A good driven day or a hard week’s stalking can put several red, fallow or roe deer on the larder rail in short order, and every carcass has to reach chilled temperature before the weather turns it. In stalking country the nearest approved game dealer is often an hour off, and mains three-phase rarely reaches the edge of the wood. A refrigerated shipping container — sited at the yard, the farm or the shoot’s game room — turns that into a fixed, lockable chiller that holds a whole weekend’s cull at a steady low positive temperature. EuroReefer is an editorial site specialising in reefers; we hold no stock, depot or fleet, and this is one of several trades covered in our sector guides.
Chilled, not frozen
Game is hung, not frozen. Venison matures on the bone at a low positive temperature, so the box wants to sit at roughly 0 to +4 °C rather than deep-freeze. A reefer container runs across a standard −25 °C to +25 °C band, which covers chilled game with headroom to spare. Hanging carcasses on rails keeps air moving around each animal, and the insulated walls, floor and ceiling hold the setting even when the doors are opened again and again through a busy day at the larder.
Sizing for the season
Most quarry seasons run from early autumn to late winter — broadly September to February — so a unit earns its keep for a solid six months. Size it to your biggest expected day rather than the average one. Remember that the inside of a reefer is smaller than a dry box of the same format: the insulation takes thickness off every surface.
| Size | Interior (approx.) | Hanging headroom | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 ft | usable length well under the 2.99 m outer shell | tight | a small syndicate, a handful of beasts |
| 20 ft | 5.44 × 2.29 × 2.27 m | a full rail of large game | a weekend’s cull |
| 40 ft HC | 11.58 × 2.29 × 2.55 m | 2.55 m internal height | the largest beasts hung clear of the floor |
The high-cube 40 ft is the one to weigh up if you routinely hang the largest beasts clear of the floor — its 2.55 m internal height is headroom a standard box cannot give you. For most syndicates a 10 ft or 20 ft does the work. One caution on the 10 ft: the 2.99 m is an overall figure, and insulation plus the refrigeration unit take a large share, so treat it as a compact store rather than a three-metre one.
Power at the edge of the wood
The standard connection is three-phase 380/400 V through a CEE 32 A five-pin socket, drawing about 5 to 12 kW depending on format. That is the sticking point on many shoot sites, where only single-phase reaches the buildings. Some smaller formats run on 230 V single-phase — worth flagging the moment you enquire, because bringing in a new three-phase supply can add real cost to the job. A reefer uses roughly 70 to 170 kWh a day depending on format and set point, and the running cost simply follows your own electricity tariff. Cold units are built by Carrier, Thermo King, Daikin and Star Cool; a sound spares network matters more out here than the badge on the machine.
Hire for the season, or buy outright
Every figure below is ex VAT (UK VAT applies at 20 %), before delivery.
| Option | Indicative UK price (ex VAT) |
|---|---|
| Long-term hire | from ~£12/day |
| Used unit (class A or B) | £4,500 – 7,500 |
| New “one-trip” | £18,995 – 22,500 |
Long-term hire starts at around £12 a day, and a minimum term of about 90 days is common — which lines up neatly with a six-month season; some suppliers also offer short-term at a higher day rate. See reefer hire for the format-by-format picture. A serviceable used unit runs £4,500 – 7,500, usually class A or B, with 10 to 15 years of service life left; a class A machine is typically under 12 years old, so ask for a PTI (Pre-Trip Inspection) report dated within the last three months before you buy outright. A new one-trip box lands at £18,995 – 22,500.
Where does buying beat hiring? As a rule of thumb, past 18 to 24 months of continuous use the sums tip towards ownership — and a shoot that stores game every winter reaches that point over a few seasons rather than months. Our price guide sets the hire and purchase ranges side by side so you can run the comparison for your own use.
Game hygiene: confirm before you install
Storing and handling wild game is governed by hygiene rules that vary by country and by local authority. Where carcasses enter the food chain, a game-handling registration or HACCP-based controls may apply — treat this as a matter to settle with your local authority, not something a container specification decides. One point worth clearing up: ATP marks refrigerated transport, not a static, sited chiller. A container standing in the yard is storage, not a vehicle, so ATP does not apply to it.
Tell us the format, the temperature you need and where the box will stand, and we pass your request to specialist suppliers who contact you directly if they can meet your need. Send your details and compare hire and purchase offers in one go.
Frequently asked questions
What temperature should a game chiller hold?
Hung game is chilled, not frozen. Aim for a low positive temperature of about 0 to +4 °C so venison can mature on the bone without freezing the fibres. A refrigerated container works across a standard −25 °C to +25 °C band, so chilled duty sits well within range. Hang carcasses on rails so air circulates around each animal.
Can a refrigerated container run without three-phase power?
The standard connection is three-phase 380/400 V through a CEE 32 A five-pin socket, and many shoot yards have only single-phase. Ask suppliers whether a smaller format that runs on 230 V single-phase suits your day — some do. Bringing in a new three-phase supply can add real cost, so check what is already on site before you commit.
How much does it cost to hire one for the season?
On the UK market long-term hire starts at around £12 a day ex VAT, and a minimum term of about 90 days is common — which fits a September-to-February season neatly. Some suppliers also offer shorter terms at a higher day rate. On top of the hire you pay for electricity, roughly 70 to 170 kWh a day depending on format, billed at your own tariff.
Do I need registration to store wild game in a container?
It depends on your operation and where you are. Hygiene rules for wild game vary by country and local authority, and where carcasses enter the food chain a game-handling registration or HACCP-based controls may apply — confirm this with your local authority. Note that ATP covers refrigerated transport, not a static sited chiller, so it does not apply to a container standing in the yard.