Great Gift Idea: FoodSaver Game Savers

Proven fact: Vacuum sealed fish and game lasts much, much longer in the freezer. Especially with bags made with the right protective material. Being able to keep fish and meat edible for a longer period of time should translate into less fish killed, fewer groceries purchased, and more money saved.

If you're like me, you find a little surprise at the bottom of the freezer every so often: A freezer bag full of forgotten fillets so freezer burned even the cat won't touch them.

Here's a better way. The FoodSaver Game Saver Bronze. Costs about $169. Comes in a cool camo finish. New this year, the Game Saver Bronze tilts up vertically for easy feed and easy storage when not in use and it can repititively seal enough times to package all the straps, steaks, burger, and roasts from an entire deer. more fish tback in the water, the better the fishing will be in years to come.

In my opinion, salmon, steelhead, trout — any salmonid fillets frozen for more than a week or so...well. Taste is compromised quite a bit. Oily fish don't keep in the freezer.

But, vacuum sealed with FoodSavers new Dam Bag, salmon continues to taste fresh for over a year. And these are heavy-duty bags, mate. Protruding bones won't puncture them, and the insulating value is high — much better than a typical freezer bag.

The FoodSaver site offers some special deals right now with Dam Bags included, plus outdoor tips on saving other gear. Never thought about keeping hooks, leaders, and terminal gear from rusting by vacuum sealing them in small packs, or keeping scented soft baits from breaking down.

Simple to use. Makes a great gift idea. Best of all, it prevents wasting game and fish. How many more fish could you release if you never lost any more to freezer burn? In my case, it will probably save 20 panfish, a couple trout, a few walleyes, and various other fish from being harvested every year.

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The Bronze is just one of several models available from FoodSaver. The Game Saver Silver is a step up in size and runs about $199 — right for bigger game and bigger jobs.