Fielddressing tips to make it easier

[Miloshueg]

I'm trying to refine my field dressing process for both whitetail and red deer when hunting solo. I've been contemplating using some shackles to get the deer up in the air for easier butchering, but it may be too much work to drag the deer next to a tree in the first place.

What’s the cleanest and most efficient method you’ve found? Especially interested in minimizing mess and keeping things manageable when you don’t have help. I've watched a bit of YouTube, but there might be something I'm overlooking.
Thanks

 

[Skerhunter]

Disposable “Gut hook” blade to start the skinning process speeds it up some, definitely safer.

99% of the time I’m using the gutless method, which saves some time if you can skip the field dressing.

If for some reason I can’t use the gutless method, I utilize a sawzall for the pelvis and leg joints.

As far as easily manageable goes, I prefer them on the ground vs hanging. Easier to stabilize solo vs swinging around.

 

[brancher147]

Gutless. Pack it out. I haven’t gutted a deer in years.

 

[PredatorX]

Get the head downhill as much as you can when you open it up. Then when opened up flip around so head is uphill.

 

[Rich M]

Get the head downhill as much as you can when you open it up. Then when opened up flip around so head is uphill.

Then roll it over & spread the legs - grab the feet and give it a couple good up down thumps - the intestines will come out.

 

[Macintosh]

Imo the access you have determines how you need to approach it. How are you getting it out of the field, in pieces on a pack, or via a vehicle or atv? Since you put this in the wt section, being able to drive +\- right to the dead animal or to within an extremely short distance (couple hundred yards) isnt at all uncommon, so very few people that I know cut up their whitetails in the field. I have no knowledge of red deer (I saw some in scotland and in switzerland, but thats as close as Ive come), but it didnt seem like a drive-up affair where I saw them.

 

[112Savage]

I live in the mountains of western VA. Generally most drags are less than 0.5 miles.

For field dressing:
1.Cut around the butthole,
2.Cut off scent glands on hocks and make an incision to connect the two areas between left and right hocks going behind the testicles.
3. Make a shallow incision around the testicles and penis to the base of the sternum this cut does not expose the guts but just cuts the hide/muscle.
4. Make an incision just in front of the pelvis into the abdominal cavity. Put your hand between the guts and the abdominal wall. Carefully place the blade upward between your fingers and the abdominal wall with the blade facing outward and zip up toward the sternum.
5. Pull from rectum upward removing the butthole.
6. Cut around the diaphragm exposing the lungs and heart.
7. Cut the heart/vascular structures/ esophagus from the anterior attachments
8. Roll the animal downhill and remove all of the organs and allow blood to drain.
The longer my drag will be, the less I expose the internals of the animal to prevent dirt getting inside (contrary to common sense I know)

 

[Wolfshead]

^
Pretty much how we do it.
Although as I get older and while I’m hunting alone, I’m considering the gutless method and packing them out.

 

[Blearning13]

I tried the gutless method and packing a deer out for the first time this year. Unless the drag is less than 200 yards to the truck there is no way I'll be dragging a deer again. Packing it out is so much easier. I think there will be some learning curve to getting more efficient with the gutless method, but overall I think it's the way to go.

 

[Eship]

Another vote for gutless and pack out. Even if it’s right next to my car, I’ll still do it. Otherwise I just end up having to dispose of the carcass at my house. Saves time and effort to just get it done from the start. It takes me about an hour from first cut to completely boned out and in a meat bag for a whitetail.

 

[B Harrison]

For white tail, I gut them where they fall, for the most part, some rope is helpful to tie a leg or two, but….

Cut penis, pull between legs
Cut around everything in the pelvic cavity as far as you can reach from the outside.
I open the deer up all the way through the breast plate.

Switch knives fecal contact is what I don’t want touching the meat.

Starting with a split breast plate,
I cut esophagus and larynx as far up as I can reach, then start pulling.
Little cuts against the spinal column help, but pulling will get you to the diaphragm, which gets cut out.
Pull everything out, then the large intestines intact bladder should pull free along my with the rectum.
For extra care, tie the large intestine from the outside, and cut the rectum lose so that it doesn’t pass by meat.

