How big of freezer for a Buffalo

[johnnybow]

My significant other is going to hunt a 2 year old Buffalo bull this fall. I'm going along to watch and help butcher. I'm thinking a freezer in the bed of the truck hooked up to a generator to keep it frozen if the temps are warm. How big of a freezer do I need? Any suggestions? Thanks

 

[WildWill]

My dad shot one years ago. If memory serves it took most of a 20 cubic foot stand up to hold all of it.

 

[Nick87]

@ccc23454

 

[BAKPAKR]

@ccc23454

And, @Bluffgruff

 

[kwyeewyk]

My significant other is going to hunt a 2 year old Buffalo bull this fall. I'm going along to watch and help butcher. I'm thinking a freezer in the bed of the truck hooked up to a generator to keep it frozen if the temps are warm. How big of a freezer do I need? Any suggestions? Thanks

Will it be cut and wrapped when you put it in or trying to freeze as primal cuts, which take up more space?

 

[cgasner1]

This sounds like a trip where the people will have some pretty decent logistics figured out for you already. Unless it’s planned on having a huge day travel I’d just take it to whatever shop and let them handle it

 

[Bluffgruff]

350lbs of meat, finish cut and packaged, no fat added, will fill a 7 cubic foot chest freezer to the very top, if it was put in and allowed to settle together before freezing. I think that's what a 2 year old bull would come out to, but I'd give about 3 cubic feet for spare in case the tetris isn't as tight or the bull is a little bigger. If you have a 15 or 20, you would have more space for crates or boxes, hide, etc.

Just a thought, if cutting meat is your favorite thing, you have a place to hang things to cool, and you have the time, it's fine, but cutting up a bison yourself, even with help, is a monumental task. Done it 3 times now.

 

[mtmuley]

My significant other is going to hunt a 2 year old Buffalo bull this fall. I'm going along to watch and help butcher. I'm thinking a freezer in the bed of the truck hooked up to a generator to keep it frozen if the temps are warm. How big of a freezer do I need? Any suggestions? Thanks

I bet @BuzzH

is an expert about this. mtmuley

 

[johnnybow]

Will it be cut and wrapped when you put it in or trying to freeze as primal cuts, which take up more space?

Primal cuts and hauling it 25 hours home

 

[johnnybow]

350lbs of meat, finish cut and packaged, no fat added, will fill a 7 cubic foot chest freezer to the very top, if it was put in and allowed to settle together before freezing. I think that's what a 2 year old bull would come out to, but I'd give about 3 cubic feet for spare in case the tetris isn't as tight or the bull is a little bigger. If you have a 15 or 20, you would have more space for crates or boxes, hide, etc.

Just a thought, if cutting meat is your favorite thing, you have a place to hang things to cool, and you have the time, it's fine, but cutting up a bison yourself, even with help, is a monumental task. Done it 3 times now.

It will be hung and we will cut it into quarters and brought home before we process it. We have about a 25 hour drive.

 

[Clarq]

My significant other is going to hunt a 2 year old Buffalo bull this fall. I'm going along to watch and help butcher. I'm thinking a freezer in the bed of the truck hooked up to a generator to keep it frozen if the temps are warm. How big of a freezer do I need? Any suggestions? Thanks

My two-year-old bull from Custer State Park finished up at 330 lbs cut and wrapped and fit into roughly 7-8 cubic feet of cooler space. You probably ought to double that volume if you want to haul it bone-in and with the hide and/or skull tagging along.

I've always been a DIY big game processor, but I hired a butcher for that hunt and it was some of the best money I ever spent. I dropped it off Wednesday, spent two days doing touristy stuff around Mt. Rushmore with the family, then picked it up frozen Saturday morning and headed home.

Feel free to send me a message if you have any questions. Enjoy! The meat has been phenomenal. Two years later and I'm just about finished with mine.