Is a gut hook just a gimmic, or useful
- Thread starter marlin60
- Start date
- Location
- The Conservative part of Ontario
I'll step in on the very useful side.
No, you don't need one, and for the first thirty years of hunting I never bothered. You can do a fine job without.
For me, the biggest help was the first time I used one to skin. Running the gut hook up a leg where the flesh is thin, is simply awesome, the first time you do it.
Get one with a reasonably wide hook, otherwise, it will plug with hair.
The skin can bunch up, as said above, particularly on cuts around the legs, or around the neck. But you'll learn how to control that. Even if you don't, there's always the other side of the blade.
The hook size on the Buck Alpha Hunter,
is about optimum IMO.
A friend tried a narrow hook on moose a few years back, and it was truly useless. Plugged with hair immediately.
No, you don't need one, and for the first thirty years of hunting I never bothered. You can do a fine job without.
For me, the biggest help was the first time I used one to skin. Running the gut hook up a leg where the flesh is thin, is simply awesome, the first time you do it.
Get one with a reasonably wide hook, otherwise, it will plug with hair.
The skin can bunch up, as said above, particularly on cuts around the legs, or around the neck. But you'll learn how to control that. Even if you don't, there's always the other side of the blade.
The hook size on the Buck Alpha Hunter,
A friend tried a narrow hook on moose a few years back, and it was truly useless. Plugged with hair immediately.
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- Location
- Grande Prairie, Alberta
Just use a box cutter snap the plade off when its dull works great. and cheap
JohnC
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
I use the wyoming . awesome on deer, while a little small good on moose, as long as the blade is sharp. make sure you have spare blades -they're cheaper now than when they first came out.
I have a tendancy to slide my hand up the back of the blade while I'm skinning. Gut hooks work OK, but the few times I've used them I cut myself.
A good drop point is almost as fast, the job of slitting the belly takes only seconds. If you like them get one, they are not the end all to be all IMHO.
A good drop point is almost as fast, the job of slitting the belly takes only seconds. If you like them get one, they are not the end all to be all IMHO.
+1
my first year guiding I brought a buck vangaurd with a gut hook. was pure and utter #### on moose. kept getting packed with hair. worked ok on bear and deer. nothing beats a quality steel, sharp, drop point though.
Another vote for the Gerber E-Z Zip
Easy to use, easy to clean, and easy on the wallet.
I used a knife for over 30 years but after I broke down and bought one of these a couple of years ago I wished someone had invented it sooner!
Easy to use, easy to clean, and easy on the wallet.
I used a knife for over 30 years but after I broke down and bought one of these a couple of years ago I wished someone had invented it sooner!
After watching their "field dressing" video ,I went out and bought the Swing Blade ,looked quite impressive.Hope to find out how it works come big game season.Bought it at Cabela`s in the US. but also available at Cabela`s Canada and pretty sure other major retailers.I`ll still keep my Gerber drop point knife ,she is a beauty.
BB
Another vote for the Gerber E-Z Zip
Easy to use, easy to clean, and easy on the wallet.
I used a knife for over 30 years but after I broke down and bought one of these a couple of years ago I wished someone had invented it sooner!
x2
I have the same one, works great.
