How do you dress a hog?

[TxAg]

If the hog is female and less than 150#s, I hang them up by their back legs and skin them down to the front shoulders. Then I take out the backstraps and hams.  I don't gut them or mess with the front shoulders.

If the hog is male or signigicantly more than 150#s, I don't bother.

[radar3321]

not to hi-jack this thread but how do you field quarter a hog or deer.

[TxAg]

Originally posted by radar3321:
not to hi-jack this thread but how do you field quarter a hog or deer.

Do you mean "how do you do it out in the field vs doing it in camp hanging from a tree on a gambrel"?  

If that's the case, a tarp or large piece of plastic helps....you can skin one side and then roll it over on the plastic and skin the other side. Then make the appropriate cuts to get the 4 quarters, backstraps, and tenderloins.

[David Mitchell]

ummmm, I haven't had any crackling cornbread for tooooo many years.

[Landshark160]

Here's a picture tutorial I did for my home forum awhile back.


Since I was introduced to the Warren Womack method of field quartering and packing out game, my days of dragging critters are over.  I have worked long and hard in the past getting deer out of the woods, but this has to be one of the best things since sliced bread.  Since I had TJ there to run the camera, I figured we'd take some pictures and try to do a tutorial.

I usually carry some rope along in my pack to hang up these small pigs(from any available tree limb), but I figured I'd do this one on the ground the way I do deer.  This would certainly be easier to explain with video, but hopefully you will be able to make some sense out of these pictures.

First, I line my pack with an clean trash bag.  I start up near the head and begin skinning everything back on one side.  I cut down the spine, and then skin out the front shoulder.





As soon as you get the shoulder clear, cut just below the elbow and unjoint the leg.  (You need to do this while the shoulder is still attached so you can get leverage on the joint.)





Once you have removed the leg, cut underneath the shoulder blade to remove the front shoulder.




And the shoulder goes into your pack.

[Landshark160]

I continue skinning down the spine working my way to, and around the ham.





When you have the ham completely skinned, start cutting inside the hind leg right in the crease.  While applying pressure on the leg, continue cutting until you hit bone, and feel around until you find the socket joint in the hip.  Once it is unjointed, continue cutting until the ham is removed.





Once removed, unjoint the leg bone from the ham as shown, and into the pack it goes.




Now cut along the spine from neck to hip, and then carve the backstrap out from the top of the ribs.

[Landshark160]

You are halfway through!  Grab the two remaining legs, give a quick snatch,and the critter will roll right over.




You just repeat the process on the other side and you are done.

[Landshark160]

This is all that's left.  If you want to remove the ribs or tenderloin, now is the time.




Everything is packed up and ready to go.  You walk out with everything you will eat, and nothing you won't.  When you get home, you can take the bag out of your pack, put it in your freezer, and you are done.

[Axis Hunter]

Whenever you clean your hog make sure to bring a few knifes and for sure a knife sharpener. once you get into the skin it won't do a huge number on your knife but getting there is a pain. also hogs have a "shield around the middle and back of the shoulders which makes it very hard to get through so like i said bring a knife!!!! last year we had to skin a 350lb pig out at our place we are in the process of getting him mounted. hope this info helps and good luck!!!

[Axis Hunter]

sorry where i said (bring a knife!!!) i meant to add sharpener

[Hoyt]

I bone deer and hogs out and pack them out also. Have no choice where I hunt now, can't even get an ATV back in there and not about to kill myself trying to drag one out.

[TxAg]

Landshark160, that's an excellent tutorial...complete with pics no less.  Good stuff!

[Flingblade]

Thanks for the tutorial.  I've learned much from this site and this was very good.  When I get the chance to hog hunt I think I will take the ribs as well.  Love ribs!

[homerdave]

up here we put lipstick on em and elect them to office.
.... whoops... that's pit bulls... i got confused  

[Apex Predator]

I field quarter all my big game and pack out like Chris does.  My back doesn't do well when leaning over working on a critter on the ground though.  I put together a game hanging kit that works very well.

The kit is contained in this ammo pouch that I carry in my pack.



- Short piece of strap
- 18' of 1/2" soft rope
- two micro pulleys
- two carabiners
- carrying case



I start by wrapping this piece of strap around a branch as high as I can reach.  It is a short piece of helo safety netting strap and has sewn loops along it's entire length.  A piece of rope will work fine here, but won't pack as well as this strap.  I hook the first carbiner into both ends of the strap.  



I then hook the second carabiner around the leg tendon of my critter.  I attach my first pully to the leg carabiner.  My second pully attaches to the top carabiner.  I then tie my rope into the top carabiner.  I run the rope through the bottom pulley, and then through the top pulley.  This gives me a 2-1 mechanical advantage.  I've only hoisted critters up to 125# or so, but feel like It would do for a 175# or better one.

These pulleys are the heart of the system.  They cost me around $13 each and are available at most camping/hiking stores.

I used to use a rope ratchet system, but there was no mech advantage, and this 75# hog was about the limit of my pulling capability.  My new system is lighter and takes up about the same amount of space.

[3arrows]

Apex,how about a picture of the pully system put together.

[Bill Turner]

Landshark160:
Great pictoral. Thanks for sharing. Unfortunately, Oklahoma will not let you quarter a whitetail deer taken on  public land before checking it at official check  station. I believe some other states have the same laws. Its OK out west I gather.

[owlbait]

Great tutorial and advice. Thanks guys!

[maxwell]

Great stuff,  Thanks

[BigJohn]

Ok I think I'm ready to give it a try. Now I just have to find a hog to cooperate. Thanks for all the good advice. BigJohn