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How long to ice game? #6233886 03/23/16 04:21 PM
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I just shot an eland and have been icing and draining daily. How long do yall ice your game before processing?

Re: How long to ice game? [Re: Sq2 hunter] #6233900 03/23/16 04:33 PM
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I do till the melted water is clear, not pink. Don't know why, just the way I was taught.


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Re: How long to ice game? [Re: Sq2 hunter] #6233920 03/23/16 04:50 PM
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Usually 5 to 7 days. Depends on the size of the animal for me. This is for whitetail / axis.

Re: How long to ice game? [Re: Sq2 hunter] #6233950 03/23/16 05:11 PM
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A combination of the two ways mentioned above



Re: How long to ice game? [Re: Sq2 hunter] #6233985 03/23/16 05:32 PM
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This may sound weird but I always ice mine until I have time to process. I process myself. Typically I shoot something on a weekend and I will ice it until the next weekend. Sometimes it is less than that. So typically I go 5-7 days but Ive been known to ice for only 3.


Originally Posted By: Chief Joe
I avoid Dick's and hope they fold.
Re: How long to ice game? [Re: FoxTrot] #6234042 03/23/16 06:07 PM
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Originally Posted By: FoxTrot
This may sound weird but I always ice mine until I have time to process. I process myself. Typically I shoot something on a weekend and I will ice it until the next weekend. Sometimes it is less than that. So typically I go 5-7 days but Ive been known to ice for only 3.


Same. I did the two does I shot last season the next day, because that was the only chance I got. Surprisingly, I couldn't tell any difference in the meat quality. It may just be that they were young, and does.


The secret to a long life is to try not to shorten it.
Re: How long to ice game? [Re: Sq2 hunter] #6234061 03/23/16 06:23 PM
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Just long enough to take to the processor. I taste no difference between icing for 1 day vs. 4 days, which is the longest I've kept one on ice.

Re: How long to ice game? [Re: Sq2 hunter] #6234076 03/23/16 06:33 PM
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This is my take, ive been told im wrong but I disagree. I ice it till I can get it taken care of. Sometimes that means it sees no ice and goes directly into the freezer, sometimes I refrigerate it instead of icing it. Sometimes it will sit on ice a few days to as long as 2 weeks. I have never noticed a flavor or textural difference in any of it.

The meet looks pale on the outside but if you cut it open its still red. People do it because it makes them feel good. It may work good if you have some meat from a gutshot animal because the gut etc is on the outside of the meat, but other than that I see little reason to ice meat other than to keep it from spoiling. This theory of soaking meat isn't done with commercially produced meats and I would think that most would agree that commercially produced meats are superior to game meats, at least I sure know I rank a nicely marbles ribey over any cut of deer or feral hog.

Last edited by redchevy; 03/23/16 06:34 PM.

It's hell eatin em live
Re: How long to ice game? [Re: Sq2 hunter] #6234164 03/23/16 07:58 PM
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Until I get home from the lease

Re: How long to ice game? [Re: Sq2 hunter] #6234174 03/23/16 08:08 PM
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However long it takes to drive from the lease to the processor.


Re: How long to ice game? [Re: Sq2 hunter] #6234193 03/23/16 08:32 PM
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As some have said previously, just until I can get to it to process myself. Unlike others, I try not to let water touch the meat at all. I keep the meat elevated above the ice and periodically drain the water. I have kept meat in a cooler for a week like this and never had any issues with palatability.

Re: How long to ice game? [Re: TWarren] #6234383 03/23/16 10:59 PM
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Originally Posted By: TWarren
As some have said previously, just until I can get to it to process myself. Unlike others, I try not to let water touch the meat at all. I keep the meat elevated above the ice and periodically drain the water. I have kept meat in a cooler for a week like this and never had any issues with palatability.


yep, my dad was anal about not getting water on the meat.


"everyone that lives dies but not everyone who dies lived..."

~PMK~
Re: How long to ice game? [Re: Sq2 hunter] #6234392 03/23/16 11:04 PM
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I like my meat bloody, blood is juice and keeps it moist. I keep it on ice until it gets to its final destination. I taste no diffence between pulling the straps and eating them right away vs icing and taking it to a processor


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Re: How long to ice game? [Re: TWarren] #6234393 03/23/16 11:05 PM
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Originally Posted By: TWarren
As some have said previously, just until I can get to it to process myself. Unlike others, I try not to let water touch the meat at all. I keep the meat elevated above the ice and periodically drain the water. I have kept meat in a cooler for a week like this and never had any issues with palatability.


This ^^^


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Re: How long to ice game? [Re: Sq2 hunter] #6234457 03/23/16 11:43 PM
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Depends on my schedule. I don't mind letting it sit on top of ice for a week as long as I drain the bloody water out and continue to add more ice. Never had a problem.

Re: How long to ice game? [Re: Sq2 hunter] #6234517 03/24/16 12:39 AM
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The elk we have killed in Colorado were never cleaned out with snow. Skinned out and covered with game bag and let the blood crust over. My dad was like PMK's dad on this subject on deer and elk. rifle

Re: How long to ice game? [Re: Sq2 hunter] #6234881 03/24/16 10:54 AM
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As long as I have to. Up to 10 days if need be.


Originally Posted by unclebubba
Just to make sure that it is done thoroughly, I go both ways.

Re: How long to ice game? [Re: Sq2 hunter] #6235169 03/24/16 03:29 PM
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i have done it for up to 10 days but usually because I get busy and don't have time to butcher since I do it myself. I try to do 5-7 days but have gone up to 10 with no problem but I never let it sit in water. I just keep the plug open and tilt the cooler to allow water to drain and replenish ice daily.

Re: How long to ice game? [Re: Sq2 hunter] #6235176 03/24/16 03:32 PM
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If I leave it on ice I will pack the meat in ice open the drain plug and elevate the opposite end of the drain, put a brick under it etc. it will keep the water draining away from the meat.


It's hell eatin em live
Re: How long to ice game? [Re: Sq2 hunter] #6238374 03/27/16 11:44 PM
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Yeti Cooler..A week
Igloo..Couple days
Stop and Rob Styro...4 hrs max

banana


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Re: How long to ice game? [Re: Sq2 hunter] #6239068 03/28/16 04:53 PM
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I do not ice. The only water it sees is when I wash it out after skinning and gutting.

Re: How long to ice game? [Re: redchevy] #6239868 03/29/16 03:27 AM
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Originally Posted By: redchevy
If I leave it on ice I will pack the meat in ice open the drain plug and elevate the opposite end of the drain, put a brick under it etc. it will keep the water draining away from the meat.


This.

Usually do this for a full week.

Had a guy give us some backstrap two weeks ago. Once it thawed, I knew it hadn't been bled out as long as I do. Was a little more gamey smelling, and tasting, but we wore it out anyway! grill


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