What Size Cooler Do I Need

[CT.HNTR]

I am planning on field quartering and deboning my deer this year so it’s an easy pack-out back to the truck about 1 to 2 miles depending on what spot I hunt. I plan to store the venison in a cooler in my garage for a few days prior to butchering and freezing. What size cooler do you think is required to do the job?

Is a 150 quart large enough or should I be looking at a 250 quart? I want room for lots of ice!

[LongCarbine]

If you are deboning all the meat an average size white-tail will fit in a 48 quart cooler with room for ice.

[paulaboutform]

I think of coolers like I think of garages and workshops, always need more room. The way I see it, go big. Better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it.

Paul

[Mississippi1]

The 100 quart I think it is Coleman extreme will hold 2 full deer and ice enough to almost freeze the meat.

[DuckHunt]

The 100 quart I think it is Coleman extreme will hold 2 full deer and ice enough to almost freeze the meat.

Agreed. And the 225 quart will hold three deer and have tons of space left. There is a big difference between quartering and deboning as far as the space needed. Then there are the ribs. They aren't worth the effort to me, but if you want them they will take up space too. I've taken a couple nice bucks where the two hind quarters would not fit in a 48 quart cooler because they were both too think and too long. They would fit if deboned, but the entire deer wouldn't. Unless your deer are enormous, something around 75 quarts will do and provide plenty of room for ice. If you want to keep some parts without deboning, then 100 quart may be better. Like Paul said, its better to have it and not need it.

DuckHunt

[CT.HNTR]

I think I am going to look for something in the 150 quart range. I agree that more is better as it allows more options. This way I still have room for the hind quarters if I leave them bone in.

[paulaboutform]

I think I am going to look for something in the 150 quart range. I agree that more is better as it allows more options. This way I still have room for the hind quarters if I leave them bone in.

Good call.

[884savage]

Go big or go home! You'll never regret having too much space, but you certainly will regret not having enough.

[CT.HNTR]

Now I need to determine which brand.

Coleman $$
Pelican $$$
Yeti $$$$

[cva34]

Right on 48 will hold Texas Deer and some Ice But I like to have lots Ice so I usually use 60-90Q..And I own several up to 150Q..Was said can't go too big...Yes You can..Can't reach across 150Q to carry alone and if full you gota have 2 men to carry......InTx were allowed to Quarter and Ice down/// 2 hind 2 shoulders 2 backstraps..Rib cage can be trashed ..

Brand Igloo/Coleman /Thermos are reasonable price

[CT.HNTR]

So I did some shopping around today and ended up buying a 120 quart Coleman Extreme 6 cooler at Walmart. Looked at some of the higher end coolers at Cabela's like the Yeti's and just cant justify spending those kind of dollars. $400 to $800 dollars for a cooler seems nuts to me!

The Coleman cooler was $99.00 but for some reason it rung up at $57.00 at the register so feel like I got a good bargin!

[robertyb]

If you can find one at Walmart the new 73 quart Ozart Trail cooler would be a good choice. Same basic cooler as Yeti at a much reduced price.

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Ozark-Trail- ... y/49229408

[wildcatter]

You have plenty of cooler and more than you need, anything over 150 quart is a waste and will use more ice to do the same job. Bigger does not mean better! An empty cooler is harder to keep ice in than one that is cooled down and close to full!

Deboned except the necks from the ears to the shoulders, I had a 12 point buck, and 3 doe in my 160 quart igloo 2 years ago on me and my buddies end of the year hunt in public land, when we took 7 deer between us in 8 days, and they were not small doe either. I think you have plenty for anything a single hunter needs.


Last year on the same hunt I had 3 doe, one was only a 1 1/2 year old doe, but these fit with plenty of room for more, Like I say, deboned except the nech are always left whole!

[Pickwick]

That' s a pile of deer!! Bet that was fun!

[CT.HNTR]

You have plenty of cooler and more than you need, anything over 150 quart is a waste and will use more ice to do the same job. Bigger does not mean better! An empty cooler is harder to keep ice in than one that is cooled down and close to full!

Deboned except the necks from the ears to the shoulders, I had a 12 point buck, and 3 doe in my 160 quart igloo 2 years ago on me and my buddies end of the year hunt in public land, when we took 7 deer between us in 8 days, and they were not small doe either. I think you have plenty for anything a single hunter needs.


Last year on the same hunt I had 3 doe, one was only a 1 1/2 year old doe, but these fit with plenty of room for more, Like I say, deboned except the nech are always left whole!

Wildcatter!

That's a nice haul of venison

After deboning do you put the meat in game bags or plastic bags prior to going in the cooler?