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How long before the meat spoils on cottontails and bushy tails?
#7150273
04/24/18 05:53 PM
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Joined: Apr 2018
Posts: 2
Herschelb
OP
Green Horn
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OP
Green Horn
Joined: Apr 2018
Posts: 2 |
Hi everyone,
I have been doing a bit of rabbit and squirrel hunting lately, and haven't had any success as of yet, but before I do I have a question:
How long can you wait to field dress them before they meat spoils? Also, if you field dress them right away, how long will they keep in the game bag? I'm just concerned that if I get lucky and shoot one early, it will spoil while I'm looking for the next target.
Any insight would be awesome.
Thanks, HB
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Re: How long before the meat spoils on cottontails and bushy tails?
[Re: Herschelb]
#7150695
04/24/18 11:46 PM
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Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 11,657
colt45-90
Texas colt45
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Texas colt45
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 11,657 |
has to do with temps, warmer days I always had a cooler with ice on hand
hold on Newt, we got a runaway
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Re: How long before the meat spoils on cottontails and bushy tails?
[Re: Herschelb]
#7151141
04/25/18 12:52 PM
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Joined: Apr 2018
Posts: 2
Herschelb
OP
Green Horn
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OP
Green Horn
Joined: Apr 2018
Posts: 2 |
I understand that the fight against spoilage is won by cooling the meat. I suppose I'm trying to figure out if I have to run back to the truck after every kill, or can I continue my hunt for a couple hours. The distance from where I park and where I hunt can be a 30 minute hike. Not that it's a long way, but seems inefficient. Just trying to understand the best strategy or method.
Thanks, HB
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Re: How long before the meat spoils on cottontails and bushy tails?
[Re: Herschelb]
#7151409
04/25/18 03:38 PM
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Joined: May 2011
Posts: 8,239
Double Naught Spy
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 8,239 |
Okay, carry in a small cooler. Problem solved.
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Re: How long before the meat spoils on cottontails and bushy tails?
[Re: Herschelb]
#7151782
04/25/18 07:55 PM
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Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 359
soonerdg
Bird Dog
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Bird Dog
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 359 |
On small game I don't think this is that much of an issue. Small game doesn't retain nearly the body heat that big game does. They cool down fairly quickly once they're killed. I generally clean squirrels when I'm done hunting.
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Re: How long before the meat spoils on cottontails and bushy tails?
[Re: Herschelb]
#7151814
04/25/18 08:15 PM
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Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 521
ronlhodges
Tracker
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Tracker
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 521 |
Here’s a better problem solver . Go to walmart and buy a medium ice pack just like the one i linked to . Freeze it hard then place in a small cooler out to your hunt site then you should be wearing a game vest like you do for dove hunt . Put the ice pack in the back pouch where you would carry your gutted rabit . It will stay frozen for several hours and keep your game cooled down . Only weights little over a pound . I’ve used one for years . https://www.walmart.com/ip/Freez-Pak-Icicle-Resuable-Ice/44692372
Last edited by ronlhodges; 04/25/18 08:16 PM.
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Re: How long before the meat spoils on cottontails and bushy tails?
[Re: Herschelb]
#7152332
04/26/18 05:07 AM
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Joined: May 2011
Posts: 28,031
skinnerback
THF Celebrity Chef
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THF Celebrity Chef
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 28,031 |
I've never used a game bag, but my advice is just gut them when you leave your hunting area. It only takes a minute. When I was young I carried every rabbit I shot in one hand, gun in the other. When I saw another rabbit I dropped the dead ones and shot another. You can also use small rope or twine to string them up and put over your shoulder after gutting, like a stringer. With rabbits (cottontails) I like to get the guts out within 30 minutes. The meat will be good for several hours and then some even when it's hot. Our ancestors didn't have coolers and ice and often walked a long way for meat. I love rabbit hunting still, just get the guts out soon because rabbit guts stink worse than a boar hog.
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Re: How long before the meat spoils on cottontails and bushy tails?
