Meat coolers and accommodation in 5-12

[Shooter Jr.]

Hello again HBC, Looking for some helpful info.

I have been lucky enough to get drawn for a shared moose hunt in area 5-12B, so we will be headed up for our Oct 1-14th draw.
I have done some searching but haven't had too much luck finding any butchers, or meat coolers that will take wild game in. There must be some, but anahim lake is pretty small and google doesn't turn up much.. Does anyone know of any places remotely near Anahim lake that will take moose quarters (or even a deer) in to cool it? We've been drawn for two bull moose tags, and would like to have plans if we shoot one early into our hunt.

On another note, planning on camping out, but does anyone knows of any reasonable, hunter friendly lodges, or motels near there to stay in? We may pay for accommodation if we can get it at a fair price.
Thanks in advance!

Erik.

[Shooter]

Hahahaha.. Time to change your profile pic son!

[moosinaround]

You should be ok by October 1 to hang meat in a shaded timbered area. Proper field care, and cheese cloth quarters can hang well in shade! Good hunting to you! Moosin

[Shooter Jr.]

Hahahaha.. Time to change your profile pic son!

Just slightly outdated hey??:)

[Shooter Jr.]

You should be ok by October 1 to hang meat in a shaded timbered area. Proper field care, and cheese cloth quarters can hang well in shade! Good hunting to you! Moosin

Grizzlies and other bears are not too much of a concern when hanging game? Probably wanna keep it away from camp then wouldn't you? Please excuse my lack of moose camp experience haha.

[srupp]

Hmmm lots of fishing resorts, cabins near Anihim..Nimpo lake....dont know of anyplace to hang game out there last place heading west is just before Redstone reserve right on nwy 20..on left going out..its a huge meat cutting buissness. .would be worth checking out en route to your camp.lots of bears many would be the grizzlies...proper storage of meat would be the prudent thing to do 4 legged and 2 legged invaders.most all places wont hang meat if not getting the meat cutting buissness too..
Not the best area to be camping in by one s self..find a cabin..resort..lodge..lots out there.
Do not leave anything irreplaceable in vehicles or in camp.
Check at the cabins..resorts if they have meathanging shed...
Be careful out there.
Good hunting..
Steven

[AlexPdHJ]

Keep an eye out for Grizzlies. My Father in law got charged up there last October. Listen to Steven (srupp). His pointers landed me my first moose up there last fall. No draw for me this year unfortunately. We saw 2 Grizzlies, 3 black bear, and came out with our two moose and a whitetail buck.

[AlexPdHJ]

Whoops, I missed the whole point of this. No, we called every butcher on the list on HBC and none would hang out meat without getting the cutting business. We wanted to hang it in a cooler while meeting the wives and families for thanksgiving before going back home. We ended up having to drive down to the lower mainland to our butcher before driving back up to the cabin for thanksgiving. It was 20 degrees last October the day I dropped my moose. But that night it went down to about 2 degrees. We hung it in the shade and it cooled nicely and the nights were cool and the daytime only went up to about 12 degrees. We talked to our butcher and he said as long as it is cooled properly it should be fine to hang in the shade near a cool lake for quite a while. We still decided rather than to leave it for the long weekend in 20 degree heat that we'd drive home and drop it off at our butcher.

[AlexPdHJ]

Also, the day I dropped my moose in 20 degree heat the flies were unreal.

[Shooter Jr.]

Thanks for the advice Alex! Another question, is it not wise to get a local butcher to package it all up? Does it take too long and is it legal to transport wrapped and prepared animals? I'm trying to understand the regulations, but there aren't worded very nicely.

[monasheemountainman]

don't overthink it. go camping, go hunting, if you are successful hang it in the bush, it will be fine. good luck!

[AlexPdHJ]

Well after we drop it off at the butcher it takes a couple weeks to get it cut up and any sausage, jerky, etc. made so if we were to have taken it to a butcher closer to 5-12 we would have had to go home and drive all the way back, like thousand plus kilometers to pick it up. You can get it butchered anywhere and transport it without issue. Just can't sell game meat. Give it as gifts to friends and family. Keep records if you have any antlers or taxedermy. Once a it is packaged meat then you don't need proof of sex anymore or species anymore.

[panhead]

I believe AC Christensen's will hang meat ... in Anahim Lk. If they have room.

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Knee Deep in the Hoopla

[Squamch]

I believe AC Christensen's will hang meat ... in Anahim Lk. If they have room.

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Knee Deep in the Hoopla

Can anyone confirm or deny this? I'll make a call during business hours tomorrow if theres mo answer here.

[HappyJack]

Whoops, I missed the whole point of this. No, we called every butcher on the list on HBC and none would hang out meat without getting the cutting business. We wanted to hang it in a cooler while meeting the wives and families for thanksgiving before going back home. We ended up having to drive down to the lower mainland to our butcher before driving back up to the cabin for thanksgiving. It was 20 degrees last October the day I dropped my moose. But that night it went down to about 2 degrees. We hung it in the shade and it cooled nicely and the nights were cool and the daytime only went up to about 12 degrees. We talked to our butcher and he said as long as it is cooled properly it should be fine to hang in the shade near a cool lake for quite a while. We still decided rather than to leave it for the long weekend in 20 degree heat that we'd drive home and drop it off at our butcher.

That was a smart move, taking it into the butchers. IF you have to hang it in warmer weather....quarter the animal, split the neck meat to let the heat out, split the hinds to let the heat out, keep it in the shade. And cover the meat with game bags to keep the fly's off it. IMHO it's better to take it into a local meat cutter, and come back for the meat after it's processed. You don't have to worry about it getting bone sour, you don't have to worry about bears getting at it, you don't have to worry about maggots from the fly's laying eggs on it, and you don't have to worry about it being stolen. And I've hunted moose in August for at least 25 seasons.