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What types of diseases may be transmitted from a deer during field dressing? Other reasons for wearing rubber gloves?

JimPic

Disease and infection are 2 very good reasons to wear gloves.Another would be ease of clean-up.I don't have running water at my cabin-I have to pack my own in and it makes it that much nicer come clean-up time.

Rack-attack

I use rubber gloves because I am allergic to both deer blood and deer hair. My hands swell up and itch if I get blood on them. My eyes swell up like pumpkins if I touch deer hair and rub my eyes.

Go ahead and laugh<img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle>

nub

TB
Lymes
CWD
They say CWD hasn't made the jump to humans YET. Don't know for sure really about the other 2, but those 3 would be the big ones I'd say.

chef#1

you are crazy not to use them. if you have any type of open woud you are suseptable to any type of infection. use gloves

hunt on

trapperDave

Why I Never....but logic dictates it is a good idea

AK

Like Rack Attack, I'm also allegic to deer fur. I get the same rash and welts on my arms, chest, neck, and face, sneeze uncontrollable, and suffer itchy, swollen eyes if I have too much direct physical contact with them. For some reason, this condition peaked between 3-6 years ago, but I'm slowly becoming less affected.

Soooooo...my M.O. for deer handling is to tag and drag the deer out of the woods, while touching it as little as possible. Once I have it to the edge of a field or where I don't fear the smell of entrails will spook other deer on further hunts, I return to my truck to get my &quot;field dressing&quot; knapsack. In it, I keep antihistimines (I pop 2 or 3 before I dress a deer), a knife, latex gloves, full length plastic gloves, paper towels, and (don't laugh) a &quot;disposable&quot; respirator made to filter organic vapors and acid gas. I look ridiculous in the respirator, but it really helps me from getting an allegic reaction. I try to skin the deer at home as quickly as possible before butchering it. The meat/blood, fortunately doesn't present a problem for me.

I've met several guys over the years who also suffer this same allergy. It's always nice to talk with others how have to deal with it, as you know at least you're not alone.

Shortdraw

I started using them because they told us it was healthier. Diseases can be transmitted during cleaning. I buy the disposable surgical gloves from a dry cleaning supplier in boxes of 100. They come in different sizes. I've gotten hooked on them. I use them when I'm gutting, skinning and cutting up for the freezer. The surgical rubber gloves really give you a lot better grip. If the phone rings I can just swish my hand under water and the blood slides right off, or I can just rip the glove off and put on another when I resume. In cold weather it keeps your hands warm. If you're a heart eater when you're finished just grab the heart and pull the glove off your hand turning it inside out over the heart. Do the same with the other glove from the opposite end and it's clean and you can throw it in your backpack without getting everything bloody. They're great. I carry 4 or 5 pairs at all times in my backpack.

IroquoisArcher

I got into the habit of using them from rabbit hunting. Mostly on deer I use the shoulder length gloves as I have an alterior motive. If I know someone wants the heart and/or liver then I just grab it in my hand and pull the glove off from the shoulder so now the heart/liver are inside and can be tied off and given to whomever wants them.

pdq 5oh

To keep the icky stuff off my hands.<img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle>

Phil.