Hunting becomes a lot less enjoyable when you try to serve spoiled meat at dinnertime. You may have noticed slightly spoiled meat even when you thought you processed your game quickly, but don’t worry—we can help. Read on to learn how hunters keep their meat from spoiling.

Reduce Heat ASAP

Heat is your enemy whether you’re hunting in the summer or winter. In the summer, you have two problems to worry about: the heat from the outdoors and the animal’s internal heat. In the winter, only the latter matters. Try to avoid leaving the guts in an animal overnight, as the low temperatures outside can’t cool many larger animals quickly enough.

Additionally, remove the hide. While some think that the hide keeps meat cleaner, it can also trap heat. Cleanliness is critical, but there are other ways to help on that front.

Cleanliness Is Key

Dirty meat is a no-go for many reasons. Mud and dirt don’t make for particularly good seasonings, and getting the animal’s hair on the meat can transfer over nasty flavors, like feces or urine. When cutting meat in the wild, make sure to bring along a tarp, or hang the meat up to keep debris away.

Another way to avoid having hair come in contact with the meat is to bring a very sharp knife. With a dull blade, you’ll need to yank on the hide to remove it, providing tons of opportunities for hair to come loose and fall on the meat. A sharp blade lets you cut down on tugging, which reduces the chances for hair to contaminate your kill.

Invest in a Sealer

Once you get your meat home and slice it up just the way you want it, you’ll want a way to preserve it for weeks or even months. Your best bet is to invest in a vacuum sealer for fish and game that can handle large quantities. This process can extend your meat’s shelf life and help you avoid that gross freezer-burned flavor.

Now that you know how hunters keep their meat from spoiling, try out these tips and enjoy fresh-tasting meat for months!