Elk meat is becoming more and more popular. Not only is it one of the most nutritious and healthiest forms of protein in the world, but it tastes excellent too. This healthier alternative to beef, with its unique taste and texture, is a treat but it doesn’t come easy. Every year, hunters head into the field to attempt to take an elk in order to fill their freezers.

But even after a successful hunt, elk meat needs proper care in order to maintain its quality. This can be particularly challenging when hunting in hot weather. High temperatures and fresh meat do not mix well, and it can quickly cause spoilage and bacteria growth. This, in turn, will ruin the taste and texture of the elk meat that you worked so hard to get.

You must know how to properly handle and store your elk meat in warm weather to ensure it is fresh and safe to eat. Luckily you have come to the right place, as we are going to dive into the ins and outs of elk meat field care, transportation, and processing. If you intend to hunt elk this year, it’s best to be prepared and know what to do with the meat!

Breaking Down an Elk

The first step in taking care of elk meat is getting to your downed elk and getting it cut up properly. This is known as field dressing. This process will involve cutting up the elk, removing the internal organs, and cutting the meat into manageable sections in order to transport it out of the field.

There are a few different ways that you can go about breaking down and cutting up an elk, but the key is to do it as quickly as possible. Elk have incredibly thick hides, and every minute that they lay there is more time for the meat to spoil. The faster that you can get to your elk and get the hide off, the faster the meat can start to cool down.

The Gutless Method

A favorite field dressing method amongst elk hunters is known as the “gutless method”. This method involves removing the meat from the elk without cutting into the body cavity and having to deal with any of the internal organs. To perform the gutless method, simply place the animal on its stomach and make a cut from the base of the neck down to the hindquarters along its spine. Skin the hide down on one side, exposing the front and hind quarters.

After removing the front quarter, hind quarter, and backstrap from one side, flip the animal over and duplicate the process on the other side. By doing this, you can quickly and easily remove the usable meat from an elk without ever having to deal with internal organs and you can remove the hide from the animal very quickly to start cooling the meat.

Because of this, the gutless method is a great option for field dressing an elk in warm weather. Plus it will generally be easier and less of a mess than traditional field dressing methods. But no matter what field dressing method you use, the key is to get it done as quickly and efficiently as possible. Do your best to keep the meat clean as you are cutting it from the animal and breaking it down.

Cooling Elk Meat in Warm Weather

Aside from breaking down your elk as soon as possible, there are a few things that you can do in order to cool off your elk meat as soon as you can. Most elk are not killed right next to a road or an area close to your vehicle, so it is not always possible to place the meat directly into a cooler or ice chest filled with ice. So what do you do until you can get it to the cooler?

First, keep it shaded as best as possible. Find a nearby tree where you can hang the elk quarters that will keep the sun off of them. If you know that you will have to make multiple trips spanning 2 days then you may want to hang the quarters on the north side of the ridge. Temperatures are always the coolest in these places as there is more shade from the sun.

Hanging the meat in a tree also allows for more airflow to hit them, which will also aid in cooling it off quicker. If you do not have any rope or way to hang elk meat, the next best thing is to lay down a tarp or another clean surface in the shade to place the meat on. If you have peeled off the hide, you can lay the meat there until you get it bagged up.

You also want to keep the meat clean while it is cooling, which something like game bags can help with. Game bags are designed to prevent flies and dirt from getting to your elk meat, while also allowing for maximum airflow. Game bags can also help keep direct sunlight off of your meat. If you do not have some high-quality game bags in your backpack while elk hunting, you should look into getting some.

(Pinetrees and solitude may earn a commission from affiliate links in this article.)

Transporting Elk Meat

Once an elk is broken down and the meat is removed from the animal, you are ready to transport it to somewhere cooler such as a meat locker, freezer, or cooler. There are a few things you should keep in mind when transporting and caring for your elk meat during transport in warm weather, including:

Avoid Direct Sunlight: Keep your meat shaded as you cut it from the animal, but also when it is loaded up in your pack or in a cooler. Simply keeping the meat in the shade can keep it significantly cooler no matter what stage of the process you are in. Your backpack, game bag, or cooler will help keep the meat cooler if the entire thing is kept in the shade.

Don’t Cross-contaminate: When you are transporting elk meat, it is vital that you are careful that no cross-contaminate the elk meat with other foods in your backpack or in your cooler when you get it back to the truck. Keep the meat separate from other items whenever you can.

Plan Your Route: After loading your backpack up with elk meat, take the time to carefully plan your route back to your vehicle. Avoid taking longer routes or rougher terrain, as elk meat will significantly weigh down your pack. Even when you finally arrive back in your vehicle, take the time to take the quickest route home to the freezer or to your butcher. Do not leave the meat in a hot car or take a route with big delays, as you want to get the meat taken care of as soon as possible.

