I have drawn a moose tag and going hunting next weekend. Advice has been comming in all directions since people heard my name was drawn. My question is, I have been told not to wash out the rib cage with water or the meat will go slimey. Is there any truth to this? All advice is welcome, we will be hunting in 15 to 20 degree weather C. / 59 to 70 degrees F. Thanks for any advice.

It could be a little cooler or warmer but we can get to a cooler quite soon (2/4 hrs). I think not shooting in water is in reference to how hard and wet they are to get out.

There is one piece of Moose hunting advice I was given that made REAL good sense . . . DON'T shoot a moose in the water if you can avoid it.

The faster the meat cools and dries the better protected it will be.
That is pretty warm weather for such large pieces of meat to cool with the hide on.

How soon can you get it in to a cooler!

Get the hide off as quick as possible, hang it in meat bags in the shade. Even if you have to work into the night, get that hide off so the meat will cool. If the nights are cool, it should be fine. I've kept meat hanging for 2 days with daytime temps in the 70s by wrapping it in sleeping bags during the day and removing the covering at night. The key is to get it cool to begin with and that won't happen with the hide on. I've wiped the meat down with a 50/50 mix of vinegar and water, just damp to clean it, the meat will form a pedicle(coating) and protect it. If you have bears in the area, that's another story....good luck.