tools for butchering
 

i made my post on butchering but had another questions

figured it would be easyer to start a new one


what tools beside a good sharp knife do i need

i have a gamble to hang the deer by the feet i bought it a few years back and have never used it

what works best for skinning the deer i have seen some tools made for it

but they just look like a big pair of pliers

RE: tools for butchering
 

I just use a knife
When I am done all that is left is a deer skeleton
I did 3 this week so far:D

RE: tools for butchering
 

how hard is it to skin that is my only worry about doing it my self

i buy all my meat for a month at sams club hole pork lion 10 pounds of steak and cut it up my self

the only other worry i have is finding out what cut is where on the carcess

and i hear alot about aging how long do you age deer and at what temp

RE: tools for butchering
 

Skinning is the easiest part. Believe me.....its a breeze.

Knowing where to cut is as simple as watching somebdoy do it, once or twice. I went to a friend's farm on the opener of ML season a couple of years ago. I learned REAL QUICK after helping with 14 deer, that day. I'm sure you have friends hunting. Ask them to call youwhen they get one.

I use a gambrel......a knife or two.....and a hacksaw. Some won't believe this....but it takes less than 30 minutes to skin and quarter a deer, once you have it hanging.

Good luck....and take your time the first few times. Unless Im in a hurry....I still enjoy taking my time with this process.

RE: tools for butchering
 

sorry to say i have no friend her that hunt i moved here back in dec of last year i know one person

he is not currently hunting and never even guted his deer

i talked with a local butcher and he said he might have me help him come shotgun season

i told him i would help him for free if he tought me how .he said last year opening day of sg season they got 50 deer that day

RE: tools for butchering
 

Cold place to age (old fridge works great, but if you dont have one, a big cooler that you can quarter the animal and put in to age). Sharp knife (fillet,drop point, and possible a skinner), bone saw or shears that will cutbone, table, grinder, water source, and if you are new, a cuts chart (or do like i did when I learned, play around with the cuts and find out how you like tocut your meat.)

RE: tools for butchering
 

Really depends on what you want to do with your deer. With only a single knife and gambrel, I take a deer from field to freezer. (Well I do use my cordless sawzaw to take the legs off.) That's it. I debone everything.

You can take the rear legs/hams off the ball joint with just a knife.

RE: tools for butchering
 

skinning is easy. You get the skin lose and just pull it off. If the deer has been setting a while and the skin has dried some, then use a skinning knife to help work it off (skinning knife, the kind with a turned up point). It will usually pull off. I know guys that cut down the legs, around the tail, and place a rock in a pocket infront of the tail. Tie a rope around the skin that has the rock under it. Hook the rope tothere truck bumper, and while the deer in on the gamble, drive forward pulling the skin off. I just like to make the cuts and pull it down. Never done the golfball/rock trick, but have seen it done. I can skin them just as fast as it takes them to set up all that mess.Skinwill pull right off with a little effort. Best way to lear, is get in there and just do it.

RE: tools for butchering
 

Just stick to shootin' bows and limpin' and stuff you know about, OK?:D

RE: tools for butchering
 

Ageing, 4 to 6 days is all it takes. I know older men who like to age it till it is a greenish tint. I usually age mine for 5 to 6 days on large bucks and 4 to 5 on does. I have an old fridge in my shop that Ive taken all the racks out and put in some hooks. I quarter the deer, hang the quarters in the fridge and place the other cuts on the only rack I left in it.The cuts I put on the rack are;shoulder roasts, back strap, loin, rump roasts (when I take them off as a roast and not grind them), and neck meat (when I plan on making burger, chilli, or jerky out of it.)

RE: tools for butchering
 

Now what? [8D] My cordless Dewalt SawZaw....

RE: tools for butchering
 

Saws-all (you coulda just said reciprocating saw!)

Class dismissed.

RE: tools for butchering
 

Hehe......

Instead of a "sawzaw" (lol) I have always used a pair of the short nose pruning shears. They will chop the head and legs off easily and in one swipe. Cut around the bone with a knife and then just use the pruning shears to cut the spine/leg bones. Works like a charm.

I use a 7" high quality fillet knife for most of my butchering work, but Ialso keep a larger knife (gerber with a 5" folding blade) for popping the rear legs out of the sockets, and then the pruning shears as well.

RE: tools for butchering
 

Nope, do a Search, Here in the North it's a Sawzaw...! CLASS DISMISSED! [8D]

RE: tools for butchering
 

[/align]here in Ohio it is a "sawzall"

RE: tools for butchering
 

i have heard it as saws all sawzall recip saw and even big saw with small blade lol

thanks for your help lol i think i can do it myself now

only thing in the tools list i did not think of is a fridge

RE: tools for butchering
 

You know what Jeff? I've been noticing Rob making a few spelling mistakes here and there too but I've been keeping my mouth shut. I'm gonna start calling him out from now on. What now Rob?:D

There was even one time he spelled my name wrong.[&o]

RE: tools for butchering
 

I start to finish mine, with my Buck knife, and a fillet knife!! You don't even need a sawzall for the legs! Cut em at as deep as you can at the joint, a quick snap, and cut the tendon!

Ipull out the loins, then work from the bottom up separating and detachingthe muscles!(buck knife)

I cut my deer into 100% lean, silver dollar size, pieces! Anything smaller is sausage meat!(fillet knife)

p.s. If you partially freeze it once its deboned it cuts much easier!! Just make sure it is flat, and in the shape you want to cut it!

RE: tools for butchering
 

After we skin the deer we hit it lightly with a little gas hand torch to cinge the hair off