Tips for Transporting Meat

[JimP]

A lot is going to depend on the size of the elk that you shoot. One bull that I shot gave me 360 lbs of boned out meat and that would of taken at least 2-3 120 qt coolers.

An average size elk you will need at least 1 120 qt cooler and two would be better. The processor will freeze the meat for you and if you don't get into that cooler from the time that you pack it to the time that you get home it should be fine. If it is a warmer drive home than you like you can also wrap the cooler up in a couple of sleeping bags. I used to transport frozen meat in a plastic garbage bag inside of a sleeping bag rated for a -20 and never did have a problem with it starting to thaw over a couple of days.

 

[buckbull]

I'm surprised about the amount of success using freezers. I did the chest freezer and generator thing in 2010 on a wyoming elk hunt. By the time we were ready to use the freezer the compressor had locked up from all the bouncing around it did. We unloaded when we got to camp so it was only back there for the minimum amount of time. It still worked great though because we bought blocks of dry ice and thru in there. It easily lasted the 2 day trip home. Another nice thing about the freezers is the dry lockable storage you have on your way out. I guess I was just unlucky.

 

[Idahobowhunter1]

I hunt out of state and I flown home with meat in coolers on numerous occasions. I use hard sided coolers, fill them with dry ice, duct tape and I have never had a problem. Meat has always stayed frozen solid.

 

[RICMIC]

I hunt out of state and I flown home with meat in coolers on numerous occasions. I use hard sided coolers, fill them with dry ice, duct tape and I have never had a problem. Meat has always stayed frozen solid.

I just got back from a long range fishing trip off Baja, and the airlines won't let you have dry ice in your checked luggage. We did have about 240# of processed, frozen fish in the "coolers" provided by the processors, and they were hard as rock frozen at the end of one long hot day. Out tickets allowed for two checked bags, each 50# max. We just had carry-ons, but if you wanted to haul more it was $75 each. I'm sure the airlines vary their pricing depending on your class of ticket. Ours was just a $12.50 upgrade, so it was worthwhile.

 

[wy-tex]

One thing to remember is to check your states game laws on bringing meat from a CWD state and area. Make sure your skull caps are legal for transport out of Wyoming.

 

[crazyaboutland]

do you know where you can look up all the specifics for traveling with meat? there must be a handy chart somewhere, right? lol