I do split the pelvis, but I do not field dress until I am back at my truck, I use a handtruck to take them to the truck. Yes I am old and lazy!!!

JRW I do have a question, if you don't split the sternum how in the world do you cut the windpide up high?

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

I put alot of time into sharpening my knives....I'm not about to carry any more useless gear into the woods...So NO, I don't split the pelvis or sternum either.

Taz, if you slice the deer's windpipe just under the white patch you can reach up inside and pull the heart, lungs and windpipe out all at once. If you don't want the slice the throat you can simple reach up inside the chest cavity with both hands. Grab the esophegus with one hand...pull it taught. Slice it off with the other hand wielding the knife.

I do the same thing as Jason N describes when it comes to splitting the sternum. But only on larger deer that have heavy bone. On smaller deer like a doe I'll go ahead and split it. Word of caution though. Be very careful reaching both hands up into the body cavity while holding a knife. It's real easy to cut yourself instead of the windpipe! But you can do it easily enough if you're careful, especially on large deer.

Hunt hard or go home !

I seem to be backwards of most people. I split the pelvis, not the sternum. I just reach up in to get the windpipe. I have a small sawblade on my knife that zips through the pelvis.

Some things are true whether you believe them or not.

I split the pelvic when butchering, but not for gutting.

I use to gut on the spot and only cut from the scrotum up to the chestbone and remove the guts. Now if the deer is not too big and I don't have a problem moving it, I'll leave the deer whole until I get it back to the garage. Then hoist by the back legs, skin it, then make the cuts to remove the guts and legs, etc all into a plastic rubbermaid bin. Those $15-20 block and tackles at walmart work good for lifting.

Edited by - jetblast on 09/26/2002 14:20:52

Roger that, Mossy Horn! I sliced my hand doing exactly that last year. 4-5 years ago a friend did the same thing and he got very sick with blood poisoning.
-ost

[Deleted by Admins]

I do not split the pelvis. But I do split the sternum. I saw thru it with a gerber folding saw.

I split the pelvis when I can. If it won't cut or break, I don't mess with it.

High Country Archery - "Driven to greater heights..."

I split the pelvis also, but now am beginning to question that practice.