I then start dragging, or load if I can.

I realize this isn’t the perfect way, but I’m pretty quick, and this whole process takes me 8 minutes or so with a buddy to hold legs, and about 15 to 20 max if I’m in a bad spot and have to use ropes.

Skinning is done in my shop, hanging, with clean knives, preferably after 2 days cold hanging, but I will likely try skinning sooner this fall, to help the meat cool faster.
I dry age quarters and straps in the fridge, and process 5-10 days later.

100 deer or more done like this over 30 years, I can load a 200 pound buck myself, but it is a chore, and generally hurts the next day if there’s any major dragging…


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[B Harrison]

Another vote for gutless and pack out. Even if it’s right next to my car, I’ll still do it. Otherwise I just end up having to dispose of the carcass at my house. Saves time and effort to just get it done from the start. It takes me about an hour from first cut to completely boned out and in a meat bag for a whitetail.

That’s fast, I may try this.


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[112Savage]

One reason to leave meat on the bone past rigormortis is to prevent over contraction of the muscle resulting in more tough meat.

I understand a lot of people are going to argue anecdotal points that their xxx done as gutless method is soooo tender.
With my background in food science and technolgy, it is inarguable that meat left on the bone through rigormortis is better. I also understand dragging a whole carcass at times is just not possible.

 

[Matt5266]

I have been doing strictly gutless on all animals for atleast 10 years now. It is so much nicer. I pulled off both shoulders, both hinds, back straps, tenderloin, then whatever other meat is salvagable. Cut head off and put it all in bags and away I go.

Out west in idaho it's pretty much required where I hunt. The animal body size is to large to drag very far at all and the terrain usually doesn't favor that either. Plus im usually atleast a couple miles in.

 

[PredatorX]

Another tip when hunting solo and gutting is to take your knee and pin down one of the legs to the side by placing knee to inside of leg. This keeps the leg from trying to close on you when gutting. You could also tie the leg to a tree but the knee works just fine. It is instinctual of course but I thought I’d mention it since you were asking for tips.



Also when gutting cut up through the sternum as high as you can go. It will help accessing and cutting the windpipe.

A small handsaw works great for cutting through the pelvis.

 

[LongWayAround]

Gutting deer sucks. Gutless is by far the cleanest way to field process.

I'm mostly curious where you are hunting that has both whitetail and red deer? @Miloshueg

 

[Miloshueg]

Gutting deer sucks. Gutless is by far the cleanest way to field process.

I'm mostly curious where you are hunting that has both whitetail and red deer? @Miloshueg

It seems to be the consensus among you all. I must try that out properly.

Wrt white tail and red deer, I mixed up the species. I thought fallow deer and white tail was two different names for the same species. I’m located in Denmark so “only” Red deer, Fallow, Sika, Roe deer and some muflons. Some wolves have emigrated approx 10 years ago so now it’s possible, under certain circumstances, to get a tag for them aswell. But no white tail, just mistranslation of foreign species names.
Thanks for your insight

 

[Miloshueg]

Thank you guys. It’s much appreciated. I will defiantly try out the gutless method next time around!

 

[KyleR1985]

Cut them and pack them out from where they lay.

Only advice I can give is to do it as often as you can. It’s a perishable skill.

I’ve taken apart 100 or deer elk pigs where they lay. The first one of the season I always feel like I’m a monkey and the critter is a football.

 

[BagsandBullets]

Cut them and pack them out from where they lay.

Only advice I can give is to do it as often as you can. It’s a perishable skill.

I’ve taken apart 100 or deer elk pigs where they lay. The first one of the season I always feel like I’m a monkey and the critter is a football.

I’m glad I’m not the only one. I feel the same one on the first deer for the year. Feels like it takes twice as long and then by the 2nd or 3rd it’s smooth sailing.