RE: First time butcher
This is how we do it, it's fast and simple and really cuts down on the hair.
Before you hand your deer take a saw and cut off the front legs above the knee. Cut off the back legs BELOW the knee so you have the tendon/leg bone "loop" to hand it from.
Now, take your knife and on the back legs slit (just under the skin) from where you made the cut to field dress teh deer all the way to where you sawed the legs off on the inside of each leg.
Be careful around the tendon with the knife. Work this skin down the leg towards the thigh (once you get the hang of it this is a quick cut and pull procedure).
Now that that is done, hang the deer by the back legs.
Extend the cut you made along the brisket all the way to the head, just under the skin.
On the front legs, start where you cut them off and slice along the inside of the legs until you connect this cut to the cut you just made up the brisket.
Now the hide should be hanging down around the thighs of the back legs, grab a hold of it and pull down so it'sjust below the tail.
Now grab the tail and pull down on it while cutting across the base of it right where it connects to the body. Go in between the little bones in the tail to keep from dulling your knife or use a saw. Leave the tail attached to the skin.
Once the tail bone is severed pull down on the tail to pull the hide down on the back of the deer.
Alternate between the hide you freed from the hind legs and the tail working the skin all the way down to the head. You may have to use the knife a little to cut pieces of meat loose of the hide so it peels off easier but it will be very little.
Once you reach the head, cut through the neck and saw through the spine to free the hide and head from the rest of the carcass. If done right, this will leave you with fairly "hair-free" carcass but it doesn't hurt to wash it off again.
Next I remove the tenderloins and then the backstraps. Then I remove each front shoulder with a knife and then cut the chest cavity loose with a saw just in front of the hind quarters. Finally, I take the saw and split through the rest of the pelvis holding the hind quarters together.
It's really a simple and easy process, it just takes some practice!