How do you cool down a deer?
7 min read
Asked by: Jackie Richardson
A whitetail can cool down two ways – through their mouth or ears. Panting, similar to a dog, will allow some heat to escape through a deer’s mouth. The photo I took yesterday shows the veins in the ears as well as how the backs of the ears are hairless in summer.
How do you put a deer on ice?
Frozen soda bottles of water in the bottom of the cooler, then meat, then bottles, then meat, then ice on top. When it’s cool out, I can usually go 3-4 days without adding ice again. Almost foolproof. Keeping the drain open, and keeping air between everything is the key.
What’s the warmest temperature you can hang a deer?
An optimal temperature to hang deer meat at should be temperature above freezing but below 40 degrees F. Many people let the deer hang in their garage, but this far from the proper conditions because of contaminants, pests and temperature fluctuations that come with an uncontrolled environment such as this.
How do you age deer meat without a walk in cooler?
A spare refrigerator is excellent for aging venison. Remove its racks and hang the meat so it doesn’t touch a contaminated surface. That precaution reduces the chances of bacteria growth. Refrigerators provide a controlled environment, so you can age your meat much longer than what’s possible in open air.
How do you keep deer cool overnight?
Keep the carcass out of sunlight and allow for adequate air circulation. Do not tie the deer across the hood or roof of a car or place it in a car trunk where warmer temperatures promote bacterial growth. Use a cooler filled with ice or dry ice to store cut meat.
Will a deer spoil at 50 degrees?
If the air temperature is 50 degrees, we have three to six hours to recover a deer after it dies. If the temperature is higher, or the animal has elevated its temperature by running hard, then the safe time available for recovery is shorter.
How long can a deer hang in 40 degree weather?
I know some beef is hanging for 40 days in a properly chilled coolers. If you are below 40 degrees you are fine IMHO for as long as you might want. Had a buddy hang one for several weeks at about 32 degrees and it was just fine. PS: Don’t want to freeze because then you have to thaw before butchering PITA.
How long will a deer stay good in 40 degree weather?
I work in food service and the rule of thumb is up to 4 hours between the temps of 40 and 140 degrees. Any more than that and you can call it coyote bait.. i think this is a good question, but how can you tell if it bad. i kill one it was 80º and my father inlaw told me in a hour the deer was no good.
Can you put ice in deer cavity?
If you choose to put ice in a deer’s body cavity to aid cooling, double-bag the ice so meltwater doesn’t leak onto the meat. Wetness breeds bacteria, and water leaches out blood and juices that make meat taste good.
How do you hang a deer in hot weather?
Hang the deer upside down, do not skin it the hide is an insulator, and put a couple of bags of ice inside the chest cavity. Wrap a belt or whatever around the deer to keep the ice secure and last of all wrap the entire animal with an old blanket or coats to insulate. It’ll keep at least 24 hours like this.
How do you pack a deer in a cooler?
How to properly store deer meat and avoid meat spoilage
- Keep the drain open. …
- If you have something you can put on the bottom of the cooler to keep the meat from touching the bottom, that is more ideal than just a layer of ice. …
- Layer first with ice, then place the meat directly on the ice.
How do you quarter a deer for a cooler?
So we just take the knife when we slide it right down the spine we're gonna feel we're gonna take the knife and feel the spine right next to it. And there's our back strap.
How long can you keep a deer in a cooler?
This allows any melted ice to drain from the cooler, keeping the meat relatively dry. As long as the ice is refreshed as needed, venison can be aged up to a week in this manner. For younger deer, two to three days is usually sufficient.
How long should you leave a deer on ice?
If you keep ice on it the meat will last 7 days easily, however I’ve seen meat sour if water is left on it that long. I wouldn’t be afraid of it as long as the water is kept drained.
How do you age deer meat in a cooler with ice?
Here’s the process
- Lay a thin layer of ice in your cooler. …
- Break down your game as you are familiar. …
- Rinse the meat of any dirt or field debris and lay the front quarters in the cooler. …
- Wait 7-10 days for the magic to happen while routinely checking the cooler(s) and topping off with ice as needed. …
- Butchering Day.
Do you soak deer meat in water?
It won’t hurt anything. Fresh deer meat can have blood in it, and by soaking a few hours or overnight in a solution like salt water or vinegar and water will remove much of the blood. After the soaking, empty the pan, rinse the meat then proceed.
Can you age deer meat in a refrigerator?
Place whole venison steak muscle on a non-reactive rack on a tray. Wrap or Bag Meat. Put into fridge. Wait 5-10 Days depending on personal preference.
Why is my deer meat slimy?
Your venison won’t feel fresh if you touch it. The deer meat will feel slimy and wet to the touch. While your venison should be damp, it should never be soggy or slippery. You may not be able to tell if your deer meat is spoiled by the touch if your venison has been frozen.
How long should a deer hang before butchering?
For most hunters, you should be able to safely allow your deer to hang for roughly 24 hours or so to allow for the rigor mortis process to take place. Once this time has passed you can then go ahead with your actions of processing and butchering of the deer meat to prepare it for the freezing, and long-term storage.
How can you tell if deer meat is spoiled?
Smell the venison. Good deer meat will smell gamey; spoiled deer meat will give of a sewage-like aroma.
Is deer meat healthy for you?
Enjoying your venison
Venison’s health benefits are many. For starters, it’s one of the leanest, heart-healthiest meats available — low in fat, high in protein and packed with zinc, haem iron, and vitamin B. It’s also economical. “If you get two deer a year, you have enough food for the entire year,” Czerwony says.
Will deer meat spoil overnight?
The longer a gut shot animal lays, the more likely it is to sour and spoil. They don’t have to be dead for this to occur. In my opinion, even cold weather will not salvage the meat of a gut shot critter. If it lives for more than four hours, the majority of the meat will be too raunchy to eat.
How long after a deer dies is the meat good?
If the temperature is warmer, and the area is not too humid or rainy, then you might have as long as 12 hours; anything past that and you’re pushing your luck significantly. If the temperature is cooler, then 24 hours is around the maximum amount of time you want to wait before the meat starts to spoil.
Why do you hang a deer after killing it?
Some hunters prefer to hang it head up, while others prefer to hang it head down. The key is to hang it, because this lets remaining blood drain out of the deer. Once the deer is hung, take a saw — preferably a hack saw — and cut through the deer’s ribs.
How long can a deer be left before gutting?
The old bowhunters’ rule is to wait eight to 12 hours before following a gut-shot deer. If you wait that long when it’s 50 degrees or above, your intentions may be good, but there’s a good chance you will lose that meat.
