Several times in the past I've experienced "muscle shortening" with venison back strap. This almost always occurred when I processed the deer quickly after killing it...maybe 10% to 20% of the time it would happen. On those occasions you get a back strap that is so tough that no human being could chew it fully.
Nowadays I hang the deer for a few days or weeks in the cooler and it's not a problem...however...this weekend I was hunting in a "walk in only area" and had no choice but to process the animal on the spot. I deboned it, put it in a meat pack and hiked it out. I got home tonight and those beautiful, thick, tender back straps had tightened up so much they looked flat when I took them from the cooler. Sure enough...they are so tough you'll never be able to quit chewing them.
For those of you who hunt areas where you have to pack your meat out on your back...how do you handle this?
Nowadays I hang the deer for a few days or weeks in the cooler and it's not a problem...however...this weekend I was hunting in a "walk in only area" and had no choice but to process the animal on the spot. I deboned it, put it in a meat pack and hiked it out. I got home tonight and those beautiful, thick, tender back straps had tightened up so much they looked flat when I took them from the cooler. Sure enough...they are so tough you'll never be able to quit chewing them.
For those of you who hunt areas where you have to pack your meat out on your back...how do you handle this?