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.

 

[Gellar]

Jealous. I wish I had relevant experience to contribute.

 

[Bluffgruff]

Primal cuts and hauling it 25 hours home

Definitely take a 20-ish cubic foot. And I would try to avoid freezing the meat until you process it. Cold shortening and all

 

[ccc23454]

The biggest possible chest freezer that fits in your truck is the one to take! Meat is what it but if not formed for your freezer will take up excess room and then there's the hide, its big it's heavy and has to be taken care of to prevent slippage. Extra air flow in the freezer full of not solid frozen meat isnt a bad thing anyways. One other advantage of big freezer is keep some whole ribs. They are delicious and if done right your family looks like flintstones eating them (hysterical). FYI rent-a-center type places will rent you chest freezers by week, I have done it on hunts that took unexpected turns. Trash bags for skull and hide: don't need to freeze skull but protect and keep from developing odor. Have a plan for what your doing for both hide and skull when you get home ahead of time. Test your generator freezer combo make sure it powers it and dont use to small extension cord (gage not length). I honestly have no clue to what a ranch 2 year old is size wise so adapt accordingly, I am speaking from my experiance with a full grown 16.5 year old yellowstone bison. Have fun and enjoy the reward, good luck..

 

[ccc23454]

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.

I just re-read this and missed before previous response, short reply you HAVE TO DEBONE after a day in a walk in freezer the meat will still be warm. Those massive bones hold so much heat its crazy. Most of these ranch hunts have a processor standing by, even if you want to do final cuts yourself debone and get that thing cooling down.

 

[Wyoming270]

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

Your meat packer is screwing you. 250 just about fills a 14 cubic foot upright, if packed correctly for air flow to cool the meat.

 

[Steiny77]

I'm pretty sure a Buffalo will fit in a Cow sized freezer

 

[Bluffgruff]

Your meat packer is screwing you. 250 just about fills a 14 cubic foot upright, if packed correctly for air flow to cool the meat.

I process my own 100% and this was not a

Your meat packer is screwing you. 250 just about fills a 14 cubic foot upright, if packed correctly for air flow to cool the meat.

I cut and weigh my own. Ymmv.