For those of you who cooler age deer. Do you bag the meat or leave loose, packed with ice? We just started doing this a few years ago and this year is the first we tried bagging it. Meat stayed nice and red as opposed to the ones we packed with ice, but I read that the moisture can cause the meat to spoil. I'm skeptical...anyone ever had that issue?
I’ve never done the cooler thing but I’ve always deboned and put in non scented garbage bags and put in refrigerator for no more than a week. Then I cut up and put in freezer. I’d rather do it this way.
I’ll keep my quartered up deer on ice in a cooler for at least 5 days, allowing the water to run off and out of the cooler. gets rid of a lot of excess blood and meat is just fine.
We've talked about buying an old refrigerator for deer camp just for that reason. We always run out of room.
Yep this is how we do it as well. Good cooler, drain open, and usually around 4-7 days. Sounds like you all dont bag it?
I debone it. Put in cooler of ice water. Soak it 3 days. Everyday drain the water and add water and ice. 4th day cut up and wrap it. Like to soak the blood out of it. Never had any problems keeping it this way. Been doing it for years.
My deer meat isn't ever touching water let alone soaking in it. I keep it cool and dry until I process it. Kinda like they do with beef............hint,hint. Do y'all think they soak your beef in water before its processed? Hell no.
They can do with Beef what they want. I have a Beef killed every year. I don't soak it either. But will soak my Deer meat.
I've started bagging the meat and then putting on ice. If I have time, I'll go ahead and vacuum seal and then put it on ice. I never had any issues putting the meat in the cooler on ice in the past. When I started bagging, then putting on ice to age, the meat seemed to be in better shape. Not that gray look. When I put it in ziplock bags, I don't want any additional moisture on the meat. If I can get the skin off, and hang the carcass over night, that's when I seem to have the best results. In the early season, if I see the deer go down, I'll go immediately to the deer and field dress it, get it to the house, and start getting the skin off.
