Ok this is coming from an eastern white tail guy who is used to loading up the pickup truck. I'm in the west now and about to do my first mule deer hunt(s). Military guy who has buddies in NV and CA and got OTC tags and will at least have some help from experienced guys.
First off, bone in or boned out? Am I right in assuming that one person could pack out an entire boned out mule deer with horns (no cape)? The idea of doing multiple trips to pack out meat is hard for me to understand. Back east, with cold weather I had no problem leaving meat out for a bit. It's really hot out here and we'll be hunting archery and rifle season. If I packed out a few quarters the 5+ miles to the truck, I feel like the meat left at the kill site would go bad. Or am I wrong? This is why I like the idea of each of us carrying out camp and a deboned muley in one haul if it's possible.
Another question: is it common practice to leave a cooler with ice in the pickup truck for every hunt you go on? I see myself spending a ton of money on ice each week because I don't know how successful we will be
Any other tips or suggestions? Plan is to (hopefully) shoot a buck. Bone him out (still need to learn this, resources or videos would be welcomed) and then pack in one brutal trip back to the truck. Seems too simple.
Also I did some research here and decided to go with the TAG bags 24" by 44" set of 5 that was recommended by some users here. Are those bags good for quartered meat as well or only boned out?
These questions are mainly for mule deer but I'll get a bear tag as well
First off, bone in or boned out? Am I right in assuming that one person could pack out an entire boned out mule deer with horns (no cape)? The idea of doing multiple trips to pack out meat is hard for me to understand. Back east, with cold weather I had no problem leaving meat out for a bit. It's really hot out here and we'll be hunting archery and rifle season. If I packed out a few quarters the 5+ miles to the truck, I feel like the meat left at the kill site would go bad. Or am I wrong? This is why I like the idea of each of us carrying out camp and a deboned muley in one haul if it's possible.
Another question: is it common practice to leave a cooler with ice in the pickup truck for every hunt you go on? I see myself spending a ton of money on ice each week because I don't know how successful we will be
Any other tips or suggestions? Plan is to (hopefully) shoot a buck. Bone him out (still need to learn this, resources or videos would be welcomed) and then pack in one brutal trip back to the truck. Seems too simple.
Also I did some research here and decided to go with the TAG bags 24" by 44" set of 5 that was recommended by some users here. Are those bags good for quartered meat as well or only boned out?
These questions are mainly for mule deer but I'll get a bear tag as well