Rick I have never cut one above the rib cage, I have always cut through the ribcage and then reached up into the neck as high as I can and cut the esophogas/windpipe as high as I can, I have never had the neck meat spoil, but then again I skin them out, cut the head off and then finish trimming out the esophogas/windpipe afterwards.

The Tazman aka Martin Price
Founder and President of
Virginia Disabled Outdoorsmen Club