Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Backpack Hunting Game bags

What is the best way to bag your meat or quarters when packing it out and is it possible to keep your pack clean doing it? Only talking a few miles in from the road.

I've used Alaska Game Bags but currently use TAG Bags. Either will do the job and I'm sure there are other brands that would work as well. The TAG Bags are a bit lighter and the weave of the material seems much finer. Both are durable.

I use Goodwill pillow cases (now that my old flour sacks are wearing out), and line my pack with a plastic garbage bag when it's time to carry meat. Quarter bags come out of the plastic at destination. Simple.

Ok. Wasn't sure about being in a trash bag but we're not talking all day.

Like these a lot.

http://store.kifaru.net/meat-bags-p28.aspx

I agree, plastic garbage bags will keep your pack free of blood and as long as it doesn't spend a serious amount of time in them you should be fine.

I've tried compactor trash bags, contractor trash bags and everything...they all leak IMO....go with silnylon dry bags (less than $10 on Sierra trading post)and that'll stop the leakage.

I've always been curious about the idea of keeping a pack clean and free of stains. To avoid smells for later bear encounters? Just for looks? Bacteria problems? Resale value?

I let meat air dry, put in a game bag, and throw it in my pack. I hose my pack off when I get home. Sure, it has some blood stains, and I think that is pretty cool.

Someone let me know what I'm missing.

+1

I just use TAG bags and drop them inside a trash bag for the haul out. No problems.

What size works best for something like elk quarters?

Does anybody worry that the trash bag box says "Not recommended for food use"?

Bigger.

My hunting partner used a Sea to Summit eVAC dry sack (35L) this weekend, and it was slick. Kept meat well contained, clean, and kept the pack and gear pretty clean too:

http://www.seatosummit.com/products/display/64

I was going to order one, but ended up talking to Kurt from Stone Glacier today, and am going to hold off and try one of his instead:

http://stoneglacier.com/roll%20top%20bag.html

Should still have the things I like about the Sea to Summit, but with a few perks that will work even a little better for this specific application (stronger, shaped better to work with pack).

Neither are traditional game bags, and if you were going to be hanging meat in them for several days I'd want something more breathable. For packing meat out in a backpack I like how they keep both the meat and your gear clean.

That Stone Glacier thing sounds like just a roll top sack made out of DWR fabric.

Of course, a pillowcase does a decent job in a pinch...

As for the Stone Glacier one, we'll just see. Kurt's stuff has suited my tastes well in the past, and he was using the Sea to Summit bag I liked as a starting point...

So the 2L might not be the best choice, huh?

Carl,

My SG meat bag leaked out of the gate. Now that I actually read the description( ), it is supposed to allow the meat to drain, so I guess it worked as advertised. I do expect it will be more durable than the event bags. If you don't want your butt/pantlegs/boots covered in blood, you could seam seal it I guess.

We used cheese cloth game bags for the individual pieces, then stuffed them in the meat bag (load cell). Makes it easy to pop them out and hang or otherwise allow air circulation. I normally use 4 caribou bags, as they seem better for flies than the cheese cloth.

Great picture/buck!

+1. TAG bags. I've used 'em all and they're the best.