do you ice deer?

[texastrouthunte]

I learned to hunt from an ole' timer, and i guess it just kind of stuck with me that you are supposed to (after quartering) ice a deer down for a few days before freezing/eating. just wanted to know how yall usually do it? and does iceing make the meat taste better?

[Texifornia]

Ive always iced my deer as well and do believe it makes them taste better

[baldybarton]

We do!

[mhbaseball]

ice but keep the water drained out...the water will ruin the meat quickly if water floods the meat for a few days. Yes I like to drain all the blood and leave it on ice if possible for 2-3 days.

[Chunky]

Yes, always, ususally 3 or 4 days. The color is not as attractive (grey more than red) but I like the flavor much better and it seems to be more tender to me as well.

[buffalorider]

I ice mine for 3-4 days. If you have a walk in it's the same thing, just let it bleed for a few days.

Just make sure that you have a layer of ice between the pieces. They WILL spoil if they come in contact with another layer of meat.



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[WCB]

Aged meat is always the best. I don't have a cooler to hang them in for 10 days so I ice down a quartered animal and leave the drain plug open. Don't want them sitting in water, just kept cold. Keep adding ice as needed till it can be hung/kept in a cooler...
Ever hear of "aged" beef??? Yep!!

[TMC50]

Depends..... If we are in a hurry, not likely...

If we are hunting for
Weeks on end, yup

[Dusty8186]

i've always kept ice on it for a few days with the drain open to keep the water off and just keep adding about a bag of ice once a day

[froghunter]

yep, let it set for 3 days. then cut it up and bone it out.

[Miki]

Hanging meat is the best way. Most people that ice deer for days end up letting it sit in too much water. Thats what I have seen. Last year I seen a guy that adds slat to his WTH ?? Salt drys things out and makes it tuff?? An old frig works great just turn it way down.

[Smart]

I ice mine for 3-4 days. If you have a walk in it's the same thing, just let it bleed for a few days.

Just make sure that you have a layer of ice between the pieces. They WILL spoil if they come in contact with another layer of meat.



br

I am not saying this is wrong but as long as I keep ice on them and keep it closed while draining, I have never had any meat spoil sitting on top of or touching each other. I've had two full deer in a 120 quart cooler keeping it fresh with ice....5-7 days

[BIG IRON]

I try to do it for a week but have had them on ice as long as 14 days. It makes for a clean butcher. The last axis I did didn't leave a drop of blood on the table.

[Tubby]

Yup, as said above, keep the drain open, the opposite end slightly elevated and plenty of ice on it. I age mine for 7-10 days in ice. Every 3 days or so, I'll re-pack the ice under the meat to keep it from just sitting on the bottom of the cooler then cover again with ice.

[Peta-hata]

Yes up to 7 or more days sometimes. I may process a quarter a night just because of limited time. The meat is fine as long as you keep it iced and drained off.