How big of a cooler for elk?

[Knot Tellin]

I am headed to Colorado for an archery elk hunt. How big of a cooler do you recommend for a deboned elk?

 

[Jorgy]

Lunch box sized, then drop what doesn't fit in it at my house

I'm pretty sure mine are 48 quart sized, one scraggly bull or cow that I shoot will fill them with room for ice, but I have been eyeing a few bigger coolers but am too darn cheap to throw that money down on the new cooler tech.

 

[HighDesertSage]

I use 4 or 5 standard size coolers. If you only fill one or two up and can get to heavy for 1-2 guys to lift.

 

[Flatrock]

I'd say 100-125 quart for a boned out animal. 150 to be on the safe side.

 

[hank4elk]

I have 3 -120 qrt I use for gear,food and getting meat out.
2 work great with ice blocks,but I guess you could stuff a boned out one in a single cooler. I like cool air circulation around my meat.

 

[jzeck2]

No problem getting a frozen boned out elk in a 150, the problem you might have is if it isn't frozen already, you won't have much room for much ice. Stop at the nearest location you can find dry ice and throw in a couple blocks. If you throw in a couple news papers on top of the meat and the dry ice on the papers you should be good to go.

 

[bob peterson]

this big

I didn't debone fully, took a 100 and a 70 to hold a 6x6 and I think about 60# of ice. Cape etc. was wrapped up in a tarp and covered with a sleeping bag(and another 20# ice). This got me back to Wisconsin from Ten Sleep WY in very warm temps with no problem.

 

[Rooster52]

I am taking a Coleman 6 day 120 cooler out for my cow hunt,my son takes a 150 out for his bull. It took both to bring my moose home. Takes two people to handle them if they are full.I have used block ice and also dri ice.Either works but don't let the dri ice touch the meat.

 

[ccc23454]

150, pre-freeze some water jugs and if they thaw before you kill one you can use the water if not use to initially help cool meat.

C

 

[hank4elk]

I take the milk jugs of frozen water and my meals pre-cooked in frozen zip-locks,they last a week.

 

[Rooster52]

I take the milk jugs of frozen water and my meals pre-cooked in frozen zip-locks,they last a week.

We do the same thing. Frozen soups ,chilli ,stews.Frozen milk. Works great.

 

[Knot Tellin]

Thanks for the advise I will get a 120 and go from there.
Jorgy tell me where the are all hiding and we can work something out.

 

[dainer]

Has anyone used this Kooler gel stuff? I normally do the frozen bottles, but wanted to give this a shot to see if it works better. I understand you would lose the ability to use your ice as water.

http://www.amazon.com/Trophy-Bag-Kooler-KoolerGel-Reusable/dp/B005Z7YZA4