I'll be huntine moose and caribou next month in Newfoundland. If I am fortunate enough to bag a bull moose and a caribou, how much cooler space will I need? The meat will be boned and frozen. Dry ice is not available.

Right now, I have a 120qt. igloo, a 105 igloo, and three 60 qt. coolers. If I can get by with these coolers, I will be able to transport them inside my vehicle. If not, I would have to take a pickup with an open bed and security would be problematic at best. Any and all advice would be appreciated. Stoney

I think it might be tight with just the 5 coolers.

You might consider taking the truck and putting a small freezer in the back. Then if you need to you could plug it in at the hotel. And not many people would be able to move a freezer with a moose and caribou in it.

Frozen meat packages never pack well.

Just a thought.


Graylake

This (the freezer idea) is precisely what we intend to do for an October combined-game hunt west of Grande Prairie, Alberta, against the BC border.

Driving a 3/4 ton truck carrying a chest freezer from the USA, if our success warrants it, we will buy another freezer in the hunting area and rent a U-Haul trailer for the trip home. The trailer will only cost about $160 Canadian from GP to Reno NV, and I need another freezer here at home anyway.

If all three of us tag out on white-tail and elk, both freezers will be full for sure, and it's far easier to deal with finding an overnight power outlet than juggling ice etc for a dozen coolers!

Has anyone tried a 12v/120v power inverter to run a freezer? I think 1500 watts should handle the load, but I'm concerned about the startup transition.

have you checked with u.s. customs about bringing meat across the border. those power
packs (inverters) are rated up to 1500 watts
they also can be charged with a solor panel

Stoneybroke
That should be enough cooler space if you bone out the meat. If you keep the meat iced down it should be good for 14 days. I would place the meat in plastic trash bags to keep it dry.
I have crossed the Canadian Border into the US with bear meat without problem.
I have killed and eaten caribou meat before the rut and it was delicious. Moose meat is very good.
Top off the ice and drain the excess water every other day.
I put myself through college working as a Butcher, and I process all my own game meat.
I think I am pretty close in estimating the moose/caribou vs your stated cooler capacity.
Good luck on your hunt.

quote:

N E 450 No2

Thanks for the information. My meat will be cut,wrapped, and hopefully frozen before I leave for home. Using just the five coolers, I can fit everthing inside my Sequoia. On Monday, I will call call customs at Calais ME, to see if I can cross there with my meat.

Stoney;

Please let us know what they say at Calais, will you? One of my partners is making similar inquiries here on the western end of the US/Canada line, and we'll see how the answers compare.

Thanks.

A bull moose can easily weigh over 1000lbs so even cut and wrapped you will have roughly 400lbs of meat.Add in a caribou at 300lbs and you have roughly another 100lbs of meat for a total of roughly 500lbs.Your coolers might make it,but it will be close.