Grouse Meat Storage

[Munchymoo]

Hello,
Just wondering what most people do when hiking and hunting grouse.
What do you keep the meat in for the day while you continue to hunt?
I haven't been bird hunting in a while and I always had a quad and a cooler.
Any advice to keep the meat fresh would be appreciated now that I will be walking all day.

Thanks

[alacringa]

Grouse hunting weather is usually pretty cool. I stuff grouse into my upland vest and dress them at/near the truck. It's unlikely for the meat to go bad over the course of a few hours.

[JonnyBoy0919]

Just throw them in the backpack and carry on. If it's especially warm out that day, I'll bring a cooler with some ice to throw the breasts in for the drive back home (which for me is the better part of an hour).

[heretohunt]

A grouse shot in the morning while hunting for big game usually becomes lunch.

[DiabeticKripple]

Right after I shoot them I Dress them out, but keep both wings on and throw them in my backpack. When I get home I clip the wings off and wash the breast then eat it.

[Munchymoo]

Thanks for the help!

[3blade]

Dress them out when you pick them up, and keep in an open bag in your pack. This accomplishes two things: allowing the meat to cool and preventing any spoilage caused by ruptured guts.

Keep the legs and hearts as well. They are great for making soup.

[sns2]

I have begun to hang my fowl for a day or two in my garage. I actually find the flavor better. And no it ain't rotten.

[3blade]

Originally Posted by sns2

I have begun to hang my fowl for a day or two in my garage. I actually find the flavor better. And no it ain't rotten.

How do you know if one got a pellet in the guts?

[Simpatico Outdoors]

Ive been experimenting with the hanging of birds as well and ive had no probelms with rot, spoilage, poor flavor or illness. My experience has been with Pheasants and grouse.
If temps are in mid teens or above i have drawn the birds innards out at the end of the hunt before travel home.
Cooler temps than this and i have just waited until arriving home.
At home i tie a string around their neck and either hand them in my wine room/cellar or the shed. I have left them from 2 days to as many as 5 days. when i have removed the feathers the meat has always been quite cool, never questionable and for lack of a better description a little softer. i have read you can also hang with the innards and really acheive some flavor but my concern is a damages intestine or stomach from shot.
Hope you harvest some birds and can try a few suggestions on here out!
Cheers

[Fwee6]

Originally Posted by DiabeticKripple

Right after I shoot them I Dress them out, but keep both wings on and throw them in my backpack. When I get home I clip the wings off and wash the breast then eat it.

x2. Leave most of the mess in the bush for the scavengers. Also endorsed by the Mrs.

[Mayhem]

I rarely hunt them in warm temps, if I did a couple small ice paks in your carry would do the trick.

Never tried aging them, can't wait that long before I eat em

[Fly_Fishing_EMT]

I heard in Scotland they hang them until the skin will slide off. We leave them in the truck whole for 3-7 days and never have had one spoil. At home I put them on my garage floor if I can't get to cleaning them right away. If meat is bad your nose will tell you and there will be no mistaking it.

[Mr.Brookie]

I wait till I get a few and clean them in a creek. If its warm I let the water cool them down, then put them in my pack in a plastic bag.

Brookie