Avoid Contact with Ice and Water: You definitely want to use ice or cool water to cool your elk meat but don’t let them come into direct contact. This is because once the ice turns to water, the water can promote bacterial growth and saturate the meat. By using things such as trash bags to separate the ice from the meat, you can prevent any direct contact with the meat. I am not saying to put the meat in the garbage bag. You should never do that since the meat can not air out. Only use the garbage bag as a plastic flooring with the ice underneath and then place your meat on top of it while it is still in the game bag.

Don’t Overpack Your Cooler: Overpacking the cooler can prevent air from circulating, which can cause moisture to build up and promote bacterial growth. Make sure to leave some space in the cooler for air to circulate. Elk are large animals, so it is a good idea to bring along multiple coolers in order to fit a full-size elk and the meat that you will have.

Matt Elvbakken, owner of Tizer Meats out of Helena, Montana: recommends that if you need to transport quarters that are not in a cooler, at least get them off the truck bed so they can breathe. A good way to do this is to lay the quarters on a wood shipping pallet. At a bare minimum take some nearby timber and lay a few pieces down to lay your quarters on top while transporting. This ensures air can reach the meat and no heat is being trapped in the meat.

There are also various laws and regulations that come with transporting game meat such as elk meat. Before your hunt, do your homework to know about all of these laws and rules depending on the state and the area that you are living in. If you ever have any questions always call your state’s game and fish department to be clear about what the requirements are.

Storing Elk Meat

You have gone through the hard work of harvesting an elk, cutting it up, and hauling it back to your truck to get it home. Now the last step is to properly store your elk meat. Properly storing your elk meat is essential for keeping its quality and ensuring it is safe to eat. Whether you are storing the meat for only a few days or for the long term, there are a few tips and procedures to keep in mind.

For example, choosing the right temperatures or finding the right packing and freezing, storing your elk meat is not as simple as it seems. By following the right steps, you can ensure that your precious elk meat stays fresh and good to eat for the longest period of time possible.

Storage Tips and Tricks

Elk meat should be stored at temperatures between 34 degrees Fahrenheit and 40 degrees prevent any spoiling. Try to use a refrigerator or freezer that can maintain a consistent temperature that is set to the optimal temperature range. Remember that elk are also very large animals and will require a ton of freezer space. You may find yourself needing some more freezer space if you have enough elk meat!

The right storage will also depend on the type of packaging in which you keep your elk meat. Ideally, you want your elk meat to be wrapped in plastic wrap or placed in an airtight container in order to prevent exposure to air. When exposed to air, it can cause the meat to dry out and become tough. One of the best methods is to use vacuum-sealed bags or freezer paper in order to package the meat for long-term storage.

For the best long-term storage, you will want to freeze your elk meat. This should only be done, however, after the meat is properly cut up and cleaned. Whether you do this part yourself or hire a butcher or processor to do it for you, avoid freezing elk meat before it has been processed. Cleaning and processing also involve removing excess fat or gristle, which can spoil the meat. By freezing clean, quality elk meat you can ensure it preserves the best quality and flavor of the meat.

Thawing Processed Meat Before Eating

After freezing the elk meat, you can always thaw it when it is time to cook and eat it. Thawing frozen elk meat is best done slowly to prevent any bacterial growth. The best way to thaw elk meat is to place it in the refrigerator overnight. This will allow a slow thaw until it is thawed enough to prepare and cook. If you need to thaw the meat more quickly, you can place the meat in a sealed plastic bag and submerge it in cold water.

You never want to thaw out elk meat at room temperature or in hot water, as this will promote bacterial growth and could negatively affect the meat’s taste and quality. By following all of these tips and tactics for storing and thawing your elk meat, you will ensure that the meat stays delicious for long periods of time. Remember to always store your elk meat with care to get the most out of your hard work.

Final Thoughts

Taking care of your elk meat in warm weather can appear to be a lofty task, but with a little bit of preparation and hard work, you can be ready for the task at hand. From proper field dressing and cooling to storage techniques, you can easily ensure that your hard-earned elk meat will keep its quality and flavor.

By following the tips and techniques outlined in this article, you can ensure that your elk meat stays fresh and safe to eat. Remember to always cool the meat as quickly as possible, use the gutless field dressing method, and avoid direct contact with water and ice. When storing elk meat, make sure to maintain the proper temperature range, package it properly, and freeze it as soon as possible. A final point to make:

Call The Butcher Ahead Of Time

You need to plan for a successful hunt and that means preparing to bring home a quartered elk from your hunt. If you are not processing your meat yourself, then it would be a good idea to call you butcher ahead of time to find out if they require advanced notice before drop off and what hours and days they are open. If you can, it is best to go straight from the mountain to the butcher for processing.

With warm weather appearing on almost every elk hunt, you can now head into the field better prepared for getting your elk meat home and to your table. Elk meat is some of the best-tasting meats out there, and now you can ensure you get to enjoy it!

If you enjoyed this article, check these other great articles from Pinetrees and Solitude:

(This article was originally published on Pintreesandsolitude.com. If it is now published on any other site, it was done without permission from the copyright owner.)

Take Care Of Your Elk Meat In Warm Weather