anyone got any good field dressing methods they like to share, or good videos?

There is a linc on the HNI home page near the bottom. It isn't a video but is a series of drawings with the basics. End result is everything that is inside has to go outside.

When I shoot a deer, I go back to my truck, leave my bow behind, and grab a backpack with a hoist, gambrel, rope, rubber gloves, and a trash bag. Where the deer lies I gut it, tie the hoist to a nearby tree with the rope, lift it, skin it, and bone it, put the meat in a trash bag, and place it in my backpack. I can skin and boneout a deer in 20-30 minutes. I have no deer carcass to get rid of and I'm not skinning out some week old, cold or frozen deer like 90% of the guys around here do. For those of you that think a deer has to age(I don't) the meat can age back at home in the fridge. This off course will not work in states that require deer to be checked in at a station.
HCH

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I get the whole deer and carry it to our skinning shed where we have a winch, water, lights and the best of all, a walk in cooler to slide the deer right in. I've never liked field dressing deer, although I have done it.

It’s really a messy, sticky and gross thing for me to do. I usually do some begging for my buddies to do it for me. I will compensate them quite well afterwards.

I will leave the gutpile where I made the kill. When I get home I skin and butcher the animal in my garage.

Ouch! That hurt.

I dont think anyone really likes to do it, but it has to be done. IT IS PART OF THE HUNT. i think if you cant stomach field dressing a deer then you might want to rethink killing one.


for some tips to field dressing, the only thing i can think of is use a smaller knife, such as a buck mini alpha. i have found that when using a smaller knife you can have more precision as to what your cutting. If you do it right you should be able to get all the inards out in one sac, saving yourself most of the mess. once that is done just make sure you get the asophogus cut out. As much of it as you can, dont be affraid to get your arms in there. cut out the a$$hole and get it in the truck. And make sure you get the poison glands cut out before your buddies get them.

To me it's like changing diapers. You don't want to do it but it's part of the job. I find that the sooner I do it the better. I like doing it right after the deer drops. It seems easier and the adreniline is still going and I don't mind it as much.

I read in F&S about a guy who shot a caribou and had it skinned an boned out in about 20-30 min with out ever gutting it. They said that when was done there was a skeleton without a piece of meat on it and the innard were intact. This seems very efficient to me and I'd sure like to know how he did it, or if there are any tricks to it.

Spud

There areonly 2reasons to gut anything: 1) you want thetenderloinsand 2) you have to check it in intact. A great tip for gutting one is to use a zip saw or bone saw to cut through the centerofpelvis. It splits them wide open, which makes the job easier andyou don't have to pull the colon and anusback through. When I was in Canada after caribou the guide wanted to just quarter them and never open them up, but I did it anyway because I wanted the tenderloins and I really don't mind doing it.