August Antelope Meat Care

[kad11]

I will be archery antelope hunting for the first time in MT starting August 15th. The area I plan to hunt is about 3 hrs from home. I have a 150 qt cooler and can fill it with 5-10 frozen milk jugs/ 2L bottles.

I'm thinking of a couple different options for meat care:

Option 1: Gut antelope, pack it to the car, fill the body cavity with a frozen jug or 2L bottle, pack frozen jugs around the body, and then drive home. Seems like this option will provide the cleanest meat and allow me to save every scrap at the risk of the meat not cooling down enough on the car ride home.

Option 2: Use gutless method (remove hide and then quarters, backstraps, loins, neck/ rib meat) and pack out in game bags. I'll place the meat in the 150 qt cooler for the ride home. Seems like this option will allow the meat to cool very fast at the risk of getting it pretty dirty and/or not being able to salvage as much meat.

What do you guys think? Thanks!

 

[Jason Snyder]

It would depend on:

1) How far I killed it from the car
2) Time of day
3) How hot it was

You'll lose some meat to trimming if you do the gutless, but if you do it right and are meticulous about keeping it clean you aren't going to lose much.

 

[realunlucky]

I've done both and will be using the gutless debone method in Wyoming this year. We have kept deboned antelope in trash bags on ice for multiple days waiting for each other to tag out.

 

[kad11]

Thanks for the input so far; how do you guys keep blowing dust and grit off the meat when you are breaking it down in the field? The two animals I've taken were in cold temps and snow so I didn't have to worry about the heat, wind-blown dirt, flies, etc... I don't have much experience working on animals so I just want to make sure I have a good game plan before letting an arrow go.

 

[wapitibob]

I do gutless, quarter and bag on the spot, pack all of it to the truck and toss it in a 120qt cooler that has a bag or two of ice in it. Stop at the store for more ice, maybe take a nap and repeat.
I don't worry about dust or dirt. I fillet off the outer rind of the muscles after i separate them when cutting it up after I get home.

 

[realunlucky]

It's best to cut with the grain of the hair otherwise antelope hair will be floating in the air all around you. I've never had dust be a problem the ground for the most part has a crust to help keep it from blowing away. Bugs could be a problem just work quickly breaking it down and get the meat into game bags and cooling down.

 

[NVCHUKAR]

I will be archery antelope hunting for the first time in MT starting August 15th. The area I plan to hunt is about 3 hrs from home. I have a 150 qt cooler and can fill it with 5-10 frozen milk jugs/ 2L bottles.

I'm thinking of a couple different options for meat care:

Option 1: Gut antelope, pack it to the car, fill the body cavity with a frozen jug or 2L bottle, pack frozen jugs around the body, and then drive home. Seems like this option will provide the cleanest meat and allow me to save every scrap at the risk of the meat not cooling down enough on the car ride home.


What do you guys think? Thanks!

Get the hide off and wash all hair off meat before you pack with jugs on option 1, I have done 2 antelope that way and my dad has done over 10. All the meat was in excelent shape.

 

[arffdog875]

I do the gutless method, quarter it, cape it and get it on ice. I carry 5 gal of water to get the bulk of hair off the meat. I generally wash the meat again when I get home too. I know of guys that drive around all day with a gutted goat in the back of their truck, but I save myself and don't ever go to their BBQ's! When you can smell them pulling up, it is not good!