[NedC]

I've tried searching old threads but haven't come across this exact question, but I'm curious: do any of the local (greater SLC area) meat processors/butchers let you hang a carcass without them processing it, too? I prefer doing my own butchering, but I don't have a walk in cooler to let meat hang for several days.

In the past I've processed meat within 36ish hours of harvest, but I'd like to try letting the meat age a bit. I was thinking places might hang something for you and charge a daily rate or something? I'm not sure if the space you'd take up is worth it to them, or if there are regulatory issues with that. I'll call around to a few places to ask, but I figured I'd check here as well.

 

[Dunkem]

some will, some wont.

 

[Critter]

If you have a garage why not make one yourself.

A few 4x8 insulated panels and a home window AC unit and you are set. You can put it up or take it down as needed.

It will pay for itself in a few years

 

[Packout]

The easiest way to go is to buy a used fridge, take out the shelves, and make a metal frame that allows you to hang the quarters.

A home ac unit won't get the temp low enough to age meat. Most won't go below 60 degrees. And I'm not aware of any that would get you to the 33-37 degree recommended range.

..

 

[bowgy]

My muzzy deer I brought back to the shop, turned on the swamp cooler and it brought it down to below 40 overnight and kept it a about 40 during the day. I didn't trust the warm weather so I let it hang for about 4 days and then cut it up.

 

[weaversamuel76]

Here's a easy solution

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[hunting777]

The easiest way to go is to buy a used fridge, take out the shelves, and make a metal frame that allows you to hang the quarters.

A home ac unit won't get the temp low enough to age meat. Most won't go below 60 degrees. And I'm not aware of any that would get you to the 33-37 degree recommended range.

..

https://www.storeitcold.com/

Purchase a Coolbot and the window ac unit work great. I am in process of making a 4x8 one now. A good friend made one and I am patterning his.

 

[Vanilla]

weaver, how did you reinforce those hooks so they could hold the weight?

 

[DallanC]

Looks like eyelet bolts through the roof. Those quarters arent big... small deer or pronghorn. Not very heavy... at least not like hanging a moose quarter lol

-DallanC

 

[percheye]

I saw a post on FB for a walk in cooler rental. It is located in Herriman, $10 a day or $50 for a week. Rules: no hair on animal and all animals must be tagged. Guys name is Dan 801-554-6411.

 

[NedC]

Space is the bigger issue for me. I've got a garage but it's already filled with various other stuff, including a second fridge. I've thought about trying to empty the fridge during hunting season and filling it with quarters, but alas, the wife is having none of that.

The other component of having access to a legit walk-in, is if on the lucky chance that I could harvest something close to the truck, I could gut it and keep the carcass intact, instead breaking things down in the field.

Maybe it will be cold enough in a few weeks that I can just hang it in the garage for a few days.

 

[taxidermist]

This year, I'd be more concerned about filling a tag than a place to hang a deer.

 

[Packout]

Space is the bigger issue for me. I've got a garage but it's already filled with various other stuff, including a second fridge. I've thought about trying to empty the fridge during hunting season and filling it with quarters, but alas, the wife is having none of that. The other component of having access to a legit walk-in, is if on the lucky chance that I could harvest something close to the truck, I could gut it and keep the carcass intact, instead breaking things down in the field.
Maybe it will be cold enough in a few weeks that I can just hang it in the garage for a few days.

Sounds like Percheye gave you the exact info you needed. The rest of us gave you the info we thought you needed. haha Best of luck on your hunt.

hunting 777- that is an interesting idea- I've seen them work well and others not work. $400 for the coolbot, $600 for the a/c unit (which can't do it alone) and 200+ for the panels- probably into it $1400 or so when it is done. So it is a decent deal when compared to other walk-ins and if you have the space. For most people I bet a fridge is a better, much cheaper route.

 

[Critter]

Space is the bigger issue for me. I've got a garage but it's already filled with various other stuff, including a second fridge. I've thought about trying to empty the fridge during hunting season and filling it with quarters, but alas, the wife is having none of that.

The other component of having access to a legit walk-in, is if on the lucky chance that I could harvest something close to the truck, I could gut it and keep the carcass intact, instead breaking things down in the field.

Maybe it will be cold enough in a few weeks that I can just hang it in the garage for a few days.

I learned how to take care of game meat from my dad who was really old school. But what do you expect for someone who was born 108 years ago?

He would leave the skin on a deer and hang it in the garage wrapped in a blanket during the day. Then at night when things cooled off enough he would go out and unwrap it. Then the next morning before it started to warm up he would go out and wrap it back up..

He would age deer meat for over a month doing it this way, hot or cold it didn't matter. I will do a lot the same way but I will remove the hide but I have had a deer hanging in the garage for a month before I started to cut it up.

Dad would always say that it wasn't good until mold started to grow on the inside of the ribs. He also never wasted a piece of game meat, he felt it was that important to take care of it all.

 

[weaversamuel76]

weaver, how did you reinforce those hooks so they could hold the weight?

It has a plate across top with eye bolts. We have a few different length hooks and can stagger the quarters from a couple deer and still have room for them not to touch.

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[High Desert Elk]

I saw a post on FB for a walk in cooler rental. It is located in Herriman, $10 a day or $50 for a week. Rules: no hair on animal and all animals must be tagged. Guys name is Dan 801-554-6411.

The Coolbot and window AC (must have digital control) will run you somewhere in the neighborhood of $700. Materials to build your own walk in will be somewhere around $1000 all said and done. At $50 per week, it would take you 10 years to spend the same amount for a two week hang, or 20 if you only let hang for one week.

I just converted a small storage room in my shop into a small walk in cooler, will work great for late fall/winter hunts as it will regulate whatever temp it needs to be when its cold outside. Late summer and early fall is a different story, I may need to go the Coolbot and window AC route next year.

The thing about investing the coin in your own small walk in is making sure you plan on staying put for a few years...

 

[Dunkem]

It has a plate across top with eye bolts. We have a few different length hooks and can stagger the quarters from a couple deer and still have room for them not to touch.

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Very important not to be touching
unless you like green slick meat

 

[kodoz]

I just converted a small storage room in my shop into a small walk in cooler, will work great for late fall/winter hunts as it will regulate whatever temp it needs to be when its cold outside. Late summer and early fall is a different story, I may need to go the Coolbot and window AC route next year.

The thing about investing the coin in your own small walk in is making sure you plan on staying put for a few years...

I did the same with a corner of my shed...enough to hang quarters from 2 deer/antelope. But I didn't use a CoolBot. You can do this with Inkbird temperature (and, ideally, humidity controllers) and a window AC unit. If anybody is interested, here's the link to my build, and I am selling the set-up to anybody interested in tinkering with this idea. PM me.

 

[provider]

Revolutionary Walk-In Coolers | The CoolBot by Store It Cold

Purchase a Coolbot and the window ac unit work great. I am in process of making a 4x8 one now. A good friend made one and I am patterning his.

Can you post a picture of the pattern?