Great Deer Field Dressing video!

[Realtree]

I came across this video from KYAfield on how to field dress a deer that I thought some may benefit from viewing.

Click the link below to view this video on YouTube.com:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=ECdaKBbmGnU

[Realtree]

If you watch this video, please reply back in this thread and let me know what you thought of it.

Do you do anything different or in addition to this video when you field dress your deer? 

Thanks !

[mnfisherguy]

Real good info thanks!

[Realtree]

I was taught to cut the hitch bone open and pull everything down out of the deer together, but I do like how he cut around the anus and pulled it back up through the deer and out too. Just have to make sure and get it all cut loose in the back first.

[Grute Man]

Well I love the fact that he doesn't get in a hurry.  Some guys try to break the land speed record like its a sign of experience.  This is no time to rush.  I also like how he cuts around the anus first and avoids having to cut the pelvic bone. 

However, I don't like putting the blade that close to my hands/fingers in tight quarters.  He leaves part of the abdominal muscle together which helps keep the entire opening smaller and never opens up the rib cage.  Then he squeezes his hand down by the ribs to cut the diaphram and also up to cut the esophogus.  It really looks like an easy way and a bad time to get a nick/cut from your own knife.  Another reason I open the rib cage is to help it cool faster.

What I've done is use a gut hook.  I start my incision on the chest bone with the blade and then flip the knife to use the gut hook to cut down towards the anus.  Then I use a bone saw (short with blunt end) to cut the pelvic bone and cut the anus away from the hide.  Then I cut the ribe cage open up to the top, reach in with my knife up as far as I can go and slice the esophogus.  Then I grab the esophogus and pull down towards the butt.  I cut the diaphram as I get to it then just pull everything out at the butt.  Flip her over to let any excess blood out then start draggin.

[Realtree]

I agree Grute, we usually open up the rib cage all the way up as well. Makes it easier to get most of the esophogus out and also helps to let the heat out of the meat quicker. I will definitely be trying his technique next year with the exception of opening up the rib cage further. 

[Spinach]

I dont care for this technique at all. It looks like it takes too much time and cutting.

Gutting a deer is very simple after you do a few yourself, I start at the bottom, cut the first layer of skin to the top and then repeat through the second layer, i do take my time when making the 2nd cut, so i do not puncture anything. Then reach inside the neck area and cut the esophogus as high as possible, set my knife down and pull the entire gut pile from the top to the bottom, sometimes making a few minor tissue cuts along the way. I take my time again cutting around the anus and then use any type of saw to cut pelvic bone, apply a little force to open up the rear end, cut away any remaining tissue (this also allows the deer to drain better) and it's done.

This typically takes about 5 minutes or less and I'm back in my stand again.

[rocklake488]

I pretty much use the same method but will usually tie off the anus with a string to keep the meat clean. I will also split the pelvic bone on a doe to make the whole removal easy. I split the breast bone unless I want to mount the head. The whole job usually only takes about 5 minutes or so.

[Ryan]

I'm glad I'm not the only one that did not like his method.  I didn't like the fact that he was getting milk all over the place when he could just cut around that area.  I also think it is a lot easier to break the pelvic bone.  You don't even need a saw if you just find the right place to break it with your knife.

[gveire]

yes i think cutting the milk sack is not the best choice cut around maks it so much cleaner

[Pegg]

I would rather open it all up and you have more space to work with. It doesn't take much time to open it up and in the long run it is easier because you can see what you are doing. By the time it took him to do that deer we could have all done two or three by then. He took a lot of time just trying to make his first cut through. But everyone does it their own way.

[tripnchip]

I do it pretty much the way he does it , but I do cut the milk bag off rather then cutting through it. For the anus part I have taken to carrying my rappla, One trip arond with that long sharp blade and your done. If you want you could do the whole job with the rapala. I open the stomach from the bottom with either a guthook or by
just laying the blade betwwen my fingures like he did. Before theguthook thats the only way you could do it. We use to open the chest and break the pelvic but found ifthe deer needs to be draged and distance ypu get less debrie in the cavities by leaving them closed.
As fare as as how fast he did it you have to remember he was doing a  instructional video so you tkae your time so folks see everything.  Realy what does it matter how you do it as long as you do it clean.

[repoman]

i definitly was taught differerent

[Spinach]

I thought this was more of a sales pitch, rather than an instructional video.

[repoman]