Transporting meat?

[Dan Jackson]

What's the best way to pack and transport/ ship meat back home? :confused:

[John Maynard]

You driving out in your own Pickup? If so, here's the easiest way I have found (taught to me by some friends in Iowa).
They built a large frame box out of scrap lumber. It was big enough to store four quarters of meat. on the outside of the frame, they put a tin plywood exterios (but you could use anything stable). Then they lined the inside of the box with 2" styrofoam (it's pretty cheap stuff). They just glued it in place using "Liquid Nails." they packed a lot of their things in the box on the way out and on the way home just put their meat in the box with some dry ice. The meat wasn't even frozen and arrived home cool and in perfect shape. The other option is to bone out the meat and used as many coolers with ice as necessary.

[Dan Jackson]

Actually, we'll be fling in and out. I wonder if UPS would ship something like that in dry ice?

[John Maynard]

Don:

There was a long discussion about this on "Bowsite" last fall and if I remember correctly the final answer was that some commerical airlines will fly with dry ice and some won't and to call the airlines. I don't think ground transportation came up. So the best thing would be to call UPS or FedEx and find out what the regulations are.
Hope ya need to do it! ;)

[Dan Jackson]

oh, i'm gonna need it...even if i need to ship groundhog back home ;)

Seriously, if I should be fortunate enough to connect I could use some recipes from ya - I've never had to prepare any elk myself.

[Dan Jackson]

I went through all the post and here's what seems to be the most reasonable...

If possible have the meat butchered locally, vaccum sealed, and frozen. You then ship your regular baggage and bow home via UPS. Since you are allowed 3 pieces of baggage each weighing 70#s you then load your meat up in big duffle bags or coolers and check that in as your baggage and fly it home with you. Of course that's only 210lbs of meat, the rest I understand you can usually ship as frieght cargo for about 42 cents per pound. I'm gonna call Southwest tomorrow and see if I can do this.

[Shaggy]

Dan

We checked on shiping and elk from Montrose, Colorado to Henderson Kentucky, I forget the price now but it was so high that we just de-boned it and put in coolers with dry ice. I under stand that you don't have that option but the shiping is going to be pricey. So check around all you can.

"Shaggy"

P.S. Lots or luck!!!!!!!!!!

[John Maynard]

Just cook your elk like you would any venison. That means not overcooking it. You'll find it to be primo meat unless you get a big old stinky bull. But cows and spikes are better than any beef. I shot two good sized ones and learned my lesson. I just go for the meat now. :D