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What do people do to ensure you're not losing meat to spoilage during warmer weather moose hunts?
We have an archery tag for section 48, first week of October. It could be cool, or really warm. We want to make sure we're set up and ready to go to make sure we don't have the meat spoil if we get a moose, so I'd love to hear thoughts, systems etc that people are using in similar situations.
Cheers
Smitty
Last year,the next door neighbor's crew hunted in Wawa during the warmest Moose hunt in decades. Thinking ahead,they put a used freezer and a generator on a trailer to store their meat until they could get it to a butcher. You're in Caesarea and Paddy's Market has lots of used fridges and freezers. Good luck.
A freezer is the way to go unless you can get your animal to a cooler a couple hours or so after the kill.
You don’t have to run it continually. Ours runs for three or four hours each night while the gen is running for lights. Keep it in the shade and cover it up with a tarp any you are good to go !
Yup old chest freezer. Just make sure to plug in for a week before you leave so it’s plenty frozen load all food that need to be cold. Don’t plug in for at least six hours after arriving to allow Freon to settle
Freezer and genny best way to go.
Good ideas so far. In extremely hot weather just make sure you don’t shoot your Moose in a very bad area a long ways from your freezer. When it’s too hot, I personally don’t bother hunting. I seen too many Moose rot before it got in the freezer. IMO Good Luck
Thanks for the advice guys.
Smitty
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Freezer with a genny.
Cut your trip short if its hot. Ive heard of guys who shot a moose early in the week but didnt want to go home early because its "the only week away from the wife and kids all year...". Well, have some respect for the animal and do whats right.
Treat the animal right on the way home. Nothing makes my blood boil like seeing a bull moose strapped to flatbed uncovered in 28C weather buzzing down the highway.
I agree with not shooting anything in hot weather. The butcher won't take it if the meat is to warm. I have had to let two moose walk in 70 degree weather knowing i couldn't clean it or chill it before the flies got it. This is the price you pay for wanting to be there before anyone else and hunting in warm weather. It's to warm in most of October now, Global warming is a real thing. Just because Trump says it isn't, anyone who hunted in the 80's knows the Ice would freeze after thanks giving. It's a month later now. If the flies are out, you are doomed.
I’m finally getting around to build my 10’x12’ cold storage. Insulation R30-R 40on all sides and ceilings. E/l hoist to skin and butcher bears. I’m going to tile inside.
More detail on the cold storage please..
So how it going down there? Are you now a bear guide. I quickly looked up the regs. Do non residents now need to enter a draw or did I misunderstand?
Did you ever get out to the Cains or Bartholomew rivers?
Hope you had a nice Summer down there.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Greenhorn
We started hunting Moose in our area (WMU50) in 1999 when we put our camp together. For the next 4 years,we were hunting in snow and freezing rain every year. That was the most productive time taking 7 bull Moose. The next 5 years saw the weather change gradually from cold rain to cool days still suitable for hanging Moose at the camp until we went home. During that time,we only got skunked twice as the weather got progressively warmer. We still managed to take 3 bulls and a bull calf. From the 2010 season,we found ourselves only needing light jackets until early morning when we peeled down to light jeans and t-shirts for most of the day. That's when the MNR started the tag cutbacks which really frustrated us because we were still seeing plenty of mature Bulls and Cows with calves. We took a few calves,but,quickly realized in the ensuing years the folly of taking out too much breeding stock. Moose populations plummeted from over-hunting calves,tick mortality (never had seen anything so devastating),Black Bear population had soared (eating everything in sight),adult tags suffered further cutbacks to today where they're almost non-existent,temperatures continued to go up (last two year we were swimming in the lake). Things have been definitely changing and not for the better. According to the Old Farmer's Almanac,that could suddenly revert this year with below normal temps and above normal s precipitation starting at the end of this month. We'll see if they're close to being right. It would be nice to sit on a Moose or Deer watch without getting eaten alive by bugs.Quote:
Originally Posted by Glen Murphy