WILD GAME Field Care - Tips Based on A Decade of Packing Out ELK MEAT

Cliff dives into the ins and outs of keeping elk and deer meat fresh in the field during hunting expeditions. In this episode, he shares personal anecdotes and valuable tips on how to handle and preserve game meat effectively. From dissipation of heat to minimizing contamination, you'll learn practical strategies to ensure your meat stays in top condition.

This conversation is particularly useful to elk hunters hunting in remote areas via backpack hunting or horse/mule pack-in trips.

00:00:00
A Story of Spoiling A Big Bull Elk
Cliff narrates an encounter with two backpack hunters in need of assistance after a challenging packout. He reflects on the importance of proper meat handling in the field.
"Sam slowly walks over from unsaddling a mule and he's standing there next to me. He just glances at this young guy and goes, "Son, are you going to eat those hooves?"

00:02:57
Dissipating Heat and Gutless Method
Cliff emphasizes the critical time around dissipating heat from freshly harvested game meat using the gutless method and a protocol around getting the meat cooling down quickly. He stresses the importance of quick action to prevent spoilage.
"If you do a few little things to dissipate the heat and then hang the meat the right way, you can come out of those mountains with a very good product 3-4 days later."

00:17:03
Choosing the Right Hanging Spot
Cliff discusses the importance of selecting an optimal location to hang meat, emphasizing the need to avoid sunlight exposure and prioritize cooler environments.
"Remember, don't hang the meat up in aspens. Aspens mean sunlight, and they don't have a canopy like conifers, so almost always they're a horrible spot to hang up meat."

00:21:36
Most Common Mistakes
Cliff shares tips on dissipating heat from freshly harvested game meat to prevent spoilage, emphasizing the significance of finding the animal quickly and starting the cooling process.
"Get to the animals as soon as possible. Push it a little bit. Your chances of not having spoilage, particularly on large big game animals like moose, big bears, and elk goes way down if you do."

00:33:08
Contamination Concerns
Cliff discusses the importance of minimizing contamination in game meat, highlighting the risks associated with hair, fecal material, and other sources of bacteria.
"Keep the hair away. If you never process your own game meat, you're always trying to keep as much meat on there, you're barely taking off bloodshot meat. That is the wrong approach."

00:35:02
Trimming Meat to Avoid Contamination
Cliff discusses the importance of trimming meat to prevent contamination, emphasizing the need to follow the muscle groups' seams for cleaner results.
"If you follow the seams of the muscle groups when boning out quarters, you'll end up with much more yield and a cleaner product."

00:39:35
Handling Moisture
Cliff provides advice on managing moisture when transporting game meat, suggesting methods to keep hides and capes cool without introducing excess humidity.
"If you follow these tips and tricks, I promise you, you're going to have very minimal problems. I had very little elk spoilage, almost none in all my guided camps."

#elk #deer #elkhunting #archery #fieldcraft #pursuitwithcliff
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