how and where can I hang my own meat?

[hoochie]

as not to hijack in one of the other threads...

so some guys do their own cutting; where do you hang it?
suggestions for me?

And no, I'm not willing to spend 5K on one of those portable cooler locker things.

what temp does it need to be at?
The butcher told me that deer doesn't have to hang long, as its not beef, and doesn't need to hang to soften up. is this true?

[Salty]

I started out hanging deer in a shed at home for a week or so but have found no need. This year I just used the gutless method in the field and deboned the quarters at home it was all in the freezer around 3 hours after the shot.

[hoochie]

so it doesn't have to hang?

[tuner]

If you plan on devoting a lot of time and effort into processing your own meat a "coolbot" might be something to look into. It does a great job and it will come in at a fraction of a reefer type system.

[todbartell]

Coolbot works awesome! Check them out online

At a controlled +2 or 3C, I would hang up to a week. No longer. I wouldn't be afraid to butcher within hours of kill but that sounds like too much work for one day!

[tigrr]

No it doesn't need to hang. I don't hang pigs, bear, moose, deer and elk. I do hang beef because it is more tender after hanging. I do my own butchering now for the last 9 years. Same day shot and small game is in the freezer. Some big game takes 2 days to process. You can just drop the quarters in the freezer overnight to keep them cold. Then take them out 2 hours before you want to start cutting. Then throw them back into the freezer before grinding.

[Steeleco]

I use a freezer that can hang game until I get around to doing it, sometimes over a couple of nights. If your driving through my "hood" I'll gladly have a show and tell.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v305/steeleco/My%20pictures/IMG_3899.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/steeleco/media/My%20pictures/IMG_3899.jpg.html)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v305/steeleco/My%20pictures/IMG_3897.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/steeleco/media/My%20pictures/IMG_3897.jpg.html)

The box is a Johnson controls unit that can be set to start and stop the freezer at any temp you like.

[Smiley]

I just do exactly the same thing as Salty. Product is always premium. Island lads think alike!

[hoochie]

I use a freezer that can hang game until I get around to doing it, sometimes over a couple of nights. If your driving through my "hood" I'll gladly have a show and tell.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v305/steeleco/My%20pictures/IMG_3899.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/steeleco/media/My%20pictures/IMG_3899.jpg.html)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v305/steeleco/My%20pictures/IMG_3897.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/steeleco/media/My%20pictures/IMG_3897.jpg.html)

The box is a Johnson controls unit that can be set to start and stop the freezer at any temp you like.

now this has me interested! this would be a great project.

[KBC]

Hmmmm I was thinking about making a keezer but now I might have to make two. One for beer and one if I'm ever successful.

[brian]

I have one of those big marine coolers. I freeze a bunch of 4 liter milk jugs filled with water (lids still on) and lay the deer over top of them. I think it would be better to hang him but this seems to work fine. Usually we leave them in there a couple of days until we can get the time to butcher them (assuming its not hot out). If it was too hot then I'd butcher right away and use the cooler filled with with ice jugs just cool the carcass down. But I am really digging what Steeleco is doing there! I may have to look into that.

[Eastbranch]

I dont hang anything I kill. I try to get everything cut and wrapped and into the freezer within 48hrs. That said, if the temp is below 10C and reasonably dry, you can leave it in the garage for as long as you want.

[835]

i use the garage all year if i wack a september deer i butcher next day...november,,,, maybe 3-4 days..
but eventually i will build opne of them freezer things Steel co posted

[Salty]

so it doesn't have to hang?

No it doesn't. All hanging does is allow the meat to slowly rot (OK that's a strong term) but break down the meat fibres by aging a bit making it more tender. It has to be cold to do it safely. Hanging or aging would benefit an old tough bull moose or cattle, but isn't necessary at all or even beneficial most of the time IMO. Personal choice basically..

[Glenny]

This time of year? You kidding? Put in your shed. I live in an apt and de-bone and make room in the fridge. I could put it out on my balcony now and it would be fine.

[hoochie]

This time of year? You kidding? Put in your shed. I live in an apt and de-bone and make room in the fridge. I could put it out on my balcony now and it would be fine.

my deer hunting was done in October. Outside temps were very warm.

[Treed]

Tried an experiment last year. I aged half my deer for 7 days in the spare fridge and vacuum packed if. The other half I butchered in two days after the kill. We couldn't tell the difference- kids and wife. I think cooling the meat ASAP and then doing a good job cleaning it up is the key to good meat.

[Glenny]

my deer hunting was done in October. Outside temps were very warm.

I get that. I was able to put a fair size de-boned muley in the fridge and did the meat cutting trough the week. Not to many butchers have hang only but a few do. I suppose if you are out of town it could be a problem.

[urbanhermit]

I use a freezer that can hang game until I get around to doing it, sometimes over a couple of nights. If your driving through my "hood" I'll gladly have a show and tell.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v305/steeleco/My%20pictures/IMG_3899.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/steeleco/media/My%20pictures/IMG_3899.jpg.html)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v305/steeleco/My%20pictures/IMG_3897.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/steeleco/media/My%20pictures/IMG_3897.jpg.html)

The box is a Johnson controls unit that can be set to start and stop the freezer at any temp you like.


how about a little fan in there to circulate things? might cool something faster.

[Glenny]

Looks like there is a little fan in there.

[brian]

Look top corner in the wood. Fan! how cool!

[Steeleco]

Indeed, wired in so when the freezer goes into a cooling cycle, the fan comes on. On the near end that you can't see is a 3" hole that I can open or close as desired. 2 layers of patio screen, one inside, one out keeps the bugs at bay and lets the moisture out in the beginning of the hang.

I truthfully only hang for as long as it takes me to cut and wrap. It's seen quite a few animals in it's time even BigBore's entire Bison of a few years back. It was FULL!!

Each time I post the pics I like to give a member here credit for the idea. Don't recall his name, but the tip was all his, I just developed it over time.

Anyone local is always welcome to have a BS session here, lots I can share LOL

[HoundDog]

Smart setup Steeleco!
I have been under the impression that one should wait until rigamortis has passed. This takes 24 hours; is this misguided?

[Gateholio]

Smart setup Steeleco!
I have been under the impression that one should wait until rigamortis has passed. This takes 24 hours; is this misguided?

Takes UP TO 24 hours. Never cut meat before or during rigor.