Bird in cooler. How long?

[Paulmyr]

How long do you traveling hunters keep a fresh  killed bird in the cooler?

[joey46]

Too many variables.  There are cheap coolers and very expensive coolers.  There is hunting in Florida and hunting in Wyoming.  We've kept a few for up to four days buried in ice in a decent cooler.

[GobbleNut]

First of all, I agree with joey46 and highly recommend anybody going on extended trips where they will be relying on using a cooler get one of the more-expensive, well-insulated ice boxes.  The difference in how long ice will last in them is significant. 

I personally believe that as long as you have the bird well-iced, it will keep for as long as most of us will be on a hunting trip.  Obviously, keeping the bird/meat as cold as possible is the overriding factor.  If I am on a trip that is more than a few days long, I will cape my birds, bone the meat out, and then make sure the meat is consistently iced, and the cape is kept cold, as well. 

I think well-iced meat will keep at least a week and probably up to ten days, although if I knew I was going to be out on a trip that long, I would plan on cooking and eating that bird long before then. Now, if I couldn't keep the bird iced down, I would process it and cook/eat it within a day or two, especially in warm weather. 

If I was planning on keeping the cape for a mount or whatever, I would also have a box of borax on hand to preserve the skin (always have that on extended trips),...as well as proper knives and such to remove all the meat from the tail, wings, head, etc..   

[Paulmyr]

Thanks for the input guys. I have dailey access to and have kept it burried in ice. Just wondering as I was maybe planning to extend the trip for a few more days. In the past I was able to bring a small freezer for birds but don't have access to electricity this time.

[Old Gobbler]

How long do you traveling hunters keep a fresh  killed bird in the cooler?

if your unable to breast him out and take the thighs etc...gut him out and insert frozen water bottles in the chest cavity...bag of ice on each side of the chest and your good to go .... but its easier to just breast him out and take the thigh meat etc...imo

[falltoms]

A good cooler, Dry ice, can keep a good while

[Gooserbat]

Kill and grill.

[Crghss]

x2

I cook the meat then eat some while hot. Then the rest I make sandwiches, tacos or put in salads in the coming days.

[deerhunt1988]

I've kept breasts/thighs in cooler for 7-10 days multiple times and never had an issue. Make sure water stays off meat.

[Dtrkyman]

Agree with deerhunt, keep dry, I like wrapping tightly in Saran wrap which also keeps all air out as well.

[Wvdanimal]

Was somewhat concerned this year in s. Florida  when we killed 2 opening day and so much more stuff to do in the following week.  Meat was heavily iced for 7 days before hitting my freezer. No worries,  looked as good as when I put it in the cooler. Keep water drained off as it melted and always keep fresh ice all the way to the top.

[Paulmyr]

Thanks again guys. As I am by myself sleeping in the back of my suburban. I think the cooler is my best option. Thought about dry ice but decided against evaporating Co2 in the truck with me. Starting to look like I might not need to extend the trip with a little luck the next couple days

[turkeygod4]

I have a 2-3 week trip planned for May where I'll be hunting South Dakota and Wyoming. If I end up harvesting a good Merriam I'll want to have it mounted. So I picked up a 110qr Rtic cooler in the event that I need to keep one cold till I return home and can freeze it or send to taxidermist.

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