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!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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!