Home Forums Hunting & Shooting General Big Game Game bags - what do you use?

Can someone tell me the downside of using pillow cases and old sheets sewn into a bag? I mean, they are meant to be disposable, right?

I used to use reusable game bags. They are more expensive but since you can put them in the washing machine and reuse them, they are cheaper in the long run. I've stopped using them though. They always seem to get damaged in one way or another and I have had to discard several bags.

Now I use whatever is the cheapest at the sporting goods store. Except I don't use the flimsy cheesecloth bags. They just don't provide enough protection.

I've seen people use old pillowcases that they bought at Goodwill. They are heavier but cheap.

I've always just tied the bags with rope and hung them up. Once they are quartered I don't have any trouble getting them up into the air.

KC

Well, it's not going to help you guys much, but my wife sews mine using heavy unbleached muslim. We have been together for 21 years, and I am still using two of the first four, and two more ten or 11 year-old replacements. Coues whitetails fit in one bag, big mule deer take a couple, and all four will hold elk quarters and left-overs easily.

Muslim, or muslin?

TAG bags for the past 4-5 years now.

Got some tag bags on the cheap, but not sure I like them very much. The meat dries and sticks them too much, will even pull off on the bag. Sheet material or Alaskan bags seem to work better for me. Tie cords built into the bag are kind of redundant. Para cord will tie bag fine and is more flexible for hanging off of whatever is available.

Cleaning tip from a friend was to use powdered dishwasher detergent that doesn't have bleach. She says it has enzymes that break down protein. A couple of washes and rinses in a bucket completely cleans the bags and dissolves all of the blood and bits of meat. Best way I've found to easily and completely clean my bags.

Not really - don't need 2 sets. Have any brass?

Damn! Spell check strikes again!

I use plain old pillow cases. I take zip ties to close them and cord to use to hang them. I put however many I think that I will need in a vac-seal bag. Done this way, they don't take up much room in a pack. They can be re-used many times.

My wife gets really pissed when she wakes up and sees the blood stains.

https://pristineventures.com/products/t-a-g-bags-2/
T.A.G. Bags

That is really funny.

Alaskan Game Bags have worked well. I soaked them in hydrogen peroxide first and them wash them. They come out snow white. Have had this set 4-5 years.

Spot - thanks for posting.

On the nite ize product - it looks handy. I assume you've hung bone-in elk quarters with those little gizmos and they held/not broken?

I'm looking into the bags suggested on this thread. The Caribou bags seem most interesting.

2 questions:

1. Which version do you guys recommend - the single quarter or the high country series? The magnum pack simply looks like 7-8 singles all in one nice tidy package.

2. Are the drawstrings and/or the "lock loops" strong enough to support the weight of a bone-in elk hind quarter? They seem to indicate such then give a warning against it. If not, how do you hang them?

Thanks.

For the Alaskan game bags, I assume they are strong enough to support the weight of a full bone-in quarter. What is the best way to hang these?

Thanks.

A couple cheap, lightweight large nylon stuff sacks. Throw in some pillow cases if I'm lucky enough to draw an elk tag. They all launder clean easily.

I used the Alaskans for years. Generally for me they're a single use bag because they're easily punctured and won't hold up. Several years ago I discovered the TAG bags and that's all I like now. They're very durable and easy to repair when they rarely get torn.

I was in a freight damage store about 10 years ago, They had 100% cotton, King Size pillow cases. I paid $2.00 for a dozen. They had worked well. Still have most of them.

None bwinters.