Originally Posted by BarnesX.308 (Post 3869648)

For the guys who don't gut - do you really want to drag that much extra weight? For a monster buck, you could be dragging 40-50lbs. unless you guys shoot your deer right where you can drive the truck to :D

Originally Posted by pluckit (Post 3869588)

A sharp knife will slice right through the sternum of the rib cage right up to the neck. If you have a knife with a saw blade you can use that to saw apart the hips but what I do is cut around the rectum and with string I tie off the colon. Then from inside I tie off the colon in 2 places an inch or so apart, Then separate the colon between the two tie off spots. This prevents anything from coming out during the removal of the entrails. Then cut the diaphragm from the chest wall, reach up into the neck and cut the esophagus and everything comes right out.You can work to get the colon and rectum out now, or later when you can easily split the hips apart, with no worries of contamination since you have tied them off. A hatchet is also a good tool for splitting the hips.

Originally Posted by Flying Mullet (Post 3869596)

zip from the v in the chest down around the genitals not cutting the bag, cut around butt hole or use butt out tool, reach in (poke through tissue) up the neck up to your shoulder and cut the esophaXXgus as far up as possible, flip it over with legs spread and everything comes out, done.

Originally Posted by nchawkeye (Post 3869657)

I don't drag deer, quit that years ago...

Depends upon where I'm hunting, most of the time I run a 4-wheeler up to them and throw the deer on the front rack...

On game land, I carry a rachet pulley in my backpack...I find a tree to hoist the deer and debone in the field...I put the meat in garbage bags, put in backpack and come out with them...

Originally Posted by nchawkeye (Post 3869628)

Dang, must be a North Carolina thing...My buddies and I have amazed others on how we can get the tenderloin out without dropping the guts...

We debone the hams as well, unless someone wants a whole ham to smoke...Then we pop the ball and socket joint at the hip and remove the ham...The only time we use a saw is to cut off the tail and cut the front legs off...

Originally Posted by nchawkeye (Post 3869657)

I don't drag deer, quit that years ago...

Depends upon where I'm hunting, most of the time I run a 4-wheeler up to them and throw the deer on the front rack...

On game land, I carry a rachet pulley in my backpack...I find a tree to hoist the deer and debone in the field...I put the meat in garbage bags, put in backpack and come out with them...

Originally Posted by nchawkeye (Post 3869882)

One the subject of tagging...Simple solution, carry a pen and a cell phone...I call in when I lay my hands on the deer, write down the verification number and I'm legal...

We get unlimited doe tags here, just pay $10 for two...So legally, we can kill 6 deer without buying more and if I need more I can get them...

Originally Posted by UPHunter08 (Post 3869916)

Yep, that's in your state. In many states, you have to physically bring them to a registration place (often a gas station or other business). Can't have it quartered, skinned, butchered, etc until after you have that little metal tag affixed by the registration center. So my point remains the same...many (most?) of us don't have the luxury of butchering our deer on the spot.