Do you gut your own deer?

Do you gut your own deer?

  • Yes, for the most part I gut my own kills.

    Votes: 412 93.8%
  • No, I don't know how to.

    Votes: 10 2.3%
  • Ewwww! I ain't touching that!

    Votes: 11 2.5%
  • I leave it to the designated gutter and will explain why.

    Votes: 6 1.4%

  • Total voters
    439
Reach down and cut entrails off so about 10 inches of poop tube hangs out of the body cavity. Tie off poop tube so poop doesn't get on critter during trip home. (30 seconds).

This brings up another question....how many people do it this way and how many people core the butt hole out from the rear and pull the complete butt and ##### out at the same time as the guts? I prefer the latter just because everything is out of the deer and it can drain better out the rear but I've seen it done the other way and it seems to work as well to.
 
This brings up another question....how many people do it this way and how many people core the butt hole out from the rear and pull the complete butt and ##### out at the same time as the guts? I prefer the latter just because everything is out of the deer and it can drain better out the rear but I've seen it done the other way and it seems to work as well to.

I prefer the "core" method...same way we do beef. :D
 
I rarely gut anything these days, but when I do, I'll do my own or help out a buddy or whatever...If someone wants to do mine, then have at 'er.:)

It's not complicated.:runaway:
 
Both the "core" and the "tie off" method, as far as I can tell get you to the same end result - and just I find the "coring" job easier back at home/camp with the deer strung up by his back legs, so I quit doing the core-in-the-field method.
 
This brings up another question....how many people do it this way and how many people core the butt hole out from the rear and pull the complete butt and ##### out at the same time as the guts? I prefer the latter just because everything is out of the deer and it can drain better out the rear but I've seen it done the other way and it seems to work as well to.

I often split the pelvis in the field. On a small deer, I can usually do this with a knife. With a large deer, I use a folding saw that I carry on my belt. I have done the coring method, I just prefer splitting.
 
Glad someone touched on the smell thing, normally I have a pretty strong stomach but that fermented gut stench will gag me in a second!!:)

Usually core in the field, but tying off and splitting pelvis are interesting options.

Was gutting one once and buddies dog came up, grabbed intestines and ran off. Yep, tossed me cookies there too. :redface:

For you guys it's easy for, alright, but I salute a guy/gal who swallows a lot all through it but still gets her done! :)
 
I was taught by mentors that basically said, you shoot, you clean, you eat. First couple were a bit dicey but after that as usual I went and bought all the fancy gear, folding saw, metal gambrel, block hoist, gut hook tool. I got pretty good at it an kind of started cleaning everybody elses kills to stay in practice. Don't really mind doing it now and its part of the overall experience.
 
I often split the pelvis in the field. On a small deer, I can usually do this with a knife. With a large deer, I use a folding saw that I carry on my belt. I have done the coring method, I just prefer splitting.

X2!! Been doing this for 40+ years, see no reason to change now!! :D Eagleye.
 
Yep, my first one took me probably 30 minutes to an hour. Many years and many deer later, it now takes me about 3 minutes (including a coffee break) - goes about like this:

Flip deer on back, and split the belly open from ribcage to pelvis (30 seconds, maybe less if I have a gut-hook handy).

Flip deer on to side, cut through diaphragm, and carefully reach up into chest cavity with both arms (and a knife), grab windpipe with one hand, cut wind-pipe up above that hand with kinfe (30 seconds)

Use now severed windpipe for a handle and pull hard on innards, using knife to cut loose any spots that hang up and don't tear loose with vigorous pulling/yanking until guts are all laying on the ground beside the deer (30 seconds).

Stop and sip coffee, wipe blood off of hands, observe results of bullet performance on innards, and make celebratory comments to hunting partner(s) (if any) (60 seconds)

Reach down and cut entrails off so about 10 inches of poop tube hangs out of the body cavity. Tie off poop tube so poop doesn't get on critter during trip home. (30 seconds).

Done - one field dressed deer, ready for hauling/dragging to a more convenient place to string him up for skinning and final preperation of the meat before hanging it to age a bit.


+2 the only thing I do different is usually cut a hole in the throat and sever windpipe then I can reach in and pull. I have yet to shoot anything that I remotely considered saving the cape for a mount.
 
I always gut my own, and others if they are greener than i am. I like the idea others have said regarding others paying for food/gas, and them gutting/skinning.

I can see why some wouldnt want to gut a deer, but then why the #### are they hunting????

this october I went out for a day hunt with a girl i know quite well, she was very reluctant to gut her deer, so i said that id do it if i got a BJ later...
worked out well for both of us!:runaway:
 
Weird question but as I look back on my first gutting experience my dad's old hunting buddie's words come to mind.

"How long you planning on standing there with that knife in your hand? That thing ain't gonna gut itself!"
 
My first time - I was 14 and in Pennsylvania. I shot a doe and called my dad on the vhf radio I was carrying. He and a friend of the family proceeded to guide me through the process over the radio. The lady of the house where were staying went to town to do some groceries, and the clerk had the scanner on and heard the whole thing. The whole store was having a good laugh because apparently kids down there learn this sort of thing a little earlier in life.
 
Yup, gut all our own shot game.

All part of the plan.

No one I know would gut an animal someone else shot.:eek:..
unless it was for a squeamish type, you were trying to impress....:)
 
I gut my own, and teach the new guys how to do it......*BUT*:
If Bruce is around (one of the guys I hunt with), he does it. Why? He's the only guy I have EVER seen gut a deer in 4 minutes, a bear in 6 and a moose in 10 without getting bloody.

I'm dead serious...I have NEVER seen anyone handle a knfie like that. (He's also the one guy I know that can filet a pike with no bones :) )
 
I've always gutted my own. I grew up on a farm too so I learned the process at an early age. I usually split the pelvis and ribcage as well; everything behind the jaw gets removed.

As for rubber gloves, I do use them in cold weather. Washing tallow off with snow at -26 3 years ago made me painfully aware of the arthritis in my knuckles. Now a couple sets of disposables are in the pack for when the temps drop.

A word of caution for those that try gutting quickly. I have seen too many guys & guts cut when someone is in a rush. Take your time and do a clean job.

To those that are too squeemish - :slap: Just do it :runaway:
 
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I gut my own and everyone else's. Why? I'm fast and don't chop the meat to bits (20 years of doing dissections pays off). I use the "tongue to bum" method where the capes don't need to be saved. I do the skinning and butchering too usually because of the same two reasons.

They clean my garage at the end of the season. Fair trade IMO.

You should SEE my garage right now.

Looks like Christmas in Hell.
 
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