I don't deal with the ice blocks, even in warm weather...I don't like that nasty film that it creates. I just skin and quarter them where they fall and get the pieces bagged up and in the shade or if I am close to town, to a locker.
As far as judging, they can throw you for a loop, no doubt. I look for prongs at or above ear tip length when the ears are up. Another thing is that, to me at least, mature bucks have horns that look black, where younger males have horns with a greenish broom tint to them.
