Ithaca 37
New member
I've been in on enough elk kills to believe you're in big trouble if you kill an elk in weather over 65 degrees. I'm not saying it's not possible to kill one in weather warmer than that and keep the meat from spoiling, but you really have to be prepared to take care of it and you don't have any time to waste. I've seen big bulls that were left laying on frozen ground overnite with the hide on when the temperature was in the twenties and the next morning when we skinned the hindquarters the meat in the middle of the thickest part of the quarter laying on the ground was still warm. That was probably 14 hours after the bull was killed. In that situation you have to at least get the elk up off the ground so air can circulate under it, even if you just roll it onto some branches or logs. I always carry a hoist, saw and game bags so I can at least get the elk skinned if I have to leave it overnite.
What do you guys think the warmest temperatures are that you can hang an elk and not be having the meat going bad? What do you do to make sure your elk meat won't start to spoil? What temperature do you think you have to cool meat down to in order for it not to be spoiling? If the temp is 75 during the day and forty at nite how much time do you have?
What do you guys think the warmest temperatures are that you can hang an elk and not be having the meat going bad? What do you do to make sure your elk meat won't start to spoil? What temperature do you think you have to cool meat down to in order for it not to be spoiling? If the temp is 75 during the day and forty at nite how much time do you have?