Bringing meat back long distance
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I killed two deer in NE. Almost 6 hours in my home in CO. We kept the meat on ice in coolers on the drive home. Processed it at my partner's garage when we got to his house, loaded it into my truck, I didn't have a cooler, and drove an hour to my house. It was still cool when I loaded it into my freezer.
The first deer killed sat on ice for a three or so days before our hunt ended. It was fine. Keep it on ice in a good cooler and it'll be just fine for a long drive. I don't know about back east, but it's perfectly legal for me to bring game meat I harvested home from out of state.
The first deer killed sat on ice for a three or so days before our hunt ended. It was fine. Keep it on ice in a good cooler and it'll be just fine for a long drive. I don't know about back east, but it's perfectly legal for me to bring game meat I harvested home from out of state.
BigBlue 94
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I had a batch of trout caught in the rockies shipped back to me in eastern KS as a kid. That just happened to coincide with the UPS strike. Trout arrived a month later still frozen on dry ice. No one got sick from eating it.
Idk about crossing state lines. I would have it labeled if processed or leave an identifiable hoof on it if not. Have your hunting tag and license on hand too.
Idk about crossing state lines. I would have it labeled if processed or leave an identifiable hoof on it if not. Have your hunting tag and license on hand too.
Rembrandt
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In the old days we'd drag coolers along and purchase ice (or dry ice) for the trip home. Later we began taking small chest freezers, then take a piece of UHMW the size of the lid (cutting board) and attach it to the top with stainless steel screws. Bone out the meat and plug in the freezer. Worked much better than ice and chilled the meat down faster.
Nature Boy
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When I'm bringing deer across state lines (OK, LA, TX) it's required to keep the head so that the meat can be sexed if you happen to be stopped. The tag stays with the head.
Now, with CWD it can get complicated as you're not allowed to bring the brain into certain areas from certain areas. You gotta research that one.
Kingcreek
Member
I’ve driven to home in Illinois from Wyoming, Nebraska, Minnesota, South Dakota, North Dakota, and Utah with game in coolers. Dry ice works best but regular frozen water will work also.
I used some 2” foam insulation and scrap plywood and made insulated boxes with lids that enclose my 128qt marine coolers.
I used some 2” foam insulation and scrap plywood and made insulated boxes with lids that enclose my 128qt marine coolers.
daniel craig
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You could buy yourself some dry ice and one of those fancy coolers.
Depending on the vehicle you drive you could probably also get a power inverter and a chest freezer and plug the chest freezer into the power inverter.
Patocazador
Member
Back in the '70s I drew an elk tag in Wyoming. I was very optimistic that I would kill an elk so I constructed a plywood box with 1" styrofoam glued to the inside to fit inside of the truck camper. I did kill a 5x6 bull and packed the cut-up meat and bought dry ice that went on top of the meat. I sealed the whole shebang with duct tape on the seams and brought it home 2000 miles over 3 1/2 days. The meat was just fine and some of the dry ice was still solid.
Years ago we used to bring deer back from Wyoming to MI field dressed in the back of a pickup. Two day trip and they were fine, it was November so generally cool outside.
Some of the guys still were going a few years back and with CWD the rules have changed a lot. The deer have to be processed before they can bring it home, no brain matter at all across state lines. They freeze it and pack in dry ice and it’s fine for the 2 day trip. Most areas you hunt will likely have a processor and they will be able to help you in transporting or shipping.
Jeff
Some of the guys still were going a few years back and with CWD the rules have changed a lot. The deer have to be processed before they can bring it home, no brain matter at all across state lines. They freeze it and pack in dry ice and it’s fine for the 2 day trip. Most areas you hunt will likely have a processor and they will be able to help you in transporting or shipping.
Jeff
earlthegoat2
Member
When I bring deer back from MI it is already processed, frozen, bagged, and ready to be put in my freezer when I get home. I use regular ice most of the time.
I have one of those fancy coolers and just use regular ice. Once, I hunted in MI, got all packed up with the meat in the cooler, went to OH for a wedding and stayed there for two days, then went to WV and spent a day there before taking another day to get back to GA. The meat was still frozen solid when I unloaded it. This was November also so not hot.
I use the same cooler for transporting skinned and quartered game from middle GA to SE GA frequently. Just buy ice as needed. It’s about a 2 hour drive but I usually leave it in the cooler for 4 or 5 hours by the time everything is done. Don’t know how necessary it is but this is GA and things heat up quickly around here.
Fancy coolers have their place. Seeing average yuppies in impractical jacked up trucks riding around with their window stickers of a particular cooler brand (you know what I’m talking about) leave a bad taste in your mouth but for transporting meat long distance they are very viable. I often find myself wondering if those people just use their coolers for tailgates and pool parties....but who knows maybe there is more than meets the eye.
I have one of those fancy coolers and just use regular ice. Once, I hunted in MI, got all packed up with the meat in the cooler, went to OH for a wedding and stayed there for two days, then went to WV and spent a day there before taking another day to get back to GA. The meat was still frozen solid when I unloaded it. This was November also so not hot.
I use the same cooler for transporting skinned and quartered game from middle GA to SE GA frequently. Just buy ice as needed. It’s about a 2 hour drive but I usually leave it in the cooler for 4 or 5 hours by the time everything is done. Don’t know how necessary it is but this is GA and things heat up quickly around here.
Fancy coolers have their place. Seeing average yuppies in impractical jacked up trucks riding around with their window stickers of a particular cooler brand (you know what I’m talking about) leave a bad taste in your mouth but for transporting meat long distance they are very viable. I often find myself wondering if those people just use their coolers for tailgates and pool parties....but who knows maybe there is more than meets the eye.
Jerry M
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Dry ice.
George P
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My Ford has 2 110V outlets (front and rear); probably wouldn't need an inverter.
BreechFace
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Should check the output AMPS to see if they'll run a sizeable freezer/fridge.
earlthegoat2
Member
my neighbor has an ARB cooler he runs off of 12V outlet from his vehicle. Not a freezer mind you but a cooling device capable of being run off a 12V power source.
Kingcreek
Member
Those will charge a phone or laptop but they won't drive a chest freezer.
LOLBELL
Member
Small chest freezer powered by a small generator on a trailer I drag from Alabama to Colorado and back. Groceries going and wishful elk coming home.
Armored farmer
Member
We have hauled a weeks provisions into the Canadian outback many times. I believe the secret to be good insulation, open the drains, and keep the lids closed except to add ice. Of course we had our meat frozen solid when it was packed in coolers.
Another interesting thing is the way you family always packed produce for travel. In a sturdy cardboard box with the produce individually wrapped in newspaper. It travels well.
Another interesting thing is the way you family always packed produce for travel. In a sturdy cardboard box with the produce individually wrapped in newspaper. It travels well.
BOTTOMLANDS
Member
It`s probably different for every state but to bring meat back into Ark from any state it has to be deboned. In the case of the head, it has to be caped out and skull plate cut off with no brain matter attached.
It`s a 24hr drive to where my brother and I hunt in Wyo. For years we just kept the meat iced good for the trip but now we have a small freezer rigged up in our trailer to keep the meat froze.
It`s a 24hr drive to where my brother and I hunt in Wyo. For years we just kept the meat iced good for the trip but now we have a small freezer rigged up in our trailer to keep the meat froze.
JFrank
Member
I like the idea of a small freezer and a generator for Fishing trips or Hunting.
Easy peezie
Easy peezie
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