Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Elk Hunting Amount of Cooler Space?

[align:left][/align] Folks I have finally been drawn for a Bull Elk Tag in Wyoming, after 7 years of waiting! While I have been fortunate enough to Mule Deer hunt the Cowboy state for the past several years, I have always flown and donated the meat to the Needy. On this excursion I plan to drive from Virginia, and bring back the meat IF SUCCESSFUL!
My question is how much cooler space will I need to bring back a processed Bull Elk? I have a 150Qt Grizzly, and two 77 quart Lifetime Coolers. I also plan to take a 55 quart Lifetime Cooler for the Cape. Am I anywhere close to needed space. I will be driving a Full-Sized SUV , so taking a small Chest Freezer and Generator is not a possibility. Any Help and Input greatly appreciated! Thank You for your time.

Can you call the processor you'll be using and ask them?
I would venture your 150 qt and a 77 qt would be plenty.
Will you be taking it in whole or quartered?
If you're quartering in the field, less meat makes it to the cooler.

The outfitter I use...............Generally takes the animal in Whole..........Unless it is a Very Rare Situation whereas they are forced to Quarter in the Field. So may guess would be Whole. I have transported a couple of Canadian Moose and they took up two 150's. Thoughts?

I asked the same question last year.

https://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbt...-bull-elk-x-x-quart-coolers#Post17151626

Thank You Sakoluvr......................Your post and replies nailed it right on the head............I do appreciate the reference.

The very best of luck to you!

The largest Igloo and another about half that size will easily hold an average size boned-out, packaged bull. I've had three bulls that weighed somewhat over 500 lbs. gutted. I don't know weight of packaged meat but would guess 260 lbs., maybe more.

Thank You...................Hopefully I can Post a Picture of a Wyoming Bull.

Get a small chest freezer (7 cuft).

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Hotpoint-6-9-Cu-Ft-Manual-Defrost-Chest-Freezer/5002179205

Mount a cargo carrier in your receiver (2”). The one that Northern Tool works perfectly. I put a piece of 1/2” plywood in the bottom.

https://www.northerntool.com/produc...aterial-aluminum-model-hcca-2249-5035430

600W+ Inverter running off a plug into your 7 pin trailer wiring harness. You’ll need to fabricate the adapter.

Freezer will pull less than 100 watts running approx 1/2 the time, but needs the bigger size to start the compressor.

That’s what I did.

There is a huge difference on the amount of cooler space needed to take the animal to the processor and to bring the processed meat back and it seems like some of the answers are for one and some are for another.

A 150 quart cooler and a 77 quart cooler is just about perfect for 1 bull elk cut and wrapped. That will leave just the right abount of space for ice.

Let's define bull first. Many units in WY allow you to shoot a spike. A spike and a mature 6 pt are two different animals. A boned mature bull will fit in a 150 qt cooler if it's cold enough not to need much ice. A spike will fit with room for ice. If its not cold, put a hint quarter in a separate cooler with ice in both coolers.

If your guy is processing the elk, it should come wrapped and frozen. A bull will fit in a 150 qt cooler. I'd suggest taking a couple old/cheap sleeping bags and placing on top of the cooler for the ride home. Pack the cooler by the tailgate with acces from the tailgate. You won't want to be lifting or moving that cooler much.

As to the hide, I get all the fat off I could, salt it, roll up and out in a separate cooler with alot of ice. Once the hair starts slipping, it's done.

Most of all - have fun!

If he shoots a spike in area 7, lol yikes....

You should be fine with a 150qt and your 77qt. Worst case is you have to cut the lower shank off the front quarters to fit in the 77qt, but that takes about 30secs.

With CWD rules, I would not be driving back displaying the antlers on the roof of your SUV if the skull is attached unless it is perfectly clean. Most States have similar rules regarding this. Do your research. Just my opinion.

Last year, I looked into the CWD transport rules for every State that I would be driving through. The wrong place at the wrong time with the wrong wildlife official could mean confiscation. Keep those antlers inside the vehicle. Also, those antlers are a prime target for thieves.

My last processed bull took a 150 and two 60 qts. But, I also had no grind done, they froze trim in 6-7 lb increments, so that may have taken up a bit more space.

So you have about a 28 hour drive.
If you can switch drivers, drive straight through.
I would freeze everything solid. Use dry ice as needed for top layer in coolers....separate with towel to avoid freezer burn.
Get some rigid foam insulation from a building supply in WY to put the coolers on....keeps floorboard heat from getting to the coolers.
Put sleeping bags or whatever you have over the coolers.

Good luck

Did the OP state he had a ‘hunt area’ 7 tag?

We’ve driven small freezers out in an SUV.

We’ve also had boned elk frozen solid in coolers……before the trip home, in September.

Meat was fine, later processed at home……despite what any expert may declare.

