Hide on or hide off

tylerjwitty said:
I dont think an argument based on people not being responsible with cleanliness should be based on the quality of meat debate on hide on vs hide off
Click to expand...
Cleanliness has everything to do with quality of meat, and subsequent waste. The hide protected the animal when it was alive and also protects it in death, dirt and debris one of them.

Like I said previously this issue can be argued for ever with no winner or loser, the procedure on how to care for an animal once shot is controversial, subject to many things including hunt camp folklore, myths from days of old, and whatever. If you want to have spirited conversation and first class entertainment for the evening in the hunt camp just ask the questions, which is the best calibre to shoot a deer with and then what it the best way to clean and care for it afterwards.
You will go to bed at midnight and there will be still several souls arguing those points.
 
Last edited:
I didn't really start this thread to create an argument or to be told I was doing things wrong but I guess I should have known better. I was just curious how many people did the hide on method. It appears quite a few. Two ways to do things that achieve similar results....funny how that scares some people so much.
 
sheephunter said:
I didn't really start this thread to create an argument or to be told I was doing things wrong but I guess I should have known better. I was just curious how many people did the hide on method. It appears quite a few. Two ways to do things that achieve similar results....funny how that scares some people so much.
Click to expand...

I'm am surprised at that! Years ago I had a book that said to leave it on until the day you butcher it and so we did, and quite often we had smelly meat. Then we got smart, or at least we think we did, and started skinning them as soon as we got home. The meat cooled much quicker and we never had a smelly one since. So, we are sticking to our guns on that subject.:d
 
mrgoat said:
Cleanliness has everything to do with quality of meat, and subsequent waste. The hide protected the animal when it was alive and also protects it in death, dirt and debris one of them.

Like I said previously this issue can be argued for ever with no winner or loser, the procedure on how to care for an animal once shot is controversial, subject to many things including hunt camp folklore, myths from days of old, and whatever. If you want to have spirited conversation and first class entertainment for the evening in the hunt camp just ask the questions, which is the best calibre to shoot a deer with and then what it the best way to clean and care for it afterwards.
You will go to bed at midnight and there will be still several souls arguing those points.
Click to expand...

You missed the point . Everything should be equal when comparing. Not if one is dragged though a mud hole .

Both should be clean
 
sheephunter said:
I didn't really start this thread to create an argument or to be told I was doing things wrong but I guess I should have known better. I was just curious how many people did the hide on method. It appears quite a few. Two ways to do things that achieve similar results....funny how that scares some people so much.
Click to expand...
it is like debating which way you hang the animal.......... I have tasted bad meat on various occasions from other hunters tables that they though was excellent. I don't think it comes down to one detail alone that does it, there are many things that could have happened but it usually relates to the care and cleanlieness after the trigger is pulled to the time it hits the table.
 
tylerjwitty said:
I dont know why a person would desire to leave a smelly hide on it . You wouldnt wrap it in a dog blankets
Click to expand...

The fact that the animal likely wore it for several years up until that point makes me okay with it.... I doubt a few more days is going to hurt...lol
 
sheephunter said:
The fact that the animal likely wore it for several years up until that point makes me okay with it.... I doubt a few more days is going to hurt...lol
Click to expand...

Dunno, but I don't see any animals hanging in butcher shops with hide on.
If you suggested it they'd show you the door. That's my reasoning...that and skinning a cold animal would be about as much fun as sitting in a tub full of sissors
 
tokguy said:
Dunno, but I don't see any animals hanging in butcher shops with hide on.
If you suggested it they'd show you the door. That's my reasoning...that and skinning a cold animal would be about as much fun as sitting in a tub full of sissors
Click to expand...

It's only in recent times with the advent of climate controlled facilities that hanging with hide off became the norm. Most of us don't hang in a temperature and humidity controlled locker. If I did I would skin first too. Skinning does take a bit of extra work for sure but with zero trimming of dried meat it more than makes up for the extra skinning time.....if it's not frozen of course. We still likely do more than half our game with hide off just because of the logistics of getting it home, outside temperatures, etc but given the option it's hide on until it's time to butcher. Most seem pleasantly surprised at how easy the game is to skin and how well the meat is preserved the first time they give it a try...others will never know.
 
Last edited:
I've not seen one hung hide on for a while. I don't see that it'd harm anything if you are hanging it in a barn or such.
Removing the thin layer of dried meat from one hung hide off isn't enough of a reason for me.
But I can't subscribe to the hide on makes it stink theory either.
Each to there own I suppose. But I only to hang it to cool anyhow; and hide on would keep it warmer, hence it gets skinned ASAP. The aging thing is not a thing I believe in, personally.
But if you are happy, crack on.
 
tokguy said:
I've not seen one hung hide on for a while. I don't see that it'd harm anything if you are hanging it in a barn or such.
Removing the thin layer of dried meat from one hung hide off isn't enough of a reason for me.
But I can't subscribe to the hide on makes it stink theory either.
Each to there own I suppose. But I only to hang it to cool anyhow; and hide on would keep it warmer, hence it gets skinned ASAP. The aging thing is not a thing I believe in, personally.
But if you are happy, crack on.
Click to expand...

Our aging is typically more a matter of time management than anything...often we can't get to butchering for a week or so just because we simply don't have the time. I'm not convinced that hanging for under two weeks really does anything either and that length of aging is definitely best done in a climate controlled locker.
 
Hide off ASAP and then wash down carcass with cold, clean water. Remove all fat from deer when cutting and fillet all bone out from muscle before cutting. Bone dust from saw cut bone leaves icky taste on venison.

I cut meat for a living for over 20yrs and have yet to see the advantage of leaving the hide on other than the time it takes to get it out of the field.
 
sheephunter said:
Our aging is typically more a matter of time management than anything...often we can't get to butchering for a week or so just because we simply don't have the time. I'm not convinced that hanging for under two weeks really does anything either and that length of aging is definitely best done in a climate controlled locker.
Click to expand...

X 2 on that. I am lucky to have time to get one On the ground, dressed and hung before I'm req'd for another 7-8 day hitch away. So it gets aged 1 week.
Maybe the next one I'll hang hide on, just to be open minded about things.
Or just ask Perry ( who own's the Abittior down the road) which way is best; but he'd look at me and say " Just bring it down here and hang it properly til you get home, dummy"
Which is likely the best plan.
Edit; which kinda answers the whole question no?
 
Last edited:
tylerjwitty said:
You missed the point . Everything should be equal when comparing. Not if one is dragged though a mud hole .

Both should be clean
Click to expand...

"No" I think you missed the point.!! Like I said in my post this issue can be argued for ever with no clear winner or loser, and is a great source of entertainment.:popCorn: which was the purpose of the thread in the first place. Carry on Gentlemen I have a drink in hand and settled in for the evening.
 
sheephunter said:
If you have Perry as a neighbor...lol
Click to expand...

As you said; logistics. I'm lucky now; on several levels.
He's trying to get my daughter ( worked there 4 years) to go to school to become an AB Meat inspector, which if she's smart she will take him up on that offer.
Then she'll just call BS on Dad and his 'Old School' meat theories I'm guessing.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom