Started By
Message

What size cooler do I need to hold 2 or possibly 3 quartered deer?

Posted on 9/1/23 at 8:38 am
Posted by The Last Coco
On the water
Member since Mar 2009
6840 posts
Posted on 9/1/23 at 8:38 am
What size cooler do I need to transport 2 or possibly 3 quartered deer? 70qt? 90qt?

Probably talking about hill country deer most often, not big river deer. Bucks under 125lbs, does around 70lbs.

Any recommendations on coolers too? Preferably NOT rotomolded.
Posted by Quatrepot
Member since Jun 2023
4046 posts
Posted on 9/1/23 at 8:54 am to
I would say 90-100. It’s not just a matter of fitting the meat, it’s having enough room to put plenty ice.
Posted by X123F45
Member since Apr 2015
27414 posts
Posted on 9/1/23 at 8:55 am to
Coleman extreme if not rotomolded.

Others can comment on size.

Almost said 5 gallon bucket
Posted by Salmon
On the trails
Member since Feb 2008
83583 posts
Posted on 9/1/23 at 9:00 am to
I fit 2 175 lbs does in my 120 qt last year

You know if you want to come to MO and kill real deer, you just gotta ask
This post was edited on 9/1/23 at 9:06 am
Posted by SaDaTayMoses
Member since Oct 2005
4320 posts
Posted on 9/1/23 at 9:01 am to
get a 120qt and call it a day.

LINK
Posted by bootlegger
Ponchatoula
Member since Dec 2012
5337 posts
Posted on 9/1/23 at 9:03 am to
I believe I use my 37qt colorless cooler when bringing a single deer home. I also debone, and use frozen water/gatorade bottles stuffed in and around all the meat.

Hope that helps somewhat.
Posted by tenfoe
Member since Jun 2011
6847 posts
Posted on 9/1/23 at 9:20 am to
You can debone 3 100lb deer and fit them in a 90 qt with ice.
Posted by TheDrunkenTigah
Baton Rouge
Member since Aug 2011
17319 posts
Posted on 9/1/23 at 10:06 am to
There’s no one right answer and will depend entirely on what kind of prep you do, and how long you need the ice to hold before having to repack. If you have the ability to debone and get the meat cold in a slurry before packing it in ice, you won’t need near as much ice or space and a 70qt will be fine. If you’re dropping hot quarters bone-in and sprinkling ice over the top as you clean them, even a 120qt is gonna get tight and leave meat touching the edge of the cooler, which I avoid entirely.

What I do on doe killing weekends is have a 45qt sitting full of ice and water, as I clean I debone, spray off hair, and drop in the ice water to chill. When I’m done, let the deboned pieces drip off and layer with ice into a cheap 90qt igloo. Have gotten three into it with enough ice to keep for several days in bow weather. In winter it can keep from one weekend to the next with ice still on top and bottom.
Posted by magicman534
The dirty dell
Member since May 2011
1575 posts
Posted on 9/1/23 at 10:08 am to
I tried to fit 2 quartered bucks and a doe in my 90qt. Didn’t work. Maybe if they were deboned but not sure. Fit easily in a 120qt. That’s my vote.
Posted by nolaks
Member since Dec 2013
1136 posts
Posted on 9/1/23 at 10:30 am to
if you are coming back here they won't be quartered. They'll be deboned, right?
Posted by Cracker
in a box
Member since Nov 2009
17711 posts
Posted on 9/1/23 at 11:02 am to
Chest freezer and a smal generator
Posted by D500MAG
Oklahoma
Member since Oct 2010
3736 posts
Posted on 9/1/23 at 11:49 am to
quote:

What size cooler do I need to transport 2 or possibly 3 quartered deer? 70qt? 90qt?


Start letting the yearlings walk and you will only have to kill 1.
Posted by The Last Coco
On the water
Member since Mar 2009
6840 posts
Posted on 9/1/23 at 12:29 pm to
quote:

if you are coming back here they won't be quartered. They'll be deboned, right?



LA regs state that quarters are acceptable:

quote:

quarters or other portions of meat with no part of the spinal column or head attached
Posted by The Last Coco
On the water
Member since Mar 2009
6840 posts
Posted on 9/1/23 at 12:31 pm to
quote:

There’s no one right answer and will depend entirely on what kind of prep you do, and how long you need the ice to hold before having to repack. If you have the ability to debone and get the meat cold in a slurry before packing it in ice, you won’t need near as much ice or space and a 70qt will be fine. If you’re dropping hot quarters bone-in and sprinkling ice over the top as you clean them, even a 120qt is gonna get tight and leave meat touching the edge of the cooler, which I avoid entirely.


It will be front and rear quarters, backstrap and t-loin. They will be cold when we head back to BR but will need to survive a 10hr trip in a covered truck bed.
Posted by Dissident Aggressor
Member since Aug 2011
3780 posts
Posted on 9/1/23 at 1:03 pm to
120
Posted by speckledawg
Somewhere Salty
Member since Nov 2016
3918 posts
Posted on 9/1/23 at 3:22 pm to
quote:

debone


This is the way. Hell, I can debone one, put in bags and fit in some of my soft side coolers.
This post was edited on 9/1/23 at 6:20 pm
Posted by thegreatboudini
Member since Oct 2008
6453 posts
Posted on 9/1/23 at 3:24 pm to
Costco has a 165qt igloo that is $140 online, in store it's $99.

I bought it and it's excellent. Definitely the one that stays stowed away except 2-3 times a year, but Its a great cooler.
Posted by gerald65
Moss Bluff, LA
Member since Jul 2020
710 posts
Posted on 9/2/23 at 1:38 am to
Why not get a 90 qt ice chest and bring a 40 qt, just incase you need more room.
Posted by baldona
Florida
Member since Feb 2016
20458 posts
Posted on 9/2/23 at 6:22 am to
Yep, just plan to debone OP. You have to do it eventually anyway and doesn’t take a lot of time really. Ice isn’t that big of deal you can refill it on your way back once or twice. But once cold it will probably be fine.

Deboning also saves A LOT of weight. A full cooler with 2 bone in deer is heavy as frick
Posted by tenfoe
Member since Jun 2011
6847 posts
Posted on 9/2/23 at 2:29 pm to
quote:

Hell, I can debone one, put in bags and fit in some of my soft side coolers.


I can debone a doe in the woods and pack out in a garbage bag in my backpack
first pageprev pagePage 1 of 2Next pagelast page

Back to top
logoFollow TigerDroppings for LSU Football News
Follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram to get the latest updates on LSU Football and Recruiting.

FacebookTwitterInstagram