Packing An Animal Out

jpine · Aug 30, 2005

Am relatively new to the sight, have enjoyed all of the posts. If my son or I are fortunate enough to bag a mulie or antelope, I'm looking for advice on feild dressing and packing out an animal.

We've hunted whitetail all of our life...have been able to drag our game out, use an ATV, or get close. We butcher and take care of at home, we've always been able to hang the game prior to skinning.

Am looking for some tips/advice, we'll have a plastic tarp and plan to bone the loins, hind quarters and useable meat from shoulders. Bag in plastic and pack out. Any advice on method.....???

Additionally we hope to have the head of a decent Lope mounted, maybe one of the Mulies depending on size and success. Any advice on taking care of the cape and meat would be appreciated.

saminwy · Aug 30, 2005

dont bag in plastic, use something breathable. other than that, if you process your own meat, then you already know how to take an animal apart-its just a matter of making the peices small enough for the situation.

jakstr · Aug 30, 2005

buy a quickpacker, the best money I ever spent! takedown pack frame that weighs alittle over 2lbs. I carry it every where and use it every year... Its about 16" long and about 4x4 around. takes 5 minutes to put together.I have had about 90lbs on her and did great. Cross creek trading co. on the net. also I carry pillow sacks, cotton so they breathe.. Like the last guy said do not use plastic unless its below 30 degrees... learn how to cape your animal( have a taxidermist show you or get a tape)and remember... your cape is same as the meat. if one spoils the other probably did also... another thing watch the hair on those lopes it comes out real easy after a fresh kill... good luck hunting . I hope this helps, I hope you have a great time, hunting these animals new to you. jakstr

BCBOY · Aug 30, 2005

Here's a very detailed link that shows ya step by step how to get the animal from ground to pack.
http://www.ski-epic.com/hunting2003/field_dress_elk/

Here's another link along ths same idea.
http://home.att.net/~sajackson/guttless1.html

I personally go one step more by deboning my animals before the meat hits the pack. If you are used to cutting your own meat at home, it is basically the same but you are doing it in the bush instead.

Chef · Aug 30, 2005

That tarp is a good idea. Just be careful not to cut through it...I learnt the hard way. I agree, deboning is the way to go. I usually take a box of 1 gal. ziplock bags. I fill them with deboned meat, label (don't forget the marker) and arrange them into my packs. I take good care of the meat in the field that I just put the bags in the freezer when I get home. I clean off any dirt and hair when I defrost it anyway.

Chef
"I Love Animals...They're Delicious!"

cpugsie · Aug 30, 2005

I'm told that peppering the meat helps keep the flys off?? Has anyone tried this?

NVHUNTERER · Aug 30, 2005

WHEN I HAVE HAD TO HANG MY DEER FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS, I HAVE RUBBED IT DOWN WITH OLIVE OIL THEN PEPPERED IT WITH COURSE GROUND PEPPER THEN BAG IT WITH CHEESECLOTH TYPE DEER BAG ...NO FLIES...
THEN WIPED IT DOWN BEFORE TAKING TO PROCESSER.

4'X4' PIECES OF UNTREATED CANVAS WORK WELL FOR FIELD DRESSING, THEY KEEP THE DIRT OUT AND YOU CAN WRAP THE MEAT IT IT, THEN JUST WASH THE CANVAS AND USE AGAIN. AS SAID ABOVE COTTON PILLOW CASES WORK WELL ALSO....WASH ONCE WITHOUT SOAP OR SOFTENER FIRST.

GOOD LUCK
NVHUNTERER
CAN'T WAIT TILL NOV 1ST

IdahoMuley · Aug 31, 2005

i rub all my deer and elk down with a mixture of apple viniger and water. gets rid of flys and takes some of the gamey taste out of the meat
Muley Man!

Chef · Aug 31, 2005

Whatever you do, never put salt, sea salt, kosher salt, etc on the meat. I guess some people have figured, since they are putting on black pepper, might as well add salt too!

Do not do this. You dehydrate the meat.

Just FYI. Common sense to most of us. Although there are plenty newcomers to the sport, so I just wanted to throw this out there.

Chef
"I Love Animals...They're Delicious!"

jakstr · Aug 31, 2005

Alot of great ideas. just remember if you put in ziplocs make sure the meat has cooled some... a deer is about 102 degrees,body temp, loses about 3 deg. hour in avg. conditions(70)this is how game wardens see if your on the up and up. boning is probably the best way to go ,you throw the bone away anyways,(right) I grew up hunting warmer seasons, we used the vinegar and water then hung the rest of the day in a game bag.At night with a game bag on or off then stuffed in sleeping bag during the day to retain the cooler temp from the night.I hope this adds something,to the great addvice already handed out. good luck hunting.

jpine · Aug 31, 2005

Tx much for all the info, great sight, great people. Will post pics if we do any good!! Good luck and straight shooting.

lone_hunter · Sep 1, 2005

I am also new to packing out game, but It is the only way to go. I located a fairly good video on deboning game without gutting the animal right away. Here is a link http://www.highcountryhunting.com/home.php?UID=2005090108563769.2.249.66. The video(s) shows animals deboned in the field, and how to leave evidence of sex attached. One good tip that this has is using a meat hook to assist with deboning.

bowguy · Sep 2, 2005

Hey jpine,

You have the right idea. If you have your backpack with you it is easier. I satellite out with my fanny pack that opens to a day pack. This works great for Blacktail and I did bone a Mule deer in Nevada and fit all the meat in. It did tear some stiching and I had to repair it. You will end up tying things around the outside, so make sure your pack has loops or bring carabiners.
Take along cotton pillow cases they are cheap and work good. Most packs have a lining or the blood just washes out its worth it. Also if you do not have room you can bone the hams and leave the hock on and use your belt to hold them together over your shoulder. It is all hard work but part of the game if you want to get to the game and away from people.
I have included some images that show how the stuff packs up. Oh yea don't forget your bungie cords and cotton rope. And make sure you put colored ribbon on the antlers if you are rifle hunting.
Good luck.
Bowguy

jpine · Sep 2, 2005

Nice bow kill, great advice, will send pics if we do any good. Have done well over the years on whitetail....not quite like mulies or antelope. Will be great to see the country and hunt.

Thanks

horseshoe · Sep 2, 2005

Bowguy, you are a tough sonagun cause that load you got there aint conducive to comfort. That wieght is very low which is not the most efficient. Carry those big loads as high as you can. This is why a rigid pack is best for brutal loads.

bowguy · Sep 2, 2005

horseshoe,

You got it it. If I have to go far you can bet I get the load high. These ham were light you can cup them in your arms and take the weight off your neck. This method is for short trips 5 miles or less.
Oh yea, I am a tuff son of gun. Must be all the bears I pack out of the woods. I will probably pay whem I am older, but I due my best to make as few as possible trips.
Good luck,
Bowguy

horseshoe · Sep 2, 2005

LAST EDITED ON Sep-03-05 AT 01:02AM (MST)[p] bowguy, I have a friend that on short trips,5 miles or less, cuts deer in half,humps it up on his shoulder and packs it out whole,I would'nt last 5 minutes that way. This is how not to pack a moose hindquarter,or better put this is how tough guys do it. LOL Only a couple hundred meters .

craig_k · Sep 2, 2005

Get a couple disposable poncho's. The ones that are about 2"x3" folded up and cost less that $1. Before you start, cut them in half and you have a clean place to lay meat and tools you are using. Keeps the meat clean. Like said before, don't cover the meat with the plastic poncho, just lay it on it while you work. This has worked very well for me with deer and elk.