Meat Transport....Garbage bags?

[Mike7]

Stid -- interesting, that looks like it would be close to the same overall wt as putting a regular 33 gallon trash bag liner around a Kifaru meat baggie. I tried seam sealing my Kifaru meat baggie but found the trash bag liner to be necessary still to catch a little leaked blood.

 

[Wrongside]

We packed meat in contractor bags for years, back before we knew any better. Never lost meat or noticed weird tastes, but... Still not ideal and the chemicals are definitely not something I want my kids being exposed to. So now it's TAG bags and Kifaru Meat baggies inside light garbage bags. Much better!

 

[Stid2677]

The 55Liter OR bags also work great to keep meat dry while pack rafting. The meat can loaded lower in the raft were it is cooler and keeps the center of gravity lower also. I have found no other way to keep the meat dry while rafting in white water. The meat is removed and hung to dry as soon as we get off the water each day. We kept meat for 12 days this year on our float hunt, the meat was perfect and delicious at the end of our trip.

The dry bags can be seen clipped to the trekking poles.

 

[Ridge Ghost]

After the meat has cooled/crusted over, we place the breathable game bag inside the garbage bag for transport.

Aron, are you putting the game bags in regular trash bags or the heavier compactor type? I have been putting my gamebags directly in my pack, but I need a better system because my pack gets bloody and needs washing after every pack out.

 

[Lukem]

We packed meat in contractor bags for years, back before we knew any better. Never lost meat or noticed weird tastes, but... Still not ideal and the chemicals are definitely not something I want my kids being exposed to.

What chemicals are in unscented garbage bags?

I understand the cooling issues around plastic bags, but once that's taken care of what other issues are there?

I've found that garbage bags allow you to spread the meat out in the bag and still keep it clean, whether you lay it on the ground or use logs/branches, etc, to get air circulation around the bag. They do trap some heat, but get it spread out and I'd wager it cools as fast as a big ball of meat in a meat baggie, but then again, I've never used them.

Sorry, don't mean to add more "inexperienced" answers, but I'm trying to dig for reasons not to use trash bags. Really haven't seen any yet.

 

[Wrongside]

What chemicals are in unscented garbage bags?

I understand the cooling issues around plastic bags, but once that's taken care of what other issues are there?

I've found that garbage bags allow you to spread the meat out in the bag and still keep it clean, whether you lay it on the ground or use logs/branches, etc, to get air circulation around the bag. They do trap some heat, but get it spread out and I'd wager it cools as fast as a big ball of meat in a meat baggie, but then again, I've never used them.

Sorry, don't mean to add more "inexperienced" answers, but I'm trying to dig for reasons not to use trash bags. Really haven't seen any yet.

Lukem,

I didn't mean for that 'back before we knew better' to sound disrespectful or rude. I probably should have phrased it differently. My apologies if it comes across wrong.

Aside from the fact that they are not 'food grade plastics', it is my understanding that most/many garbage bags are treated with 'anti-odour' agents, whether scented or unscented, and are not recommended for contact with foods. This is all I can remember from when I researched this subject looking for answers and trying to decide if the 'real' game bags and baggies were worth the money. I believe the USDA site had some good information. I'll see if I can find you a link.

FWIW & IMO, cooling the game is super important no matter what it's being packed in. But, you're already well aware of that...

 

[Aron Snyder]

I use standard contractor bags (they have no scent/chemicals), or the Kifaru meat baggies.

The BOMB bag was designed around the Kifaru Meat Baggie, so the BOMB fits inside the K bag for transport.

Great discussion guys!

Lukem,

I didn't mean for that 'back before we knew better' to sound disrespectful or rude. I probably should have phrased it differently. My apologies if it comes across wrong.

Aside from the fact that they are not 'food grade plastics', it is my understanding that most/many garbage bags are treated with 'anti-odour' agents, whether scented or unscented, and are not recommended for contact with foods. This is all I can remember from when I researched this subject looking for answers and trying to decide if the 'real' game bags and baggies were worth the money. I believe the USDA site had some good information. I'll see if I can find you a link.

FWIW & IMO, cooling the game is super important no matter what it's being packed in. But, you're already well aware of that...

 

[Lukem]

Lukem,

I didn't mean for that 'back before we knew better' to sound disrespectful or rude. I probably should have phrased it differently. My apologies if it comes across wrong.

Aside from the fact that they are not 'food grade plastics', it is my understanding that most/many garbage bags are treated with 'anti-odour' agents, whether scented or unscented, and are not recommended for contact with foods. This is all I can remember from when I researched this subject looking for answers and trying to decide if the 'real' game bags and baggies were worth the money. I believe the USDA site had some good information. I'll see if I can find you a link.

FWIW & IMO, cooling the game is super important no matter what it's being packed in. But, you're already well aware of that...

No worries, I didn't take it that way. I've heard people say that trash bags are treated with something, but never seen any "official" evidence. I'd assume that many parts of home processing aren't necessarily "food grade". If there are chemicals in the bags, I'm sure that a meat/cheesecloth style bag isn't going to protect if you use trash bags as a bag liner. If I can find a legit reason to quit the garbage bags, I will, I have an 18 month old carnivore that loves venison.

 

[Stid2677]

I think there is MORE chance of chemical transfer from a pack than a trash bag.... Just saying.

Now the scented bags can transfer the scent they use to make the bags smell good.

