Wet-Lock Boxes

[8x57 Mauser]

3 guys will fly out on a Beaver for mountain goats and deer.

A week later the Beaver will pick us up.

So how many wet-lock boxes do we take with us? And do we have to buy the 25# boxes to fit 'em in the Beaver, or can we get away with buying the 50#?

Another way to ask this would be: How many wet-lock boxes (of which size) per goat? How many per deer?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Michael Strahan]

Meat boxes for deer / goat hunt

Meat boxes for deer / goat hunt

3 guys will fly out on a Beaver for mountain goats and deer.

A week later the Beaver will pick us up.

So how many wet-lock boxes do we take with us? And do we have to buy the 25# boxes to fit 'em in the Beaver, or can we get away with buying the 50#?

Another way to ask this would be: How many wet-lock boxes (of which size) per goat? How many per deer?

Thanks in advance.

Mauser,

The boxes you speak of come in at least a half-dozen sizes. You might consider leaving the boxes at your air charter, and then boxing the meat upon your return. Most charters will allow you to just load the game bags full of meat in the aircraft, or at least put it on a tarp in the airplane. A better alternative is to simply haul the meat back to where you have access to a retailer with boxes, and just get what you need right then. Hard to say how many you'll need before you've actually done the hunt! )

I don't know the logistics you're dealing with, but if I could, I'd wait to buy them until I knew how much meat I had (and capes / hides).

-Mike

 

[twodux]

plastic tubs

plastic tubs

If you're determined to take something, I like the plastic Rubbermaid tubs over wet-lock boxes. They are sturdier, don't leak, easily cleaned and re-usable. Also they stack easily for shipping empty. When I use them I cut the front and rear quarters off the deer and bone out the neck, ribs and backstrap and put the loose meat in game bags. I can usually get 1 1/2 to 2 deer in a tub depending on size of the animals. The bush planes charge you by the load as long as it fits and the plane isn't overloaded. Now that Alaska air charges you for anything over 50 lbs, you may get tagged for extra shipping, but I think ERA will let a heavier parcel go. It might be cheaper to air-freight it to yourself, but you need to be signed up as a known shipper with Alaska.

I recommend cooling the meat well before putting it in the tub, and also don't put it in the tub until just before you travel. Beings it's plastic, it doesn't breath. Good meat needs air circulation, but for short plane rides these tubs work fine. Also clean your meat well beforehand including getting rid of all bloodshot meat. just as one bad apple spoils the whole barrel, a bad piece of meat will affect the whole tub full. And last, if you can find some of those pads for soaking up blood that they use in wet-lock boxes, it doesn't hurt to put one in the bottom of the tub. Ohhh and don't forget the duct tape to keep the lid on