Extension > Food > Food Safety > Preserving and preparing > Meat and fish > Field dress and transport deer safely
Field dress and transport deer safely
To field dress and transport deer safely:
- Dress the carcass as soon as possible.
- Remove any visible dirt, feces, hair and bloodshot areas.
- For starters, you need to keep the carcass clean and quickly cool it to 35-40 ° F. to prevent bacterial growth.
- Clean your knife frequently between cuts to avoid contaminating the meat.
- Wipe out the cavity with individual paper towels and prop the cavity open with a clean stick to aid in air circulation.
- If you wash the cavity with water, dry the area quickly to prevent spoilage.
- After cleaning the cavity, you can add ice or snow sealed in plastic storage bags and pack them in the cavity.
- Keep the carcass out of direct sunlight. Don't tie the carcass across the hood or roof of a car or put it in the trunk while it is still warm.
- If the carcass is skinned in warm weather and flies are a problem, keep surfaces clean, sprinkle with ground pepper and cover with cheesecloth.
- For immediate use, store the venison in the refrigerator and use within two to three days or freeze.
References
- Care and handling of deer from field to table – Kansas State University
- From field to table: a pocket guide to care for and handle deer and elk – North Dakota State University
Revised 2011 by Roselyn Biermaier, University of Minnesota Extension educator.
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