Backcountry Hunters- What do you usually do to keep blood from soaking into your pack?

[PZaha]

When you're packing meat out, what do you usually do to keep blood from soaking into your pack?

Contractor bags? Something else?

Trying to learn what people are doing during pack-outs.

 

[BowBaboon]

Nothing. A contractor bag would keep the meat from fresh air and lead to quicker spoilage.

If the stains bother you, throw the bag in the shower and scrub away with a short bristle brush. I did that with my first pack but now I just let it ride like a badge of honor.

 

[rayporter]

a few stains are a badge of honor.

 

[Big Sky Guy]

If you let the meat hang or sit for a bit it pretty quickly crusts over, even when in quality game bags. Usually by the time I'm done quartering the parts I did first have crusted over enough. I just choose the side of the bag a bit carefully and try to not have wet fresh blood bags touching the pack. Still happens and then I just rinse off with cold water. I'm probably just paranoid about a Griz smelling the blood and coming to check it out.

 

[Mule3006Elk]

Wash bag when season is over. I don't use plastic bags ect. Game bags only. I want the meat to cool off asap.

 

[deadend88]

I use this stuff, works great. what it doesn't get out, I let roll as badge of honor.

Velvet Antler Technologies | StainSkrub - Enzymatic Blood Remover

StainSkrub premier stain and blood remover for hides, packs, clothing, game bags, etc. Its proprietary blend of enzymes rapidly converts stains into water-soluble byproducts easily washed away! No stains, no mess!

www.velvetantlertechnologies.com

 

[rogerdoger]

I use a contractor bag and make sure I take the meat out as soon as I get back to camp. I have not done this in really warm temps, only temps up to the 60's. As big sky guy mentioned my concern is blood soaked bag in grizz country, especially when I have more nights backpacking.

 

[Wirrex]

I have cleaned up completely blood soaked bags by simply using hydrogen peroxide. It works incredibly well and cheap.

 

[MuleyFever]

Meat in bag then use the washing machine, because that's what it's for.

I have used a contractor bag when I knew the meat would only be in the pack for 20 minutes or so then straight into a cooler. But I'm not putting warm meat in a contractor bag for a long pack out unless it hung and is cooled off.

 

[Wapiti151]

Don’t, let air get to it the best you can…it’s gonna be bloody, period. End of season, take a Costco tub and fill it with cold water and dawn…soak it for a day, agitate, repeat and scrub with a brush. Soak some more, rinse and hang. Comes out perfectly clean every time.

 

[JREG19]

I just wash mine with soap and water. It's easy.

 

[CMF]

I put meat in game bags and lay them out to cool while processing, but we usually throw the meat(still in game bag) into a standard kitchen trash bag to help keep the pack clean. A couple hour pack out will be fine in a trash bag. It comes out of trash bag as soon as we get to truck and into the cooler.
It might not breathe well, but a trashbag is certainly no insulator and not going to reduce cooling much.
Sandwiching a game bag with a pack full of clothes would do more to insulate and reduce cooling.
Might do something different if it's warm or pack out is super long.
More often than not we're trying to fill multiple tags and don't want to waste time washing and drying packs or hunting with blood soaked packs.

 

[Deerhunter6250]

I put meat in game bags and lay them out to cool while processing, but we usually throw the meat(still in game bag) into a standard kitchen trash bag to help keep the pack clean. A couple hour pack out will be fine in a trash bag. It comes out of trash bag as soon as we get to truck and into the cooler.
It might not breathe well, but a trashbag is certainly no insulator and not going to reduce cooling much.
Sandwiching a game bag with a pack full of clothes would do more to insulate and reduce cooling.
Might do something different if it's warm or pack out is super long.
More often than not we're trying to fill multiple tags and don't want to waste time washing and drying packs or hunting with blood soaked packs.

Couldn't agree more also use the plastic bag as a quick raincoat for rain showers and to cover my pack at night in case of rain when I'm at a spike camp.

 

[LongWayAround]

My buddy does the taco method with a contractor bag. It works really well and you still have a contractor bag that is clean inside.

I don't think it really affects cooling because the meat is surrounded whether you have the plastic or not.

And no... It's not a sandwich.

 

[cheeks]

I usually put meat in game bags and let them cool for a bit and then I’ll put those inside an SG load cell bag, dry bag, or contractor bag for only as long as necessary and then get the meat out and cooling again.
As a guide you don’t always have time to wash and dry your pack in between hunts and it’s not much fun sleeping in a high density bear area with a bloody pack next to your tent. It’s worth the effort to keep your pack clean and keep the fresh blood scent away from your tents.

 

[Maverick1]

Hang quarters in tree. Inside breathable game bags to keep flys off.

For packing out: double bagged, clear contractor-grade bags.

At the vehicle: put inside cooler and on ice. The clear bag keeps the meat from getting water logged and ending up with an ice blood bath.

The meat will only be inside the clear bags for as long as the pack out takes, a couple of hours, won’t ruin any meat. Go on ice right away.

Keeps backpack and frame pack clean. No clean up needed.

No blood dripping down my legs, on my shorts, or into my boots, either.

Easy. Simple.

 

[43.6N]

When you're packing meat out, what do you usually do to keep blood from soaking into your pack?

Contractor bags? Something else?

Trying to learn what people are doing during pack-outs.

I simply accept the inevitable

 

[Fowl Play]

I don’t use bags or anything as it will prevent the meat from being able to cool on long pack outs. I dump peroxide directly on blood stains then. Soak my bag overnight in a strong mix of oxyclean. My exo looks brand new even after several hunts where it looked like a crime scene after.

 

[CMF]

Couldn't agree more also use the plastic bag as a quick raincoat for rain showers and to cover my pack at night in case of rain when I'm at a spike camp.

Always keep two. Can be used to keep feet dry when crossing a creek too!

as it will prevent the meat from being able to cool on long pack outs.

it will? Put a trash bag over your hand and submerge in a bucket of ice water and see how warm it keeps...

 

[Tradchef]

I use an old OR Durable DrySack in 35l only when meat is cool and I bone the quarters. But 99% of the time I do bone in, game bags only and don’t really care if I get blood on it in my pack. That’s what I got it for. They all wash out great and clothes do as well