for many years I figured a gut hook was a gimmick I did not need. That opinion was based on trying to use a narrow gut hook on an older Schrade knife that a friend had. It plugged immediately with hair. That plugging with hair is the main issue with gut hooks, that and hide bunching.
Later I got to try a "zipper" that thing worked awesome with it's wide opening and razor sharp blade for opening the gut. It's issue was when I tried using it to make the cuts for skinning. There, it would not stay below the tighter hide on the legs.
Next I tried a Buck Alpha, and it's the knife I use today. It has a reasonably wide gut hook, and will stay in place to do legs etc.
like all gut hooks, it has the issue that if the hide is bunched up ahead of it, it wont cut. That's a matter of technique don't be fooled into thinking that this means it's dull, usually, it's not.
It works on bear and moose too.
What really sold me, after a lifetime of two fingers running either side of the blade, was how fast it did the cuts for skinning. Running the cut down the legs is done in seconds. you can run that cut well past any recoverable meat.
Because of the wide gut hook, the blade is a skinner, it's wide, that means it's not great for the anal cuts, I always have a small pocket knife for that, or maybe you can use a butt plug.