Gutting question

[Sam McMichael]

I have gutted a bunch of deer with a single blade Case Sod Buster.  I now prefer a locking knife, even though I have never had a problem. A sharp knife used deftly doesn't really need a lock blade, but I tend to be a bit clumsy. I used to split the pelvis but haven't done so for quite a while.

[two4hooking]

I use my old barlow for everything these days.... but I am a little traditional LOL

[mparks]

I use one just like the picture in the opening post.  Only use the smaller, trapper blade.  Sure wouldn't want anything bigger for the bung hole procedure. Ha!

[toddster]

Like most everyone here, I have dressed many animals, and love using a small blade, for control.  Years ago I bought and carried and Esee Izula2 on my neck.  I have dressed countless deer, turkey, squirrel and hogs with this little knife.  It is fixed, stays sharp and can be carried around my neck or slip in my pocket.  For the major incision I have used outdoor edge zip blade and swiss army hunter knife, both work awesome, but can do the same with my esse just takes few seconds longer.

[newhouse114]

I gave up splitting the pelvis AND cutting out the bung, years ago. I reach up inside of the pelvis and pull any fecal matter back up the colon so there is just gut. I grab the gut and the urethra TIGHT and just cut it loose as far up as I can and pull it all out. DO NOT slacken your grip on the urethra or you might dump urine all over the inside of the gut cavity. I have also used the "gutless" method many times. And as to knife size, I have completely gutted, skinned, and quartered more moose than I can remember with nothing more than a swiss army knife (farmer model).

[cch]

Gutless and Havalon for me also.

[David Mitchell]

Man that Butt Out tool works great for what you want to do. I always have mine along.

[BWD]

A fish fillet knife can go along way towards hiney reaming without splitting the pelvis.

[woodchucker]

I'm with Newhouse, just pull & cut... Been doing it that way for over 40 years!!!

[shankspony]

Originally posted by Bisch:
I use my Havalon knife for everything. It only has about a 3" blade. And I agree with Warden609 about the lockblade. If you do not have a lockblade, you will eventually fold the knife onto your fingers and cut yourself.

Bisch

Yep, me too, Great little lite weight setup that doesn't get in the way. And amazing what you can do with that little scalpel!
If you haven't done many bung holes this way though, i would say maybe a bit bigger sturdier knife than the Havalon or the knife pictured. it will make it a bit easier until you have it down sweet.

[screamin]

I have a Havalon or two and and Outdoor Edge, I prefer the heavier blade of the Outdoor Edge for elk and the Havalon for deer... but... gutting is a waste of time imo. For instance, I was on a cow elk hunt this year with a friend and both of us shot a cow on the same ridge, rifles, and they went down within 50 yards of each other. He gutted his and by the time he was done I had my cow 3/4 of the way boned out and bagged. I split the ribs about where the heart would be and reached in and pulled it out, my family doesn't like the liver, which would be a good reason to gut em if you do. I do the same with deer, which only takes about 30 minutes.

[YosemiteSam]

I use a cheap 4" fixed blade I picked up for about $15 on Amazon.  It's light for backpacking and gets the job done.  If I lose it or break it, it's nothing to cry about.  I sharpen it once in the middle of quartering with the gutless method.  A good knife is like a good walking stick -- it should be fairly light, easy to grip, easy to use, sturdy enough to handle a little bit of abuse and easily discarded the moment it is inconvenient.

I emptied the guts one time after quartering so I could remove more meat scraps.  By that time, most of the prime meat was gone so I wasn't too concerned about spoiling it all that much.  As others have said, just pull it all and cut it off rather than trying to do surgery.  Saves time, energy & a heck of a lot of frustration.

[Mint]

Originally posted by David Mitchell:
Man that Butt Out tool works great for what you want to do. I always have mine along.

For a "gimic" it works super well, I always use mine.

[Tajue17]

I like the old edge mark knives with the long 5" blades that are 3/4 wide with a slight drop point ... I core out the bung also by putting my knife into the side of the anus, pushing thru then core cutting around the bowel,,,, works like a charm.  I tried gutting a deer with my ,(self taught) method a while ago using a small knife with 3" blade and it was a disaster... plus the longer blade knives sit right in my muck boot just fine       .

[yukon chuck]

Have used many different knives over the years on an awful lot of animals. I always have a Buck 112 on hand, out of tradition, since I grew up with that knife. Sometimes it is my primary and sometimes it is back-up. I have never been disappointed with it or wanted for more blade. I like knives, so I tend to rotate them.
Relative to the gutless method, it is a great way to go but in many states it causes a dilemma. In Michigan, for example, while it isn't illegal to do this, you can be given a ticket for littering or dumping by leaving the carcass behind. I'm doing some research on this twisted logic because I don't understand it. Given the Coyote population in Michigan I would think a carcass would be taken care of pretty quickly.

[hawkeye n pa]

Gutted a late season doe one year in frigid temps ( 0 F degrees) with a small knife. Any blood or fat I got on the knife handle froze immediately and made it very dangerous using it.   Now I carry one, usually a fixed blade, with a decent size handle and finger guard.  Another vote for a locking blade on a folder.

[degabe]

I have used a Buck 110 for the last 45 years and it still works well.