Thanks to everyone for your insight..................I Do appreciate your knowledge and wisdom!
As for what Zone I have No Idea, as my License has yet to arrive and the outfitter took care of all the application process. I can tell you it is up near Buffalo Wyoming in Sheridan County.
Also the Outfitter totally capes the animal and cuts the skull plate off so that it will be ready for the taxidermist. In addition they thoroughly clean what plate is left attached.
As for Thieves, I Totally Agree with you and can Appreciate Your Insight, as I spent 30 years as a Virginia State Trooper; thus my User Name.
Thanks again Guys, as always the Campfire has the Best Boots on the Ground Info on the Net!

I misread the post, saw 7 years and must've thought area 7. Either way, you wouldn't shoot a spike in area 7, and a big bull will fit in a 150qt and 77qt cooler.


Now go be outraged about something else.

I think you are on track. I use a 150 and 120 for a large elk, boned, wrapped, frozen. I’m not sure you can make it to VA without crossing CWD rule states. I also bring a 54 in case I don’t need both big coolers.

Be careful with dry ice inside your vehicle. Dirt naps not allowed!

99% of success is the details. Don't concern yourself with those.

Much like your use of zone vs area.....keep dreaming of having a clue.

Why all the outrage?

Hey Werner, bring a lunch cooler with you when you come out to Wyoming this fall. I have a few leftover packages of elk steaks you can have. That will be all the elk meat you'll take back to Iowa.

I have 3 elk tags in Wyoming as per usual, and will fill them all.

I'm slumming it with only two elk tags, albeit in one of the best units (in my opinion) in the state. Might end up holding out til December if need be...

Mr. Werner, I'm not outraged, however you seem to be about almost everything.

To the OP good luck this season.

Are 'natives' guaranteed 3 tags? Are they 'entitled' to them (at half price)?

Asking for an actual tax-payer.

Yep, 3 licenses at resident prices.
I bet we pay taxes just like you do.
$143 for 3 licenses for us, how much you paying for your NR fees? Makes that elk meat kind of expensive doesn't it for NRs?



Did you draw those elk licenses you were counting on Mike?

Uh oh.

Does any government employee (or recipient) ever really pay taxes?

We sure appreciate your concern for our finances.

Outrage? Yikes, sounds scary!

What exactly do you contribute to the domestic product?

......other than buying Richard Simmons exercise VHS tapes.

Says someone that's been retired since....Reagan administration?

That’s some cold schit right there…

Buzz doesn't have friends in real life.

Yes, I do and I help my real friends kill the chit out of elk in Wyoming.

No one kills elk like Buzz and his ‘friends’.

First thing you've been right about this year.

I’ve found your cooler size needed is directly proportional to the honesty of your processor!!! I’ve needed 2 150 quarts for a few to 3/4 of a 150 quart.

I like two 150 quart coolers. Leaves plenty of space for ice and the lids to close!

Another option:
You can buy a 7 cu ft freezer (210 qt) at Home Depot for about $200. Weight about 70lb. It can be powered by a small generator or maybe an inverter on your truck as you drive. Possibly use an extension cord out your motel room window at night. You can run it until it's barely above freezing and it will hold for the better part of a day. Or you can freeze the meat and thaw it later to cut it up. There are lots of options. No ice needed.

I have brought several processed bull elk home to Georgia in coolers. I think the 150 and one 77 qt cooler should be enough for the meat and dry ice. When you get home all worn out from the drive, it’s nice to just load the meat directly into your freezer.

Regarding CWD, Georgia now requires that the meat be “processed .” No bringing back quarters anymore.

Take a pair of cheap cotton gloves for handling dry ice.
Take a small stack of newspaper to keep the ice away from the meat (the freezer paper won’t be enough).
Take a roll of duct tape to seal the seam around the top of the cooler.

The insulation board (R-Max?) underneath the coolers is an idea I had not thought of. But don’t plan to buy it or anything else essential in Wyoming unless you know of a place to get it that is convenient. Buying anything out there could cost you a half a day. They don’t have a Home Depot every 40 miles like we do.

Good thoughts above about keeping the antlers out of sight.

Finally, remember that elk season in Wyoming involves cool weather for those of us from the southeast, but as soon as you leave the mountains on your return trip it will probably be warm all the way home.

Good luck on your adventure, and give us a report when you get home.

Well no gov't employee here so not sure what the heck your post means. And yes we pay taxes, well with our great CPA we get money back every year, lol.

Did you draw those elk tags you were counting on?

Anyone who hunts another state just for the meat is nuts. It makes the price/lb way too expensive. You're hunting for the antlers or for the fun of it, not for the meat.

Good point Rock but with the right tags it can be cost affective, reduced price cow tags come to mind.

Who cares about cost-Effectiveness?

We have all the fun and the family feasts on food more expensive than caviar.

Win-win.

I’ve filled a 165 Qt igloo with a little leftover for a smaller cooler a couple of times on decent sized bulls - 10 lbs of dry ice is plenty to keep the processed meat frozen for 15-20 hours. Another 5-10 gets you home. Works the same for adequately cooled boned out meat if you kill later in the hunt.

Make everyone wrong & kill a monster.

Ditto.

If I were concerned about price per pound, I’d shop at Costco or Sam’s Club. I have never killed what I consider a real “trophy” bull, but every elk is a trophy. Just ask the 80% who are always unsuccessful year to year.