[Re: Herschelb]
#7154224
04/28/18 05:36 PM
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Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 134
chesterc
Woodsman
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Woodsman
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 134 |
Check out this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q7trIwVMYZA This fella guts his rabbits by giving them an almighty squeeze. The guts just pop out the back. I'd say, do that when you retrieve your bunny, then put it in your game bag/vest/etc and keep hunting. Skin them when you get back to your vehicle. Watch out for the outrageous accent.
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Re: How long before the meat spoils on cottontails and bushy tails?
[Re: Herschelb]
#7155105
04/30/18 12:09 AM
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Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 110,795
dogcatcher
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 110,795 |
We save 12oz and 16oz soft drink bottles, rinse and fill with water, then freeze. When ready to hunt fill a cooler with the bottles, it only takes a minute to gut and skin a rabbit, they go in another cooler with frozen bottles. A trick to keeping a clean cooler, get kitchen size trash can heavy duty bags. Put one in your cooler and the gutted rabbit goes in the bag, bottles on the bottom of the cooler and on top of the trash bag.
Combat Infantryman, the ultimate hunter where the prey shoots back. _____________"Illegitimus non carborundum est"_______________
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Re: How long before the meat spoils on cottontails and bushy tails?
[Re: dogcatcher]
#7155293
04/30/18 05:43 AM
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Joined: May 2011
Posts: 28,031
skinnerback
THF Celebrity Chef
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THF Celebrity Chef
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 28,031 |
We save 12oz and 16oz soft drink bottles, rinse and fill with water, then freeze. When ready to hunt fill a cooler with the bottles, it only takes a minute to gut and skin a rabbit, they go in another cooler with frozen bottles. A trick to keeping a clean cooler, get kitchen size trash can heavy duty bags. Put one in your cooler and the gutted rabbit goes in the bag, bottles on the bottom of the cooler and on top of the trash bag. Did that for many years DC. Many saltwater fish died on frozen bottles. My Dad hated buying ice, so we froze bottles and used them like crazy.
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Re: How long before the meat spoils on cottontails and bushy tails?
[Re: dogcatcher]
#7157005
05/01/18 09:47 PM
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Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 235
ChrisG
Woodsman
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Woodsman
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 235 |
We save 12oz and 16oz soft drink bottles, rinse and fill with water, then freeze. When ready to hunt fill a cooler with the bottles, it only takes a minute to gut and skin a rabbit, they go in another cooler with frozen bottles. A trick to keeping a clean cooler, get kitchen size trash can heavy duty bags. Put one in your cooler and the gutted rabbit goes in the bag, bottles on the bottom of the cooler and on top of the trash bag. Just double check that they are not the scented ones. Don't ask me how I know.
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Re: How long before the meat spoils on cottontails and bushy tails?
[Re: ChrisG]
#7160823
05/05/18 03:35 AM
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Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 110,795
dogcatcher
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 110,795 |
We save 12oz and 16oz soft drink bottles, rinse and fill with water, then freeze. When ready to hunt fill a cooler with the bottles, it only takes a minute to gut and skin a rabbit, they go in another cooler with frozen bottles. A trick to keeping a clean cooler, get kitchen size trash can heavy duty bags. Put one in your cooler and the gutted rabbit goes in the bag, bottles on the bottom of the cooler and on top of the trash bag. Just double check that they are not the scented ones. Don't ask me how I know. I am too and cheap to buy scented trash bags.
Combat Infantryman, the ultimate hunter where the prey shoots back. _____________"Illegitimus non carborundum est"_______________
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Re: How long before the meat spoils on cottontails and bushy tails?
[Re: Herschelb]
#7168376
05/13/18 10:45 AM
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Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 2,708
pigplinker
Veteran Tracker
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Veteran Tracker
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 2,708 |
There are several soft sided lunch/cooler bags that would fit into your game bag. Use the ideas of frozen water bottles with maybe some gallon ziplock bags to put squirrels and rabbits into. Lots of good advise posted here. Good luck.
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