Hanging a deer after kill
 

Usually after i shoot my deer the check in station is already closed so i have to hang it over night and take it in the morning. What is the best and right way to hang a deer?

Forever Hunter

RE: Hanging a deer after kill
 

I always hang my deer from the hind legs... That way the deer has a chance to lose some of that excess blood.

RE: Hanging a deer after kill
 

I agree. I always field dress the deer and then slit the jugular veins and hang them from their back legs. This allows all excess blood to drain from the carcass. I believe this also helps get rid of some of the 'gamey' flavor of the meat.

RE: Hanging a deer after kill
 

Thanks guys!

Forever Hunter

RE: Hanging a deer after kill
 

Ah yes! I knew I was forgetting something! I beleive youre right, it does get rid of some of that gamey taste!

RE: Hanging a deer after kill
 

I hang mine from the hind legs. I'm not sure if it's "right" or "better" , I just always have. I was taught that hanging a buck by the neck is disrespectfull to the buck.

"Nocked,cocked & ready to rock"

RE: Hanging a deer after kill
 

Ive heard that too... Also, if you want to have the buck mounted, it might mess up the hide around the neck...?

RE: Hanging a deer after kill
 

i some times hang them from the head and you can spry a hose in there or splash some water in ther to clean it out even more.

RE: Hanging a deer after kill
 

I too also hang them from the hind legs. I spray the deer out in the back of my truck before I hang it. I also try to cut away some of the excess skin from where I cut to field dress.

RE: Hanging a deer after kill
 

I'll get on the other side of the fence...

Forgetting for the moment the mount - we hang our deer from the head/neck. We prop the cavity open with a stick (or limb) then (as stated) splash water inside & clean out the cavity until the water running out is clean - no blood running out of the cavity.

The jugular in a whitetail is small - about 1/4 inch - I can't believe cutting that gets 'extra' blood out of the system...

Also - for what it's worth - I'd recommend hanging that deer a week or so if your cold weather permits. After about 36 hours the enzymes start to break down and the meat will 'season' and prove to be better tasting - I'd also recommend de-boning all meat and trimming all tallow!!

GREAT EATS!!!!



Aim small miss small

RE: Hanging a deer after kill
 

Hind legs:

1. the hair sheds snow and water better.

2. Once the deer stiffens - it is eaisier to quarter when hung
in this manner.

3. The Mounting comment - Ditto

4. If you process your own - MUCH easier to skin down towards the
head, then remove the head and pelt in one piece.

5. Can remove the inner loins very easily when hung in this manner
(always take the out before hanging very long).

Just some of my thoughts why I do.

RE: Hanging a deer after kill
 

Definitely from the hind legs. I also wash mine out after hanging from this position. It drains easier out the mouth. Plus blood still in the meat drains to the head, and not the hindquarters where most of the meat is. I also do taxidermy, and nothing more drives me nuts then receiving a nice buck to mount with a darn rope mark around its neck. Its nearly impossible to ever get rid of or cover the damage done to the hide. It just makes more sense to hang from the hind legs!

RE: Hanging a deer after kill
 

If you are not going to have the head mounted, hang the deer from the head. Leave the hide on the deer and Wash the inside out until water is clear. This allows water, blood, and uneatable and foreign material to drain out and not collect in chest cavity.

Hanging the deer in any position without washing the deer clean, inside and out, is to invite taste-affecting bacteria to invade the meat. Coagulating blood forms a bacteria that imparts a rancid taste and odor.

It is not disrespectful to hang a deer from its head. The deer is dead. If hanging the deer by its head is disrespectful, what do you call butchering it?

It is a waste of time to cut the jugular when the heart no longer beats.

RE: Hanging a deer after kill
 

If you are not going to have the head mounted, hang the deer from the head. Leave the hide on the deer and Wash the inside out until water is clear. This allows water, blood, and uneatable and foreign material to drain out and not collect in chest cavity.

Hanging the deer in any position without washing the deer clean, inside and out, is to invite taste-affecting bacteria to invade the meat. Coagulating blood forms a bacteria that imparts a rancid taste and odor.

It is not disrespectful to hang a deer from its head. The deer is dead. If hanging the deer by its head is disrespectful, what do you call butchering it?

It is a waste of time to cut the jugular when the heart no longer beats.

RE: Hanging a deer after kill
 

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote<font size=1 face='Verdana, Arial, Helvetica' id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>
If you are not going to have the head mounted, hang the deer from the head. Leave the hide on the deer and Wash the inside out until water is clear. This allows water, blood, and uneatable and foreign material to drain out and not collect in chest cavity.

Hanging the deer in any position without washing the deer clean, inside and out, is to invite taste-affecting bacteria to invade the meat. Coagulating blood forms a bacteria that imparts a rancid taste and odor.

It is not disrespectful to hang a deer from its head. The deer is dead. If hanging the deer by its head is disrespectful, what do you call butchering it?

It is a waste of time to cut the jugular when the heart no longer beats.
<hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote></font id=quote><font face='Verdana, Arial, Helvetica' size=2 id=quote>

Washing out with water is a good idea , but , you should also dry it off with towels as best you can when finished , bacteria grows in water. I've never had water collect in the chest cavity , it drains out the mouth.
As for hanging a deer by it's head being disrespectfull , it wasn't meant to offend those that do. It's an indian belief thats been around for centuries and was passed on to me by my father and grandfather.
&quot;What do I call butchering it&quot;? A necessity if you wish to consume your harvest.<img src=icon_smile_wink.gif border=0 align=middle>


---Doug

RE: Hanging a deer after kill
 

I thought that you only should hang and deer when you have optimal temps such as a refrig. But if you have to hang it clean it out with water and keep it cool and some kind of cheese cloth for bugs and to keep flying debree of of it.

brian