

 

[muddy]

I'm fortunate enough to have a buddy that has a walk in cooler he scavanged from a locker as it was going out of business. No worries on hot weather anymore. Now, when I did have to worry I'd skin and quarter them down, debone them, and pack the meat in ice over night. Next day I'd finish up the trimmings and steak out what needed to be. The sooner the better in hot weather. If you're in a pinch wrap the quarters in garbage bags and store them in the fridge... if your wife will let you that is. If none of those are possible contact a local locker and see if they'll let you hang your deer, chances are slim, but you never know.

 

[Skully]

If your wife is understanding just quarter it up, lay it in the bath tub and cover it with ice and some plastic to hold in the cold. Next day, pull the drain plug and start cuttin'!

 

[IaCraig]

I hang them in my garage with both windows open at night and closed with a little window airconditioner on them during the day. WHen it is warm, I try to get them cut up within 2 days.

As far as hush goes. The Granger locker told me to field dress it but not skin it. Then throw 1-2 bags of ice in the body cavity as needed until Monday Morning when they open. I don't think that is the worlds best idea, but is how they prefer it. (I took one skinned out and placed in a mesh game bag one time, and they acted like they didn't know what to do with it).

IaCraig

 

[Danno]

Do what you want, but I would hot bone it and then get it cooled off ASAP. You can whole muscle bone the hind quarters and put them in a gallon ziplock bag. Then put in in the fridge, or a cooler on ice. With lows above 55, I wouldn't hang it longer than a few hours outside. Also, if you put an arrow in one at dusk tonight. Don't wait until morning to go find it. The heat from the guts will not allow any meat to cool. You'll be donating one to the coyotes. Just my opinion.

 

[medicsnoke]

Im with danno, here is my question.....at what tepmature is a walk in cooler set at, and what tempature is OK to let a skinned deer hang over night? also, I got an old fridge in my garage, can I srew a couple brackets into the side of it and put a rod in there to hang quarters, or will that ruin the fridge?

 

[baggin_bucks]

You could wrap it in a tarp or some sort of plastic with ice over it....(we were hunting an hour and half from home last weekend and that was our plan if we would have got one) I'm pretty fortunate my neighbor has a walk in cooler that we can hang them in when its hot until he cuts them up.