New guy w/ a question.
 

I'm a new guy to this board and have only been bowhunting for 2 years, really excited for year 3 but I have a question.

I'll be hunting for the first time on public ground and was wondering what the ethical thing to do is if I would be lucky enough to fill a tag or 2 w/ gutting my deer. Do you just gut them where they come to rest? I don't really have a place to gut them outside of the public area.

Thanks for any help on this and best of luck to all of you on your hunts!

RE: New guy w/ a question.
 

It kind of depends on the area / state. Some may have regs that require you to transport kills to a check station (of some sort) prior to field dressing. However, I think most places don't require such, therefore field dressing in the woods is fine. Besides, critters usually find and take care of the inards. I always field dress mine where I shoot them. It makes dragging out easier. Good luck.

RE: New guy w/ a question.
 

Gut em where they lay. Let the yote's and critters have a snack. That pile will be gone by the next morning. Good luck.

RE: New guy w/ a question.
 

Good question. Always nice to hear of someone looking out for everyone else as well.
Gut em right there. Not only makes em lighter and easier to haul out, but cools them off quickly. Besides, the coyotes and foxes gotta eat too.

RE: New guy w/ a question.
 

Gut the deer on site, and if you are worried about it, put the organs in a dressing bag. Available at the sproting goods store.

RE: New guy w/ a question.
 

Thanks fellas, I've always hunted near my fathers farm previously so we would just take them back to the farm and gut them, I sure didn't want to step on any toes my first year on some good public ground.

RE: New guy w/ a question.
 

Yep , gut him where he is. The varmints will make quick work of the innards.

RE: New guy w/ a question.
 

I typically gut the deer where it is though if there is a water source nearby I will drag it there first as it makes for an easy cleanup.

RE: New guy w/ a question.
 

Good call guys, gut em where they lay. Just make sure to bring a plastic bag for the heart and liver.

RE: New guy w/ a question.
 

I've noticed that gut piles don't even seem to scare deer.A friend of mine killed a deer and I hunted the same area the following day.Deer were walking by the gut pile like it wasn't even their!

RE: New guy w/ a question.
 

Gut em where you find em. The after hours critters will take care of the rest.

RE: New guy w/ a question.
 

I have always gutted them where they went down at.in 99% of the time the entrails were gone the next day.yotes love them.As well as coons possum and anything else that finds them.

RE: New guy w/ a question.
 

Why do you need to bring a plastic bag for the heart and liver?I've heard this before and been meaning to ask.
Thanks,
JE

RE: New guy w/ a question.
 

GUTS DONT BOTHER DEER . Why I dont know. But I killed a doe gutted her where she was. I opened the stomach to see what she was feeding on and she was full of corn. Well I went back to pick up the guts from my stand just to keep coy dogs away and there was a buck eating corn out of the guts I couldnt believe it . But it is true I shot him there eating gut corn . With rifle. A pretty big 5 pointer.

RE: New guy w/ a question.
 

Bamahuntin, it just makes carrying them out a lot easier. Tie the bag around an antler and drag away(I use plastic grocery bags). I have tried leaving them in the cleaned out carcass and they always drop out. I know heart/liver is not everyones favorite, but I love it.

RE: New guy w/ a question.
 

Oh ok,thanks for filling me in.

RE: New guy w/ a question.
 

I've seen geese eat corn right out of cow dung, but a deer eating corn out of another deer's guts is amazing, I guess maybe they just don't associate a gut pile with what it really represents, a fellow deers last steps.

RE: New guy w/ a question.
 

BTW, would that be considered baiting????? LOL!

RE: New guy w/ a question.
 

I gut them were they fall (maybe move them a little so that the body is on an incline)

THe animals love the innards...I see Chickadees eating the fat from the gut pile for days.


Just remember to PICK UP YOUR latex gloves, papertowels, etc. Don't leave those in the woods.

RE: New guy w/ a question.
 

baiting ..... I love it I guess it would be but who baited me or the dead deer

RE: New guy w/ a question.
 

I'm going to say a good lawyer could pin it on either the farmer who planted the corn to start with or the seed company that he bought the seed from!

RE: New guy w/ a question.
 

Deer dont to seem to spook around gut piles here in northwest mo. coyotes clean up fast. but if you have to drag an ungutted deer far you will be hunting next to the road next.;)

RE: New guy w/ a question.
 

gut them where they lay, unless you want to drag the extra wait. anyway there will be plenty of smaller animals that will feast on the left overs.