Well, if this year is fortunate enough to be my year for harvesting my first deer ever, I need to make sure I'm prepped for the field dressing part. I have a skinning knife, field dressing gloves and water but, do I need anything else? Never field dressed a deer so, gonna be interesting to say the least. I've watched videos and read about field dressing but, nothing like actually doing it. All recommendations appreciated. :thumbsup:
(http://i1161.photobucket.com/albums/q506/ORShooter1/100_2007_zps2caa5706.jpg) (http://s1161.photobucket.com/user/ORShooter1/media/100_2007_zps2caa5706.jpg.html)
Cloth sacks for any vitals you're gonna keep. 1 per. Liver, heart, or whatever else. Cheap white pillow cases do well.
Old timer told me a long time ago, especially in early season...if you don't want flies bothering the meat in transit put black pepper on the exposed meat. I tried it more than once. It works.
I'm get'n lazy though. I take the whole deer underessed to the processor. Just easier for me. He's about 15 miles from where I hunt.
Never heard of the black pepper suggestion before. Sometimes them old timers know tricks that just work. I'll through a small can in my pack. :thumbsup:
Does that knife look like it will do the trick?
QuoteOriginally posted by Wannabe1:
Never heard of the black pepper suggestion before. Sometimes them old timers know tricks that just work. I'll through a small can in my pack. :thumbsup:
Does that knife look like it will do the trick?
As long as it's sharp and you go slow it'll work just fine.
QuoteOriginally posted by Wannabe1:
[QB] Never field dressed a deer so, gonna be interesting to say the least.
Yep get yourself a tyvek full body suit. You'll have blood everywhere, including you hair :D
Now to be serious... In the future just go to a farm store and buy a box of the shoulder lenght plastic gloves that vets and farmers us to check cows. They cost about what two or three packages of the shoulder lenght feild dressing gloves do and they come in a 100 pair box. I use the farms gloves cause I always end up with more blood on me than what ends up on the ground. but I also put doctors gloves over them cause they fit tight and keep the plastic shoulder gloves in place on your hands and gives you better grip with the knife.
And the other thing is to just SLOW down and take your time.
This is what I carry in what I call my "gut bag":
Wyoming Knife,
trail marking tissue- orange,
Plastic gloves,
Singles edged razor blades - I use them to trim the breast fur before I cut,
small zip ties to tie off for rectum and attaching tags,
Leatherman tool with saw to cut the breast bone,
Plastic bag for liver and heart,
Deer drag - old seat belt strap w/ loops on each end - 6-7 foot long,
A couple hand wipes,
Small compass - usually around my neck
All this goes in a small pouch that goes on my belt. Should I get a hit it's all I need to and start tracking.I usually leave all else (except my bow) at my stand location when i start out to track
sometimes a small sharp hatchet or bone saw is nice for the pelvis and breastplate. Its easily done with a knife too but depending on the knife and your resharpening skills its easier to but those bones with a hatchet or saw. Saves the razor edge for skinning and such
That knife will do fine. I prefer the USA made Old Timer drop point guthook.
I got that knife about 9 yrs ago as a gift from a friend and it has never been used. It is a Muela. Pretty sharp and fits my hand nicely. Hopefully I'll christen it this year! :pray:
I have a friend that has field dressed many dear with nothing more than a scalpel with,dispossible blade.
Does a really meat job of it.
I use a small knife and the gloves.
Pillow cases and something to sharpen that beautiful knife halfway through the job. Regular disposable gloves work for me and the first animal may be messy if you cut something you did not intend to. See if you can help a friend butcher his animal too and he/she will help guide you through the process either way you will do fine!
Thanks for all the responses folks!
Bjorn: Wish I had someone to hunt with and kind of be my mentor but, I don't know of anyone nearby where I live that is a bowhunter. Usually, when I can get the time off to go, I go it alone.
I carry a razor sharp knife with a 3-4" flat backed blade. Sometimes a mora, sometimes a little fin or my case folder with the 2 blades. I have no problem splitting the sternum, even on really large, old bucks. I don't split the pelvis. I "core" around the anus and it pulls through when you pull the guts out. I like the flat back on the blade so I don't pop the bladder when doing this. I do anywhere from 10 to 30 deer a season like this. I never get bloody above my wrists and by the end of season it should take well less than 5 minutes without rushing.
