To gut or not to gut.
#11
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: North Idaho
Posts: 1,071

If you drag it a long ways I don't want to get it full of dirt and leaves etc...so I always gutted at home. most of my deer were a mile from my house. Even now it still only 20 minute drive. Only time I would worry about it is in the early Bow season/hotter days. Gut and fill the cavity with ice as soon as possible..
#12
Typical Buck
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Northern WI
Posts: 853

Leaving the guts in an open area where crows (and eagles) can see will insure that the guts will be gone in a day or two. The crows making a racket probably also draw in predators. Works well for me on my land.
#13

I gut it where it falls. No sense dragging it around with the extra weight. I have also killed deer near a gut pile and have whacked a few coyotes in the process. Might as well take them out if you get the chance. If you don't want any leaves or dirt getting in the cavity have a plastic tobaggon handy to help drag it out. They work well plus you can take the heart out with you as well without it getting dirt and leaves on it.
#16
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Midwest
Posts: 1,079

I have always gutted the deer asap. In MO we sometimes have shirtsleeve weather during gun season. I like to open the deer up so the meat can start cooling and it is a lot easier to handle after losing that weight. I keep a 2 gal. hand pump sprayer full of cool water at camp to wash it out with and speed cooling. It is also handy for an extra fire extinguisher if needed. If I have far to take the deer I stop at the first grocery store and buy two or three bags of ice to put inside it and wrap it in a tarp. Maybe this is overkill but I don't want the meat to spoil.