Pond Boss Forums GENERAL QUESTIONS Wildlife Management Opening Day!!

Tree Farmer, thanks for the recipes. I'll try them.

I feel the same as you do about leaving a deer in the woods overnight. I did that once, and while it was in the upper 20's, I will not do it again if I can help it.

I've antelope hunted in Wyoming (rifle) in upper 80's - lower 90's temps. The antelope was excellent table fare. We followed these steps. Don't shoot one that was running. Field dress ASAP. Put in truck, turn it so all 4 legs are in the air, then immediately fill the body cavity with ice cubes. Close up body cavity, cover with a tarp and beat feet for camp. Skin and butcher the antelope as soon as you get back to camp, putting the wrapped meat in the freezer or quartered in cloth sacks in coolers on top of a bed of ice in the cooler. If in a cooler, leave the bottom drain open so any bloody water will drain out. You don't want the meat sitting in ice water, nor do you want the meat in plastic bags. Cotton bags so any blood or fluids will drain away from the meat.