Field Dressing a Deer

kinetic711

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I will be deer hunting for the first time this Fall, and am thinking ahead to after I get my deer. What is the correct procedure to field dress a deer? Also, any tricks or things to avoid? One last question: a lot of people are telling me to take the meat off the bone when butchering, any thoughts? OK, one last question, what is the best way to butcher a deer yourself? Thanks.
 
try not to punture anything when you open up your deer.dress your deer ASAP.as for the meat try it both ways and see what you like
 
"Field Dressing" a deer...

First you remove the Field Dressing from it's waterproof cover. Place the sterile pad firmly on the dear's wound and wind the gauze ends, securing it in place....

(Sorry. Couldn't resist. Back to your real question)

I will be deer hunting for the first time this Fall, and am thinking ahead to after I get my deer. What is the correct procedure to field dress a deer? Also, any tricks or things to avoid? One last question: a lot of people are telling me to take the meat off the bone when butchering, any thoughts? OK, one last question, what is the best way to butcher a deer yourself? Thanks.
 
as mentioned already go to youtube

there are several series, this one has the camera right up close and personal

How to Hunt Deer : How to Field Dress a Deer: Part 1-3
 
Last year we tried the method of stripping the meat off the deer without gutting it first (as described by Mr. Schwanky in his article in the Wildlife Federation magazine). I prefer it, its a lot less work. You can still remove each rear 1/4's as a single piece if that is what you prefer for cutting steaks. I prefer this method because its fast and clean. One man can do it alone as there is no lifting required. We throw all the meat in large bags, then later take it inside and I clean it up and bag it for the trip home. I don't save the ribs. That's a finicky job for really greasy meat.
 
First you remove the Field Dressing from it's waterproof cover. Place the sterile pad firmly on the dear's wound and wind the gauze ends, securing it in place....

(Sorry. Couldn't resist. Back to your real question)

Now you did it, coffee all over my keyboard! :D
 
There is an excellent video you can get from the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife that covers field dressing, skinning, and deboning/butchering. It's well shot, well narrarated, and really worth watching...13 bucks US, you can get it here:

https://secure.kentucky.gov/Mall/St...890b738/Cat/5b05c4cfbc2a4ce8a6c330dbbb10777e/

Lots of other great ones on Youtube too, there are a few good ones one field dressing and LOTs of good ones for butchering. Good luck!
 
Graphic, but if this is offensive to you then perhaps you shouldn't be in this forum.

Post links #####es... :D
One method...
[youtube]5RK5Kp-Q2NA[/youtube]


And another...
[youtube]ewCVFkkyQC4[/youtube]
 
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-Advice from my butcher "If you can get ice, put a couple of bags in the cavity to keep him cool on the way home" Provided it's warm out of course.

-Wash or wipe him down to get rid of all dirt, blood, and foreign mat'l.

-Don't cut the end of your finger off like I did.

-clean your gear off all blood and such as soon as you get home.


-cook and enjoy!
 
I do similar to the first guy's video. Split the pelvic bone. Leave the anus, etc, in place, rather than digging around it to cut it loose.

The saw blade on a Swiss Army knife (that has one) works really well, if your knife is solidly built, you can pound it through the bone. My knife looks like a junkyard version of a Schrade hunter, and I can grip the handle with one hand, and tap the tip in at a couple places, to break the bone. Easy as long as you don't pry sideways on the tip.

I don't like the way the guy cuts his entry in the first vid. See all the hair laying around? I prefer to use the tip of the blade to carefully cut an entrance, run my fingers up into the hole and use them as a guide for the tip of the blade, like the guy in the second vid, to cut the hide from the inside. I get far fewer cut hairs to pick off my carcasses that way. I don't like it in my food. Wife doesn't like the hairs in the kitchen. It's easier to be careful, than to spend the time it takes to clean up, if you are not.

That second vid is pretty darn good, for a once through.

Cheers
Trev
 
I was taught the hanging by the hocks method with a gambrel by a butcher who is also an experienced hunter, he had me practice for a week on pigs at his shop.

I personally don't like the idea of the chance for all the Dirt and such inside the cavity.
Also the hanging method allows you the use of gravity...way easier on ones back and knees. :D


Mind you one needs a tree around, some rope and a gambrel. :D
 
Here's basically how I am doing it now. You lay the deer on its side or belly and make a cut in the skin from neck to tail along the spine. You cut a ring around the neck. You continue the cut down the back of the legs, and cut a ring around the lower part of the leg. You peel back the skin just as much as you need to debone the meat and put it in bags. You will only need to roll the deer on one side and then the other. The meat stays clean as you remove it as soon as its exposed. Once done removing all the meat, you can then reach in and cut out the tenderloins. At that point, any guts or fluid will not touch the meat as its already removed. No need to lift the deer, other than its handy if two guys can throw it up on a table covered in some plastic to do the work at a comforable height. Its also good practice so that if you need to haul meat only out of the bush, you can do it alone and get your meat back with one man easily.

If anyone has any hints or suggestions on how to do this better, I'm all ears.
 
Here's basically how I am doing it now. You lay the deer on its side or belly and make a cut in the skin from neck to tail along the spine. You cut a ring around the neck. You continue the cut down the back of the legs, and cut a ring around the lower part of the leg. You peel back the skin just as much as you need to debone the meat and put it in bags. You will only need to roll the deer on one side and then the other. The meat stays clean as you remove it as soon as its exposed. Once done removing all the meat, you can then reach in and cut out the tenderloins. At that point, any guts or fluid will not touch the meat as its already removed. No need to lift the deer, other than its handy if two guys can throw it up on a table covered in some plastic to do the work at a comforable height. Its also good practice so that if you need to haul meat only out of the bush, you can do it alone and get your meat back with one man easily.

If anyone has any hints or suggestions on how to do this better, I'm all ears.



I'm a bit confused with the idea of deboning a deer on the spot and only carting out the meat. Isn't there issues with keeping the tagged portion intact along with proof of species and ### until you get home?
 
I'm a bit confused with the idea of deboning a deer on the spot and only carting out the meat. Isn't there issues with keeping the tagged portion intact along with proof of species and ### until you get home?

Good question. But how long are you supposed to cart around the carcus to prove species? Might be an issue where its a doe only tag. For better or for worse, they've put an end to the 2nd deer tag (doe only) where I hunt, so that shouldnt' be an issue. Not unless they think its not a whitetail deer. Wouldn't the onus be on them to prove otherwise? Maybe I'm wrong on that.
 
Good question. But how long are you supposed to cart around the carcus to prove species? Might be an issue where its a doe only tag. For better or for worse, they've put an end to the 2nd deer tag (doe only) where I hunt, so that shouldnt' be an issue. Not unless they think its not a whitetail deer. Wouldn't the onus be on them to prove otherwise? Maybe I'm wrong on that.

Not sure about Manitoba, but we have all manner of tags here - anterless only, antlered only, as well as a general which is good for either - depending on WMU and species. I'll have to double check our regs but I know in years past they've been fairly specific about leaving proof of ### and species intact with the tagged portion until you either get the animal to your residence or to a processor. The head proves both ### and species but we generally tag the rear leg and keep the genitals and the tail intact with the tagged quarter. Unfortunately, the onus is generally on us to prove the ### and species - not the other way around. Same goes for fish I believe - we can't go fishing and bring home just a bag of fillets as there would be no proof of species then.
 
I'm a bit confused with the idea of deboning a deer on the spot and only carting out the meat. Isn't there issues with keeping the tagged portion intact along with proof of species and ### until you get home?

Leave the balls or ###### on one pice of meat, along wiht a hunk of hide. Different provinces require different stuff
 
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