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Thread: How do I keep grouse and other small game fresh in the field?

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jul 2014
    Posts
    3

    How do I keep grouse and other small game fresh in the field?

    I'm totally new to hunting so I apologize in advance if the answer to this is obvious..

    I'm wondering how to keep upland game birds from spoiling overnight in the field. Last weekend I bagged a few grouse with my .22 on my way home Sunday afternoon after spending a couple of days in the alpine. I was able to get the birds to the freezer that evening. I'm thinking that this weekend it'd be great to stay out overnight, and hunt both days, but the last thing I'd want would be to have birds from Saturday spoil before I could get them into the fridge or freezer Sunday night. Are there any special techniques for keeping the meat fresh? I guess I'd have the same question for hares and other small game like that.

    Thanks for any advice!

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  3. #2
    Join Date
    May 2008
    Location
    Losing something, somewhere!
    Posts
    2,342

    Re: How do I keep grouse and other small game fresh in the field?

    Breast them, Put them in a cooler with ice.
    If u are new hunting, you tube, "how to clean a grouse".

  4. #3
    Join Date
    Jan 2009
    Location
    Whonnock for 19 years, Mission for 46 years
    Posts
    4,720

    Re: How do I keep grouse and other small game fresh in the field?

    If you want to keep the bird intact for roasting etc, then gut them right away. Allow them to cool down, especially giving the chest cavity air for this purpose. Don't put them in a tight container such as a plastic bag until they're cold. Even leaving the guts in for half a day during the warm weather can sometimes lead to tainted meat. I just returned from 3 1/2 days and all my ducks and grouse are fine even though it was quite warm during the day.

  5. #4
    Join Date
    Mar 2004
    Location
    N. Okanagan
    Posts
    14,182

    Re: How do I keep grouse and other small game fresh in the field?

    Breast them or eviscerate , leave the mandatory wing on , ziplock bag , put in a cooler with ice block
    Never say whoa in the middle of a mud hole

  6. #5
    Join Date
    May 2011
    Location
    Langley
    Posts
    1,556

    Re: How do I keep grouse and other small game fresh in the field?

    I was going to say cooler and ice but that's already been said

  7. #6
    Join Date
    Mar 2005
    Location
    Coquitlam: But hunt region 3
    Posts
    1,828

    Re: How do I keep grouse and other small game fresh in the field?

    I always have zip lock bags in my pack, clean em, zip em and put them in the cooler
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  8. #7
    Join Date
    Dec 2010
    Posts
    3,090

    Re: How do I keep grouse and other small game fresh in the field?

    if ya not having a cooler.....old sea salting system works too..of coarse ..cleaning--and cooling first..and no plastic bag,,newspaper is waay better..sucks blood toof-g

  9. #8
    Join Date
    Jul 2014
    Posts
    3

    Re: How do I keep grouse and other small game fresh in the field?

    Since I spend most of my time in the bush backpacking I'd rather go cooler-less. Would you agree that it's okay to skin and eviscerate them and keep them in a cloth bag for a day or two without them going bad?

  10. #9
    Join Date
    Sep 2014
    Location
    Whiterock
    Posts
    52

    Re: How do I keep grouse and other small game fresh in the field?

    Clean and eat em hahah you cool all your meat soon as possible, and obviously not soak it in water

  11. #10
    Join Date
    Dec 2008
    Posts
    726

    Re: How do I keep grouse and other small game fresh in the field?

    Assuming your Hunting the alpine you wont have a cooler. Shoot Saturdays supper and on Sunday carry them out and put on ice as the others have said.

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