core the deer, if its a doe or small buck I split the sternum, rip the belly open and then pull guts right out. Everything comes right out if you core right. If I get a trophy deer I do not split sternum. Then at the walk in I rinse real good and then hang.................. good luck to all

I gut,skin, and butcher my deer all at the same time, so I always split the pelvic.

Hunt the thickets

I split the pelvic bone, never gotten cut on it though, although I have gotten cut in the sharp rib bones after splitting the sternum. I think it's all in how you learned, I don't think either way is a right or wong way.

I never split the pelvic bone while gutting and I do the same as DaveH and core the anus and pull everything out. Keeps the meat in the rear quarter cleaner and free form contamination while field dressing and removal of deer.

Once hung up and skinned, at this point we split it to clean out the area as discribed by IndyHunter which is also the right thing to do as the reasons he state, just not in the field where contamination can occur.

<font color=blue>Good Luck and Good Shooting</font id=blue>

<font color=red>Rob</font id=red>

I do not know why anyone would want to split the pelvic, sounds like a lot of work to me. I encirlce the anus and reproducductive organs on the inside and outside and pinch them off and pull them thru. I field dress that animal ASAP and get it vented to cool out. If you are in a warm climate stick some ice bags in the chest cavity, but get the guts out immediately. Later, Bobby

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I open the sternum when field dressing and as soon as I have my animal back in camp, hanging and skinned I use my Wyoming saw to split the pelvic bone then bag it. To further my two cents worth each time I take an animal the field dressing takes its own course and rarely, if ever, are these chores the same from animal to animal and each time the conditions, locations, and temperature are always the controlling factors.

Bowhunter

Unlike most people over here, I don't split the pelvis. I just carve out the anus and never ever split the sternum unless I'm deboning pigs and am all done and want the ribs. I also reach my hands up into the cavity and cut the wind pipe. never cut my self before but have heard stories of others. I'm always real careful when I do it.



Nic

I split the pelvis and the sternum. Loppers or tree limb prunning shears will cut that pelvic bone like melted butter. I always remove all the internals before splitting the pelvis. Then I drive my truck to the spot and throw it on the tailgate so it doesn't get dirty. It will be 90 here tommorow(opening day) so the meat will spoil quick and I do not have much time to get the meat in the cooler.

Hello, my name is anthony and I am a recovering splitter.<img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle>
Last year I dressed my first deer without splitting, worked well so i think I will continue, unless i fall off the wagon.


AH