My first deer took over 45 minutes to gut, I cut everything I wasn't supposed to and was covered in blood, guts and urine. The meat was just fine. Don't worry just take your time and enjoy it! People say that if you rupture the guts it will affect the meat. Bull. At least when gutting. I bet 30% of the deer I kill are quartering away, so I just clip the stomach on the entrance. I can't tell the difference between them and broadside hits where only heart and lungs are hit.
Gloves are a good idea and a few small ziplocks for the heart and liver.
I sure hope you get one! The hi-lite of the day is a warm gut pile. The drag out is a labor of love.
Good luck
Thank you Stan! My hopes are high and I'm going scouting again this Saturday. Gonna take my camera this time and hopefully snap a few shots.
Done it more then a few times with a decent pocket knife. Out of the 50ish I've done, never once had to resharpen anything. Can't recall the last time I had blood above my wrist either.
I took my 49th whitetail last year(full disclosure - not all with a bow)...done all of those....and probably been in on another 100 or so deer and hogs...
Here's what I pack.
Knife with a medium sized blade, plus a gut-hook. I've opened up a bunch, but the safest way is with a hook. If you've never done one I'd give you a 9 in 10 chance of puncturing the intestines or stomach.
Nitrile gloves. At least 2 pairs.
couple of 5-6 ft. sections of string can be handy to help control the legs if you don't have a buddy with you to hold them.
Bags for any innards you're keeping.
A good drag. Dragging a buck by his rack is over-rated...LOL...
Wet wipes (the bacteriocidal kind)...a neat alternative is the wipes that are dried and shaped in the form of large pills....Add just a bit of water and it is a wipe (this, of course, only works if you have the water)
And a camera...I've spent too many days in the field without a camera. These days, a camera is almost as important to have as my bow.
i just carry a knife and small folding saw and 3 pcs, rope.Iuse the rope to hold the legs open and a pcs around the neck to hold the deer up hill so when you gut it .it all rolls out.then i hang the deer up in a tree.put a stick between the rib cage to let it cool.
Knife is all you really need. Use the gutless method and all you carry out is clean meat- no blood, no guts and it takes about 20 minutes or less. A few wet wipes in a small bag wipes everything nicely.
Gutless method for me
What is the gutless method?
I only carry a knife, rubber gloves, rubber bands and string to tie off the rectum. The rubber bands are for keeping the shoulder length gloves in place. I never split the pelvis, just cut around the outer edge area of the rectum blade length deep and then pull the rectum up and tie it off. You can finish cutting out the rectum from the body cavity and pull threw.
Skin the deer taking the hind quarters, front shoulders, backstrap, and neck. Trim off some very little small portions left on the ribs. Nice and clean. Can't make two hamburgers of good meat with what's left. Oh, and don't forget the tender loins
Google gutless cleaning deer, it's easier to understand if you see it
QuoteOriginally posted by Wannabe1:
What is the gutless method? [
Check out "gutless field dress" on youtube. You'll see some good videos. Works like a charm.
Thanks guys, appreciate the help. :thumbsup:
I use the gutless method in warm weather. I then tenderize ( age) the meat in a refrig.
You will see a few on Youtube. . . but I do it like Fred Eichler does an elk http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IGCAY5Amvn4
I leave the hide on the rear quarters for easy carry, though I bone out the shoulders and carry out all the meat in my turkey vest (which I always wear instead of a backpack- even deer hunting.) the only optional issue is whether you are keeping the cape and antlers- but with a little care that is easily removed too.
Good hunting. You will have fun
Use an alice pack and a contractors plastic bag. It's not as easy as a pack frame, but our deer don't weigh as much as northern deer do.
I'd add a couple things - though traveling light is a blessing sometimes.
A 12 feet or so of 5/16" cord to fashion a deer drag (mine is an ancient Hunters Specialties that has a web strap for comfort).
Also, a resealable travel pack of disposable baby wipes. Clean you and the knife up better than water, and are TP from heaven vs. dry leaves (or icy, wet leaves).
