Gutless method solo

[rclouse79]

I have done the gutless method plenty of times, and it is definitely easier with someone there to help. If I get a mule deer my last time out solo, I was thinking about keeping the hide on the quarter until I can remove it and get it to a tarp. It seems like this would help in keeping hair and dirt off the meat. Has anyone out there tried this?

 

[gbflyer]

I have done the gutless method plenty of times, and it is definitely easier with someone there to help. If I get a mule deer my last time out solo, I was thinking about keeping the hide on the quarter until I can remove it and get it to a tarp. It seems like this would help in keeping hair and dirt off the meat. Has anyone out there tried this?

I’ve done that and it isn’t a bad way to go if you’re in the dirt. The part that’s free of hide still seems to land butter side down some days though. Lol.


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[mt terry d]

I pack a cheap blue tarp with.
Skin just enough to remove a quarter then put it on the tarp
Skin more, etc.
A small rope is handy to tie off a leg to keep the animal in place
while butchering.
Also a tent peg to tie off to if the animal is not near trees or brush
If the ground is frozen solid then you just have to wrestle it

 

[LongWayAround]

I did it last fall that way with a cow elk where I left the rears over night.

I did it again with a whitetail on a sandbar last weekend. It made the load too bulky to one trip it and I ended up removing the hide before I packed out.

I have only tried leaving hide on with the rears. I feel like it would be more inefficient with the front quarters.

 

[TheYukiYama]

I used to do this and it isn't a bad option, but I like using the hides of almost everything anymore, so I also just back a blue tarp to work on.

 

[HunterGatherer]

A piece of tyvek (house wrap) is substantially lighter than a tarp but same idea. I’ve never left hide on quarters but I see horse packers doing it all the time

 

[180ls1]

Yeah but then its tougher to get the hide off when solo.

I go hide off first then remove the quarter and toss it on a mylar blanket

 

[rclouse79]

Yeah but then its tougher to get the hide off when solo.

I go hide off first then remove the quarter and toss it on a mylar blanket

I try to be careful, but it seems like when I remove the hide first by myself I never can keep the meat as clean as I would like. Hopefully I get a chance to try my proposed method on a quarter and see how it works.

 

[Marbles]

I try to be careful, but it seems like when I remove the hide first by myself I never can keep the meat as clean as I would like. Hopefully I get a chance to try my proposed method on a quarter and see how it works.

I slide a game bag over the quarter once the foot is cut off to cover everything that is skinned.

Keeps it clean, even if I have to let go, and as a bonus makes it easier to hold on to.

 

[180ls1]

I try to be careful, but it seems like when I remove the hide first by myself I never can keep the meat as clean as I would like. Hopefully I get a chance to try my proposed method on a quarter and see how it works.

Yeah, I don't really know how to help you there. In my experience fighting with the hide once quartered caused more "dirtiness."

 

[SUD1988]

I picked up one of these picnic blankets this year. It's small enough to fit in my kill kit. It was big enough to fit half of an elk on it. It actually worked really well for me doing it solo. I set the blanket up right next to the elk, and as soon as I got the quarter removed I dropped it straight onto the blanket. Once half of the elk was done, I put the meat into bags and started on the other side.

Picnic Blanket

 

[rclouse79]

I slide a game bag over the quarter once the foot is cut off to cover everything that is skinned.

Keeps it clean, even if I have to let go, and as a bonus makes it easier to hold on to.

That is a good idea. I might try that.

 

[Quicksilver]

Marsupial gear sells a meat tarp that has come in handy for me a few times, on top of a glassing cover from rain or covering quarters overnight in the rain too.

 

[waspocrew]

I get the idea of cleanliness, but I don't care to deal with hide on quarters once they've been removed from an animal. Way easier for me to just skin it right there and then quarter and put in game bags (or a light tarp). Done this solo a couple of times and hasn't been an issue.

 

[Ross]

When solo and not on a nice table top position, especially with elk, a meat pole of some fashion assists with keeping things clean. Remove, hang and skin pulling hide away and bag. For elk would never pack out those lower legs. Chop and drop while on the carcass.

 

[mtnbound]

I have removed quarters and hung them in a tree and then skin and debone it but it didn’t seem to keep the meat cleaner than just skinning it out in-place. I typically set the meat on a light tarp then into a game bag but since I started using game bags that zip open I put the meat on the bag and zip it up.