Promptly field dressing wild game and properly caring for meat are key to minimizing gaminess and ensuring you fill your freezer with safe, delicious meals for months to come. But keeping game cool in the field can be much more complicated than chilling game day snacks or drinks at the tailgate — it demands a performance cooler that can stand up to the rigors of the hunt. Here’s what to look for in a hunting cooler.
Size
Consider the species you hunt when choosing the size of your cooler. Although individual animals can vary in weight, a 65-quart cooler will hold the average whitetail or pronghorn, whether quartered or deboned. If you plan to put a quartered or deboned bear in your cooler, a 125-quart model will be able to carry all the meat. Mule deer fall somewhere in the middle, while larger game such as elk or moose will provide hundreds of pounds of meat, so you’ll need an even larger option or multiple coolers.
Durability
Heavy loads and unpredictable conditions in the great outdoors mean you’ll need a cooler that’s built to take some abuse. Look for heavy-duty construction, durable materials, and quality components that can stand up to the backcountry for years of successful hunting to come.
Ice Retention
Bargain coolers packed with ice might initially cool down wild game, but they won’t keep it cold for the hours or days it takes to get all your meat to a freezer. Choose a cooler engineered with double-walled construction and a freezer-grade lid gasket that can retain ice and keep contents cold for several days.