I also keep a candy bar in my pack. After the deer is down I eat it to calm down and reflect, then have the energy for the drag after the field dressing.
A good flashlight like a Main Beam or a Fenix PD30 or 32 is worth it's weight in gold if you end up blood-trailing and field dressing after dark.
Don't forget a pen to fill out your license/tag depending on your local laws.
Contents of my field dressing kit: a bottle of water, two flashlites, a compass, tissue paper or flagging tape, the vet gloves and the short gloves over top, paper towels, the short fish filet knife works great for cutting around the rectum cavity, (it's all I use for the entire job on a deer)(If it's hogs we're after, I add a skinning knife), an all sharps to keep it that way, tags and zip ties, deer drag webbing kit, camera, extra batterys for flashlite and camera, cell phone. Pillow cases for meat carrying and maybe a small nylon tarp for laying under a hog to keep meat clean. A feed sack works as a small tarp too.
Seems like a lot, but it stays in camp or vehicle until tracking begins. Whole separate operation for me.
I guess if you are out on a DIY wilderness hunt, you leave a few items out and do without.
OH YEAH...and a strong young partner to help drag..LOL
Irv Eichorst
www.truesouthadventures.com (http://www.truesouthadventures.com)
I do all my gutting with a folding case pocket knife but the knife you have pictured will do fine. I start by carving around the rectum first, then start my cut at the rib cage and cut down with the grain of the hair. Just be careful not to cut into the guts or stomach if you do it makes the work that much more unpleasant. Pay attention to what your doing and if you make a mistake just correct it next time.
Not a bunch of monkeying around and backpacks full of stuff needed to gut a deer. I use the little folding pocket knife I always carry around, a couple of the wet-naps are nice to have to clean up your hands. Here's a tip - a couple days later peeling and cutting up an apple for a snack on the next hunt will clean off your knife REAL nicely!
I worry more about having a camera handy to take pictures of the deer before the field dressing than the actual field dressing part. Trust me, if you mess something up the deer won't complain.
R
I've done several with my Case Trapper pocket knife, I skin with it too. A big knife isn't needed and too big can cause problems.
With experience and taking your time will lead to much less mess in the deer and on you. I've never worn gloves and normally only my fingers are bloody when I'm done.
Good Luck!!
Some like gut hooks, some don't. IMO it makes the "unzipping" part safer and cleaner. Even in good light and with extra hands, I tend to prick something I shouldn't. Keep the head higher than the butt and most of the insides will roll out with some trimming around the connective tissue and wind pipe.
a knife - I have never worn gloves but some do.
Cut with the grain of the fur is good advice and will keep it cleaner. I tell everyone I help with their first - it's just like a big fish - take out the parts you do not want to eat and you are good to go. With the knife you have the chest should open right up so no need for a saw there. Even with a little folding knife you can cut the chest cavity open along one side or the other where the cage meets the breast plate. Pretty easy if this is something you prefer.
I prefer just reaching up inside for the wind pipe in the rare cases I do not go "gutless" - the smaller the opening the less that finds it's way inside dragging.
I use a knife, shoelace and thats it! I never get much blood On me At all, just my HANDS and I use a forked stick to carry heart and liver. I also never have any of it with me, I run home put on my guttin clothes and grab my knife and a shoelace and my deerdrag if its a doe! Pretty simple and I can dress a deer In a few minutes tops. Shawn
I'll second the Case Trapper, and add the Case Sod Buster Jr. Both of these will hone to a hair shaving edge. I remember the first time I watched an expert dress a hanging deer with a razor sharp trapper style pocket knife. He was a deer skinning Jedi. I kinda felt silly standing there with a big ole skinning knife, but I took notes. Not that there is a thing wrong with the knife you have pictured...it will do the job for sure. Small, hair shaving sharp blades are my choice these days.
I just happen to have a Case Sod Buster Jr. One of my favorite little pocket knives. I won't use it for hunting though as it is to pass down to my son when he comes of age.
Thanks for all the tips and suggestions. If I get one down, now I have a pretty good idea what to do. :thumbsup:
I know i'm going to get flamed for this but my friend gave me the "Butt Out" tool as a joke and I tried it one time and it works like a charm. No cutting around and no need to split the pelvis. Makes things very clean for the ride home and the butchering at the house.
