doughboysigep

Have a question about processing deer:

My buddies cut up their own meat and have found that skinning it quickly makes for much easier hide removal. They used a couple garbage bags to protect the meat until we had a chance to cut it up (couple days). Is there a product that would substitute for the garbage bags that would be easier to work with. I found "game bags" in Bass Pro. They wer a stretchy mess material (like cheese clothe). Do these work well??? I thought the idea was to keep the air off the meat (dries it out?)? Are there other options?? Just looking for some insight/suggestions.

jerseyhunter

I leave the hide on my deer till I'm ready to butcher. But In the fall I use the game bags, both the ones that look like cheese cloth and the more expensive ones that look like a laundry bag ( their reuseable,washable).
I do this to keep the flies off, the ticks inside the bag and not my garage or yard and to keep any dust I might create while going about normal routine out. They work very well.
Also by leaving the hide on, once it's cooled it regulates the temp by keeping it colder during the day and protecting it from freezing at night. Also the meat doesn't dryout and form a hard skin. It is easier to skin while warm but isn;t realy that difficult if left on. maybe another 5 min. good luck.

JaySee

We always skin our deer right away also. Then we use a giant roll of saran wrap and wrap it around the legs and body. this seems to help keep the meat good.

bigcountry

Only time I skin right after a kill is when its warm. taking off that skin really helps cool the meat down quick. But if its 40 degrees out, I don't worry about it. Saran wrap would be you best choice.

saltflat

I am going to have to try this skinning before thing. I skinned a deer this morning after it had been 8 degrees all night and man it was tough. Next time I will do it much sooner.

skeeter 7MM

First off you should never use a garbage bags as they have chemicals added to them to prevent smellfrom rotting food, so the use of such items can taint your meat. Only put meat in food safe bags!

If you wrap your meat to prevent drying it should be done with a material that can still breath like cheese cloth/gamebags/etc.

However if the hang temperature is below 40 degrees and your only doing it for a few days their really is no need to wrap the meat. Just skin the animal, leave on the fat to act as the protector and then when it comes time to butcher you'll trim away a small outside layer. Butchers don't wrap meat during aging or hanging!!!

I have always skinned my animals asap to ensure proper cooling of the entire carcass. I wipe down the exterior of the carcass after skinning with clean rags and a vinegar/water solution to remove hairs. I then remove the Tloins as they skin over very quickly and aging is not required for this piece of meat. I will let them hang if possible for 24 hrs to ensure rigor has taken place and then butcher. If to warm I either hot bone or quarter and cool the meat in game bags.

farm hunter

When its below 20 degrees - I leave the Hide on - and hang for 2-3 days - if possible.

The Insulation of the hair will generally keep the meat from freezing - in all but the coldest weather - except for the lower legs.

Its a little slower to skin than a warm deer - but ALOT easier to cutup than a frozen one!

FH

James B

I skin mine asap. Its cool to say the least in the Dakotas during deer season. If its just going to hang it for a few days then there is no need to cover it.

MN_Deerman

Anyone tried that liquid game bag? When I saw the commercial it didn't appeal to me at all but I was wondering if anyone has actually used it?

jepcho

If I skin the deer I cut it up then. Yeah the hide comes off easier right away but so does the meat. If you cut the hide off and then come back later, The meat will be frozen like a rock and it will be almost impossible to cut it up till you take it in to thaw for a few hours. I know this from experience.