Affordable cooler for a boned out elk?

[maine]

Going for my first elk hunt next year. Trying to save some costs where I can.

 

[Maverick1]

150 qt cooler. Igloo. Sam’s club. $89. I bought 3 of them about 15-20 years ago. Price then was $69. Have used extensively. Work great. (The big expensive one aren’t any better for my needs and only pay for marketing.). Have stored ice blocks in them for 2 weeks in hot western states (AZ and NM) with pink insulation and covered by a sleeping bag.

 

[PNWGATOR]

Your post count to get into the classifieds is almost there!!!!!

 

[Matt5266]

Walmart sells a coleman 150 quart cooler for about $100 . Lots online about modifying a cooler to help ice retention such as adding insulation and stuff. Might not be a bad option if you wanna keep it cheap. Wrapping your cooler in moving blankets or a sleeping bag helps alot too.

 

[maine]

Your post count to get into the classifieds is almost there!!!!!

Hahaha thanks man!! Trying to get a spotting scope and pack off of here lol. Don’t post much but I do like reading the threads on this site, it’s been very helpful

 

[6.5x284]

Look at CaterGator! I have a YETI and RTIC and the CaterGator 110 with free shipping is a crazy good deal. It’s really impressive for the cost. Same rotomolded cooler design as the big names. Far above something like an Igloo.


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[wapitibob]

buy it at walmart after you shoot one

 

[LongWayAround]

What Bob said.^

You will need more than one cooler.

 

[tkhuntsman]

Going for my first elk hunt next year. Trying to save some costs where I can.

Igloo with Ice keep it closed. It pretty much was the gold standard and worked for a long time and still does, before the $500 cooler craze.

 

[trophyhill]

I have igloos and Coleman. Both are better than the yeti I got rid of. When I say better I mean keep ice as long or longer and don't weigh half as much, and cost a third less or better

 

[jjohnsonElknewbie]

I took 2 Igloo 150s to MT in '21. The processed and vacuum sealed meat filled one and about 90% of the other one with ice.

 

[Jaredfox383]

I use a 150 Igloo with 5 or 6 frozen 1gal jugs. Works great

 

[Mtnmilsurp]

I’ve bought 3 165 qt coolers at Costco for less than $100 each and they’ve been great.

 

[Tman24]

One thing to keep in mind is that you might not be able to keep the cooler outside.
On a hunt in MT ranger came into our camp, she said we had to put the RTIC cooler in the truck because it’s not grizzly certified.

 

[maine]

Walmart sells a coleman 150 quart cooler for about $100 . Lots online about modifying a cooler to help ice retention such as adding insulation and stuff. Might not be a bad option if you wanna keep it cheap. Wrapping your cooler in moving blankets or a sleeping bag helps alot too.

That is really helpful thank you

I’ve bought 3 165 qt coolers at Costco for less than $100 each and they’ve been great.

definitely going to check out Costco thank you!

 

[pods8 (Rugged Stitching)]

My two $40-50ea (10yrs ago) Walmart Coleman 120qt coolers work just fine imho. If someone steals one it won’t sting much either. 120s will fit elk but are a lil short for bone in moose, but they may fit your vehicle better.

 

[kitandace77]

X2 on Catergator. Two 110qt prefilled with frozen milk jugs had over half the ice after 12 days of 80F highs, 40F lows.

 

[LostArra]

I have igloos and Coleman. Both are better than the yeti I got rid of. When I say better I mean keep ice as long or longer and don't weigh half as much, and cost a third less or better

I'll add to your list that the Igloo/Coleman Extremes have a smaller footprint in the truck bed compared to the same capacity with the rotos.

Pre-chilling any cooler with ice jugs and keeping the darn thing CLOSED after it's packed goes a long way to keeping meat cold.

 

[LostArra]

buy it at walmart after you shoot one

This works but depending on your location you can experience availability and price gouging issues. We've seen it firsthand in Cheyenne of course that may have just been for non-residents.

 

[rayporter]

take one with you and buy another if needed.

i have built one out of Styrofoam when we had 2 to get back. just add dry ice.