Hot weather deer hunting...how to keep the meat good?

I am going to put in for archery tags in NV this year. The hunts are in August and that means lots of heat...mostly.

I'm not too concerned if a get my deer sometime near sunset since the air cools off quickly after sunset and if I'm at the elevations I should be, it'll get down right cold.

My concern is if I get my deer in the morning and am a good long ways from camp and coolers with ice! The heat comes on strong and fast when the sun comes up. How do I keep the meat from going bad while I try to pack/drag the deer out?

Maybe I just worry too much?

I'm definitely not an expert, but I grew-up hunting in Southern AZ. Hot weather hunting is definitely common here!

Again, not an expert opinion:

A) Skin that critter QUICK! Whether you use the gutless method or not, get the skin off ASAP!

B) If you are too far to drag/pack it quickly to your vehicle within in an hour or two and then to a hanging tree, then you should seriously consider quartering and de-boning ASAP!

C) No matter what you do (quarter/de-bone on the spot or drag it to your vehicle), get the guts out ASAP. Like as soon as you can when it hits the ground! Gut that sucker on the spot, unless you are using the gutless method, then do that quick! Getting the meat separated and away from the guts will help greatly!

D) Meat that is separated from the guts and bones will not spoil in just a couple of hours. Get the meat away from the guts soon, keep it CLEAN and get it into an ice chest as soon as possible and you'll be fine. (keep it dry)

E) Watch for flys! No matter which of the above options you go with, keep the flys away! If they get to the meat and lay eggs, you are in a world of a mess, IMO.

Bottom line is, if you keep it clean and away from the guts/flys, the meat is very un-likely to spoil within the first 12 hours (in fact, it might get some good 'aging' along the way). If you follow the rules AND get it cooling within 12-24 hours, you'll be fine.

Hunting in hot weather and keeping your game from spoiling can be done. You just need to follow the basic rules.

Good luck!

S.

+1 on what Stanley recommends. Get the game into some shade if possible and pick up some Alaska Game Bags used for elk/ They are a strong stretching mesh cloth and come in a 4 pack. Great for having in your backpack if you quarter or bone out your game.

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I would not bone out a deer unless you just had to. We hang deer in our garage when it is hot outside. In the morning we take them done, wrap them in tarps, & lay them on concrete until the evening. Usually around seven days, just when they start turning black in color, & a little fuzz on them. What a difference it makes. Sometimes you just have to bone them out, but what a difference in taste, if you can hang them.