Utilizing the Gutless method in Ontario

tokguy said:
You guy's wear hat's that say you are a 'successful hunter?'
I'm smiling here...
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"Hats for Hides" program has been running for longer than I've been hunting, the late '60s if I recall correctly. You get a hat in exchange for the hide which goes to First Nations so they can make stuff from it.

You would also get a "successful hunter" patch for turning the lower jaw into the MNR for scientific research. I'm not sure if that program is still running.
 
9.3mauser said:
No, you don't. Deer typically come out of the bush in one piece in Ontario, so it's standard practice to leave the hide on for cleanliness, but it's not a legal requirement.
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That's correct. I included the hide in error and you're also absolutely correct that 90% of hunters I've ever met always leave the carcass intact with the hide on to protect meat until they get it out of the bush. Well prepared and tanned hides make beautiful wall hangings and garments. I can't imagine anyone leaving them in the woods unless they're crawling with ticks.
 
In Ontario a Black bear is also considered a furbearing animal, hence trappers are able to in many situations harvest them without limits on most areas.

This was my rational for keeping the hide. Plus if I kill a fall bear, I want the hide.
 
WarPipe said:
First time Ive ever heard of this gutless method. Interesting.......
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I believe it was pioneered by hunters that have to pack in long distances and rough terrain, like mountainous terrain, so they can load the meat on their pack and carry as little as possible.

T.J. Schwanky (who I believe used to post on here as Sheephunter), wrote a great article on the subject in Outdoor Edge magazine back 15 or so years ago.
 
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canadian hunter312 said:
Considering it takes less than 5 minutes to get the guts out I will always remove them first to make the carcass lighter and to eliminate risk of meat contamination while butchering.

Why would one want to go with the gutless method?
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Most places is Ontario no problem, one place I hunt is walk in only, and many kilometres to get to productive hunting, but it can be very productive hunting. I’d never bother because I can get a bike or cart most anywhere else. But dragging long distances is getting old and it’s a long walk back for a cart. I might give it a try sometime!
 
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Alberta gave out moose patches for a few years in the early '90s.
If I recall right you had to mail in a successful moose study questionnaire for the year & they sent you a patch.

Moose-Badges-2.jpg
 
I think that the gutless method in Ontario could be interpreted as illegal... unless you open up the cavity and remove the tenderloins. There is still good reason to use the gutless method as you don't have to work in a mess, with less hair and offal getting on the meat, once you are done with the carcass a quick slit and dump reveals the tenderloins to slip out and off you go.
 
hoytcanon said:
I think that the gutless method in Ontario could be interpreted as illegal... unless you open up the cavity and remove the tenderloins. There is still good reason to use the gutless method as you don't have to work in a mess, with less hair and offal getting on the meat, once you are done with the carcass a quick slit and dump reveals the tenderloins to slip out and off you go.
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You can sneak them out through the sides, Hoyt. My son does, but he's handier than I...married the butcher's daughter he did. Gets practice helping out in hunting season most years.
 
tokguy said:
You can sneak them out through the sides, Hoyt. My son does, but he's handier than I...married the butcher's daughter he did. Gets practice helping out in hunting season most years.
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Yeah, that is how we do it...
 
I’ve salvaged quite a few interior loins from various animals with a saws all while they were on their bellies, my main concern is the ribs.

All 3 of my local COs are hunting friends, but I just haven’t bumped into them recently for a “semi official” take.
 
Meh, I gut in the field and off it goes back to camp or the garage.... Nothing like beers around a hanging deer in the garage on a chilly November Saturday night. Brings back some great memories, I'll leave the gutless to those in the know...
 
Years ago I was told that the hides traded for hats were tanned before they were given to the Natives. How much truth in that I don't know.
But after carrying four quarters of a moose out of some bog I had a hard problem going back a hide that seemed just as heavy to trade for a 50 cent Chinese hat. Back when you skinned out the lower jaw to trade for a crest seemed like a better idea.

Bill
 
Paul_T said:
Yep,

In BC 'Edible Portions' are defined as

Edible Portions - with respect to big game, excluding wolf, lynx, bobcat and wolverine, means the edible portions of the neck, ribs, four quarters and the loins of the animal and with respect to game birds, means the edible portions of both breasts of the bird.

Must be similar in ON ?
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Therein lies the rub. You have to take the ribs, and rib meat is not part of the traditional gutless method. Yea, it can be done gutless, but you end up basically doing a backwards order full dress as the organs ultimately come out to get the ribs. I find it completely impractical to cut rib meet off the bone too, organs in.
 
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