Yup, butt out is very nice, still have to cut and tie The intestine off is it! I am not a yank and pull gutter, I am neat, cut thru The diaphragm than reach up cut windpipe and roll On side and cut along backbone as I take everything out, if done right it all comes out In pretty much one pile! Shawn
I cant remember the last time I killed a deer within a mile or two or more of the truck. Living where you do you could find yourself in that situation. Whole lot easier to cut it up and pack it out if you cant just gut it and drag it a couple hundred feet to you truck. Gutless and a good pack works way better.
QuoteOriginally posted by 4dogs:
I cant remember the last time I killed a deer within a mile or two or more of the truck. Living where you do you could find yourself in that situation. Whole lot easier to cut it up and pack it out if you cant just gut it and drag it a couple hundred feet to you truck. Gutless and a good pack works way better.
WAYYYY better. I am 50 and in a line of 5 generations of deer hunters. All we knew was the gut and drag thing. . . I can not believe all the work we did. . . especially those back breaking north woods cedar swamps! It was the tradition and all we knew. . . It really makes no good sense when you think about it though. I can actually bone out a deer in about the same time I can gut a deer. No mess and I can carry the entire deer out with no work. Besides, the carcass is incredible feed for many animals- consumed in a day or two.
This past late season a friend of mine shot 2 does in one early AM sit. We were on a schedule crunch. He was going to leave the deer until later in the day to come get them. I pulled out my folding knife and told him if we had 20 minutes we could take both out. He was shocked to see me part out a deer in ten minutes. 10 x 2 = 20 minutes. Strap the quarters to our treestand/packs and my turkey vest carried straps, boned shoulders, neck and tenderloins.
WAYYYYY too easy!
In theory you only need a sharp knife, but i like a caping knife as well, a small bone saw, gloves, and a game bag. With a little practice I feel like less is more.
I have never used gloves. It seems like it would be more difficult to get a grip and really feel what you are doing. Besides a little blood won't hurt you, it washes right off! All I use is one knife. I'm thinking of maybe getting a small folding saw cause I always have a horrible time splitting the tail bone. Hope you get one this year! Good hunting.
Thanks Tristan! Good luck with your season also. What type of folding saw do you recommend?
Don't mean to be contrary but you do need to be a little careful with any animal blood...it can hurt you. Had a friend who cut himself while taking apart a cow elk, got some sort of bug from the blood and ended up loosing his thumb and had quite a battle on his hands for a while...use glove and be careful.
ANY animal is correct as 4dogs said above. And be extra careful with bone marrow and brains. I do not saw through anything just cut a joint apart with a knife. A lot has been written about the problems you and your loved ones can be exposed to by a lack of knowledge on the field care of game be careful out there.
The Black pepper works really well, been doing it for years. I started using a folding razor knife. If it gets dull just change the blade, fits nice in the pocket. The gloves I personally won't use because I can't grip anything, innards and such just slip out of your hand. You really need to be careful with your blade, many a man (including myself) has required stitches from trying to hurry. You'll develop your own system. I wish you luck!
Wannabe1 what you have will be fine I would throw a smal sharping stone in there go slow and watch what ur hands are doing. I have done a lot of deer with my lil buck knife no gloves but thats was then now just buy a box of gloves it works but I can haul the whole.deer out after I gut him pretty close to Roads here and a pla,e to hang him
Make certain you are allowed to do it "gutless" in your state before you do. Some states require you to check in the carcass. . with bones.
Try to keep it simple. You can go very nuts and very meticulous, and you can go quick and dirty with only a small pocket knife or even a broadhead if you forget your knife. It gets easier with every passing deer.
Whatever you do, get it home, get it clean, and get it cool. I hose mine out once I get home. Make certain to let it dry out after the hose, but you get any spilled "gunk" off the carcass and it helps keep it sanitary, as well as starting it on its way to chilling.
ChuckC
I realize water can help in some cleaning of a full carcass, but if you do- dry it out ASAP with dry clothes. Water promotes rapid bacterial growth. Temps above 40 also promote rapid bacterial growth. Cooling down, dry, and clean are critical.
