[mysticguido]

Here is some steps on gutting a deer. If anyone had a problem reading it just email Me and I'll email it to you so can can enlarge it for better reading.

From The book Field Dressing & Butchering Big Game.

 

[bloodtrails]

I am like a surgeon now. You get pretty fast when you hunt in bear country. My personal best is 2 deer in 14 minutes.

 

[mysticguido]

2 deer in 14 minutes.

Wow thats slow..lol and you hunt in Bear country....

Sorry... Being fast isn't always the best way to dress out a deer. My 1 brother-in-law can dress a deer in 35 seconds, but he doesn't cut out the Butt Hole, and that is bad. But this post was mostly for the ones that need help because they never did it before.

 

[mysticguido]

This is the tools I use to field dress game animals

This is the tools I use to butcher game animals

 

[wojtowicza]

what the hell is the axe for! I guess you can use it as a tomahawk instead of your bow. I've never saw anyone use one or even a reason to. i gut my deer with a Buck 110 and butcher it with that knife and i do have a kit like you have with a set of knives and pulley system.

 

[mysticguido]

what the hell is the axe for

That is used to split the pelvis, makes for a quick job. I found it easier to split the pelvis and just pull the guts out. Everyone is different and for me I like to make the JOB EASY.

 

[wojtowicza]

i hear ya on that one about making it easier. isn't it a pain to carry that axe around the woods.

 

[mysticguido]

not when it is in my back pack or on my belt I don't even know it is there...

 

[yoda4x4]

I don't know about the rest of you guys, but for me, I never split the pelvis nor the ribcage. The way I've been taught was to carefully cut through the skin from the breastbone to just above the private region. Then, cut around the anus and make sure it is detached. Then, pull out the stomachs and other lower internal organs. Reach in and pull the lower intestines leading to the anus out which have already been detached. Once all of the guts have been removed, cut the diaphram to open up the chest cavity. Reach up in the chest cavity and cut out the heart, lungs, and cut/detach the wind pipe.

That's it. Of course, for a beginner like myself, this process takes alot more time than I've laid out.

David

 

[wojtowicza]

same here yoda, i never split the pelvis or ribcage.

 

[bloodtrails]

Wow thats slow..lol and you hunt in Bear country....

Sorry... Being fast isn't always the best way to dress out a deer. My 1 brother-in-law can dress a deer in 35 seconds, but he doesn't cut out the Butt Hole, and that is bad. But this post was mostly for the ones that need help because they never did it before.

Did I mention that was in the dark with a flashlight in my teeth?

 

[mysticguido]

Everyone is different and for me I like to make the JOB EASY.

That is why I split the pelvis and the ribcage...

 

[yoda4x4]

Speaking of holding the flashlight in your mouth... I just recently purchased one of those headlamps so I won't have to do that again. What a pain in the butt it is to do that. And for a beginner like me, holding a flashlight in your mouth for like 20 minutes is not fun.

Woj,
I agree!

It's certainly easy enough to reach into the chest cavity to do what you need to do. The hardest part in my opinion is detaching the anus from the body.

David

 

[wojtowicza]

The hardest part in my opinion is detaching the anus from the body

For some crazy reason that is OutlawJT's favorite part of it...

 

[yoda4x4]

OutlawJT,

REALLY??? And how are you performing this act? [confused]

David

 

[mysticguido]

Not everyone will split the pelvis or chest, but for the person that is doing it for the very first time with out any help. Spliting these 2 areas does help and makes the JOB easier. I have done it both ways, I may have done it more times then anyone else, but that doesn't mean my way now is better then anyone elses. After 100+ Mules & Whitetails, for me spliting makes it easier and cleaner to dress a deer.

SO before anyone else, saids that they don't split a deer's pelvis/ribcage, This Post is for help only.

 

[yoda4x4]

Mystic,

I completely agree with you. Fortunately, I had an extremely experienced hunter guiding me while I was field dressing my first deer.

I can still recall some of the comments he said to me. Things like: "Roll up your sleeves... they'll need to go higher than that.". "Take off your watch, it'll be a pain to completely clean off". Most of them were said in a comical manner. Of course, like most of you probably had similar experiences, I was gleaming and grinning from ear to ear.

David

 

[mysticguido]

Butcher's alway's like to see a deer come in with this area split open. Show's you removed evething

Good point 35Whelan

 

[Matty]

I dont know if it was mentioned, but also make sure not to get droppings or urine in the body cavity, and if by chance you do, wash it out ASAP. It can taint/ruin the meat in no time.

I usually leave the anus in until I get home, I can be more carefull that way. I do agree that splitting the pelvic bone makes it easier to remove though, and lessens the chance of "spilling anything".

Good thread, and yet another good tip for those who may encounter this for the first time this year.[up]

 

[JERSEY BOB]

same here..I got taught a while back to start opening the deer over the breast bone in case you push too hard..the bone will stop the knife instead of cutting into guts.


If you're in a rush, open the diaphram, cut off the bottom of the esophagus, flip the deer over, and the stomach & entrails will fall out. Then "walk" your hand over the colon and squeeze it like a toothpaste tube; the last feces will come out, and you can cut it off inside the deer.

You;ve still got the lungs & heart but the blood will drain.

If you're in bear country and need to get moving, this is a good way to lighten the load and get moving ASAP.