Large Critter Meat handling

tperry5

Member
Feb 27, 2014
66
0
Wyoming
Wanted to get some opinions/advice/tips on handling a large critter (bison)so to lose zero meat. My plan is to have the bison quartered and in meat bags hung in a tree and packed out hopefully within 12 hrs or less depending on a few factors. Im wondering if a plan like this will be enough to cool meat down and not to lose any meat getting it out soon after and if there are some tricks to making sure I don't lose any meat.
 

shootbrownelk

Veteran member
Apr 11, 2011
1,535
196
Wyoming
The best advice I can give you, is take many friends with you. It's a tough job, and you need to break it down as quickly as you can. Good luck.
 

tdcour

Veteran member
Feb 28, 2013
1,100
26
Central Kansas
How quickly will meat spoil if it is in 75-80 degree weather in the shade? I'm used to doing deer which can be handled with one person fairly easily.
 

RICMIC

Veteran member
Feb 21, 2012
2,016
1,796
Two Harbors, Minnesota
Gutting and skinning alone will be a huge chore, best done with the aide of horses or mules. Even hanging a quarter may require a block and tackle, or at least some strong rope and a pulley. I deboned a bison alone once, but the critter was hung on a meat pole (by a tractor) and had cooled all night. It was about 50 when I started and was warming fast. I got 603# of cut and wrapped meat off a 3 1/2 year old bull, and you will get WAY, WAY more than that off a mature bull. Here's where it would be prudent to line up the pros who have the equipment and the experience to help.
 

tdub24

Veteran member
Dec 15, 2011
1,331
559
Carlin, NV
How quickly will meat spoil if it is in 75-80 degree weather in the shade?
I had read that as long as the air temperature gets down to 65 degrees, the meat would be good for up to 3 days. If it gets down to 40 degrees at night, then the meat can be good up to a week. Assuming that you do have it in the shade. I have no idea on whether or not this is true, just read it in an article somewhere once.

I with all the others, bring a small army with you if possible.
 

tperry5

Member
Feb 27, 2014
66
0
Wyoming
Sounds like I might get some help on this hunt, that will be big. I do have a plan of using block and tackle to get meat into the trees, about the only way I can think to do it. I have someone setup to pack out my meat as soon as it's down, but I just want to take every measure I can to not lose any in the meantime.
 

tdub24

Veteran member
Dec 15, 2011
1,331
559
Carlin, NV
I think if you get the hide off as soon as possible, you should be just fine. It needs to air out immediately since the body heat can rise after death.