What about antibiotic cream? Am I the only guy who ever cut himself cleaning an animal?
I seem to only kill deer when I forget my knife at home!
QuoteI seem to only kill deer when I forget my knife at home!
If I knew that could happen to me, I'd leave it at home just to get my first deer and then call my wife and have her bring it to me! :biglaugh:
I don't gut big game either. I always carry a pocket knife in my front pocket and a spare in my backpack. Also have a short, bout 3" long piece of ceramic glued into a piece of deer antler I carry in my pack to keep my blade sharp as I bone out the game for packing out.
Requires always having to use a backpack, but I keep it light as possible..cold weather I have to carry clothes in it anyway.
Never saw the need for gloves. The blood never has hurt me. If you cut yourself you are going to cut the glove, so how is it going to keep you from getting infected. A sharp knife, a plastic bag [for liver and heart], a head lamp and a drag rope are all I need.
my sharpening kit and whatever knife I'm carrying that day.
(http://www.tradgang.com/upload/charlie/sharpeningkit.jpg)
If you're really a novice, I highly recommend watching the Deer and Big game processing video produced by Outdoor Edge. Yes, they'll try to market their stuff, but it's very informative.
IMO, that knife is not the best choice. I much prefer a drop point. You are very likely to nick the gut with that one.
I use an Outdoor Edge Swingblade now
(http://images.cabelas.com/is/image/cabelas/s7_517883_002_01?rgn=0,0,2000,995&scl=5.2631578947368425&fmt=jpeg&id=2RS8mwde_9Xo28JPV-Mlnf)
The orange handle is incredibly helpful when you lay it down :)
I carried a Buck Crosslock for many years and did many deer with that one.
(http://jaysknives.com/buck/buckcotecrosslock.jpg)
2 gallon ziplocs for heart, liver and tenderloins.
Nitrile gloves.
Wet wipes.
Cordage.
Zip ties and tags.
The Butt Out tool is very helpful. I never split the pelvis as I feel it dries out the meat there and exposes it to dirt, etc. And it is the best meat on the deer, except the backstraps and tenderloins of course.
8 feet of soft in the hand braided 1/4 inch rope. VERY handy to pull back the leg etc. I hang mine on my knife handle as it rides on my hip, but your set up may not allow that- anyway its all you need with what you have pictured from deer to elk. Game bags excepted.
Joshua
Having only dressed a few deer myself, a couple of things I will suggest. First, consider the weather if possible. Nice cool temps will allow you to take your time and not be rushed
especially if you are alone. I also carry one of the small anti clot patches in case of a cut. Be aware of where your knife is at all times ( especially where you lay it down). Seems like the most likely time to get cut is when your really reaching up to your elbows. Hope this helps. Long time lurker new member.
Thanks for the tip and welcome to the site officially! :thumbsup:
If the yellowjackets are bad, like it may be this fall since we had a mild winter, I carry a full head net to keep those vermin off my face.
For a deer, if you're going to head right home...drag it out whole or cut in half and tie it to a packboard...then skin the deer at home. Get less hair and dirt on the meat then skinning in the woods. If you do decide to skin or bone out your deer in the woods, I carry several little space blankets. They're very small when folded and cheap! Spread one out and they provide a nice clean area to lay meat. I always carry two of those when Im elk hunting.
A small pocket knife will work just as well, if not better for butchering a deer!
Get some baby wipes and put in a zip-lok bag. Besides having them for the obvious, they work great for cleaning your hands after field dressing if there isn't a creek handy.
Just use caution while cutting the windpipe, have cut myself more times then I can count when I get rushed in that area.
Field dressing will be the max I go with it if I get one. Since never having done it, I can guarantee I won't be boning out a deer 'til I have more experience! Right now my plan would be to field dress, drag to vehicle and deliver to the butcher shop.
Ron, thanks for the reminder on the yellow jackets. I forgot about those buggers. :thumbsup:
For whitetails, I just carry my Esee izula 2 in a neck knife, and have a plastic bag for heart and liver. I have not had any issue dressing a whitetail with just a knife. Though I also have either my stand vest, or piece of rope, to drag deer out. Once back to truck, water and hand sanitizer soap.