90% of my deer have been killed within a 15 minute drive from home, I usually drag them out, throw them in the truck, check them and take them home, hang them, gut them and then skin them, usually they are dressed less than an hour after the kill.

David I prefer the gutting when they are hanging, I just put a 5 gallon paint bucket or old cooler under them and it all falls right in, some of the bigger ones will do a bit of an overflow, but considering the last part out is the lungs it is no big deal, I just flip the lungs over the fence for my dogs.

I will dress them on the spot if it is going to be a long drag or a long drive to the checking station and home. I have been lucky and never gut shot a deer, but if I did, it would be field dressed on the spot.

The Tazman aka Martin Price
Proud father of a Devil Dog