Ok suppose for another $20-$30 you got the same service from a retired butcher with everything right at his house..only he did all the work short of field dressing.. Plus Now I don't have to get rid of hide, bones, head, etc...

So now, based on your quote (above) should we amend the thread title to read....It ought to be mandatory once, and then if you can afford it, pay someone else to do it, to avoid the mess and hassle??

If so I'm on board! (sounds like you are too)

There's a taxidermy/butchering shop near here that charges an extra $5.00 if the anus isn't removed . . . and the flyer from the place doesn't use to word anus to describe it!

you should at least field dress it . skinning is no big deal either

Yes it should be mandatory! And, if you are taking it somewhere, do as much yourself as you can, your butcher will appreciate it. You keep them happy, & they keep you happy.

I think it goes back to tradition also, hunting used to be just for sustenance,you shot it, you gutted it, then you took it home to your rockand ate it.

I guess though, as long as you aren't disrespecting the animal, and just discarding the carcass after sawing off antlers, it doesn't matter in the end who gutted it. My way has always been you get one hands on help, after that I only coach, that's how I learned.

If you do not butcher it yourself why should the other part be madatory? *scratches both heads*

PREEAACHERRRR

I agree w/ ya Jeff, but I also don't have a problem w/ the local butcher shop making some $$ from folks who wish to not skin their own deer.

As far as gutting the deer...IMO, this is definitely a must while out in the field.

dressing, preparing, and eating the game that one harvests creates a cycle that keeps one close to natural processes, and lends respect to the act of harvesting it in the first place. Trust me, venison always tastes better when you have done every step yourself.

Is it a coincidence thatthe hunters i know of who have the highestrespect for the game... all proccess their own? That includes what little I know of people who frequent this site.

That being said, I do not think it should be mandatory...the very last thing we need is another 'its good for you' law....

LOL!!! Perhaps your processor thinks you're a "special needs" hunter that needs all the help you can get. He doesn't tie your shoes for you too (without additional charge), does he??

I just think it takes away from the dead weight you have to fool with and to me it does add to the experience as much as anything that is neccesary to be an effective hunter.

Not to mention that I personally would consider it RUDE behavior to drop off a deer to a processor or anyone, that has not been gutted.

Many times growing up, my friends and I would kill squirrels and rabbits while out hunting and then decide for one reason or another that nobody really wanted them. So we would take them to somebody's house (usually someone of very modest income) that we knew would appreciate them.

However, even though this meat could be considered a gift (for which, technically they should have been grateful for, no matter what), we would have never have been so rude to drop off the animals unless they had been properly cleaned. Just the way I was reared.

It has something to do with respecting the animal as well, as others have mentioned.


I'm sorry if I hurt your feelings, still, it is the way I feel and I'm just being honest. One thing I guarantee is that many on here if they are experienced hunters,whether they will express their opinion so directly or not, would, if they saw an anonymoushunter driving down the road with a dead and UNGUTTED deer in the back of his truck, generally remark "look at that idiot who hasn't even gutted his deer" to their companions.

Of course it is different if your processor has alterior motives for WANTING the guts or, like I said their are other special and unusual circumstances.

LOL T ......