 

[todd kelly]

Well, if were going to go down this road, I hope nobody use's teflon pans, use any plastic products to eat with or out of (BPA free or not), eat tinned food, fill your own gas, drink beer in tins, use deodorant with aluminum, ect, ect, ect..... Your exposing yourself to more harmful chemicals everyday, all day long than game meat is going to absorb in a couple of hours being in a game bag inside a garbage bag.

 

[Stid2677]

Well, if were going to go down this road, I hope nobody use's teflon pans, use any plastic products to eat with or out of (BPA free or not), eat tinned food, fill your own gas, drink beer in tins, use deodorant with aluminum, ect, ect, ect..... Your exposing yourself more to harmful chemicals everyday, all day long than game meat is going to absorb in a couple of hours being in a game bag inside a garbage bag.

I agree 100% don't over think it people.

 

[actionshooter]

I agree 100% don't over think it people.

That's how I see it....... Been using garbage bags for years with the old style game bags and now that I'm using TAGS bags, I'm going to keep using the garbage bags to keep the blood out of my pack.

 

[luke moffat]

Too lazy and read far to slowly to read the whole thread but this is what I do:

I've put meat in garbage bags in game bags up until 2012 when I swapped over to 55l OR dray bags...worked like a champ and havent' looked back. Just use them to keep your pack from getting completely bloody. Take them out of the garbage bags when not hauling the meat. Haven't had a problem one doing it like this.

 

[luke moffat]

The 55Liter OR bags also work great to keep meat dry while pack rafting. The meat can loaded lower in the raft were it is cooler and keeps the center of gravity lower also. I have found no other way to keep the meat dry while rafting in white water. The meat is removed and hung to dry as soon as we get off the water each day. We kept meat for 12 days this year on our float hunt, the meat was perfect and delicious at the end of our trip.

The dry bags can be seen clipped to the trekking poles.

Yep for some reasons the OR bags you bought after seeing mine in action after that trip don't seem as robust as the ones I got. Wish STP would put the ones I got for sale again. $8 for each 55 Liter dry bag that holds up to hauling meat is pretty sweet!

 

[Stid2677]

Yep for some reasons the OR bags you bought after seeing mine in action after that trip don't seem as robust as the ones I got. Wish STP would put the ones I got for sale again. $8 for each 55 Liter dry bag that holds up to hauling meat is pretty sweet!

You may be right, but the one I had fail was my fault, shattered leg bone and I pulled it across some sharp shale and it cut when it rolled. But 8 bucks was about a 1/3 of what I had to pay. Keep your eye out and if you see that deal again buy me 3 and I will square you up. Handy just to use as dry bags,, go figure right.

 

[Becca]

Whether using trash bags or dry sacks, it's important to remember that they are usually not strong enough to support a full load of meat if picked up from the top. To prevent blown out seams and rips or tears, it helps to support the bag from underneath when you pick it up. The purpose is a blood proof barrier to keep your pack cleaner on the trip out, and possibly keep the meat dry in very wet situations. A bag of any type with a hole or tear will defeat the purpose so treat them with care.

 

[Becca]

You may be right, but the one I had fail was my fault, shattered leg bone and I pulled it across some sharp shale and it cut when it rolled.

Reasonably sure I earned a little blame on that occasion, hard to butcher a critter that keeps rolling down the shale slope. In all honesty I am glad that dry bag was the only casualty our gear or persons encountered that evening, since we ended the butchering 20 feet lower than where we started

 

[William Hanson (live2hunt)]

We kept meat for 12 days this year on our float hunt, the meat was perfect and delicious at the end of our trip.



What was the weather like? 12 days seems like a lot without refrigeration.

 

[Stid2677]

What was the weather like? 12 days seems like a lot without refrigeration.

On this hunt we had a wide tempature range,, The key is to keep the meat cool during the heat of the day, in other words preserve the cooling it gets at night through out the day. Constant monitoring of core temp, while we did not have to submerge it in the river on this trip I have done so in the past (in waterproof bags no water contact). There is also areas of off ice that can be used as refrigeration as well. Normally 7 days is about as long as I keep meat in the field, this trip was longer and the last several days temps were below freezing.

In 10 years of remote hunting, I have never lost a scrap of meat.. and would call an end to the hunt if I ever thought my meat was in jeopardy.

Cool, clean and dry,, with good air flow.

A temp probe, really is key to long term meat care. This was taken the morning after the kill and was about 38 degrees until the temp dropped.

Meat was removed from Kifaru meat baggies and BOMB bags after being packed back to camp and swapped into fresh clean bags and changed and clean as needed. I tend to the meat several times a day to make sure that the sun has not got to it, no flies, etc....

 

[Wrongside]

No worries, I didn't take it that way. ... I have an 18 month old carnivore that loves venison.

Good. Little ones are a lot of fun. Fun to feed and hunt with as they grow! Some of my most memorable hunts are just antlerless or cow tags that were filled with my boys along.

Well, if were going to go down this road, I hope nobody use's teflon pans, use any plastic products to eat with or out of (BPA free or not), eat tinned food, fill your own gas, drink beer in tins, use deodorant with aluminum, ect, ect, ect..... Your exposing yourself to more harmful chemicals everyday, all day long than game meat is going to absorb in a couple of hours being in a game bag inside a garbage bag.

LoL! Definitely truth to what you say... I'd say it is a personal choice everyone has to make. We don't spend a lot of time worrying about it, but do do all we can to lower our exposure to uneseccary chemicals. Including avoiding almost everything you listed and then some... Me and my wife are kinda health nuts, I guess...

I'd go on, but don't want to derail Aron's thread or come across as preachy. It's all up to the individual and their priorities.