Each method can be broken down one step further by deboning the meat. This final step is one that many hunters dread having to do since this is where the real work seems to begin. The next stage in deer processing 101 now that your trophy is back at camp or your house is to skin it out. Dos and donts of fielddressing dont tie the carcass to the hood of your car.
But to field dress, skin, and process the meat of your downed animal can take a good deal of time to do properly. Step by step guide to successfully field dressing a deer. Kill tag with string already attached flashlight knife that has been recently sharpened small rag any color other than white to wipe off hands. To help with that endeavor, here is a stepbystep pictorial guide to fielddressing a whitetailed deer. Techniques for field dressing deer and other large animals depend on the size of the kill. Do not take any risks if in doubt about the health of the deer.
Fielddressing, or gutting, is the first step after the deer is down. Step by step instructions from field to table read. Keep a big container ready because you need to pull out the organs from the body. After shooting a deer, immediately field dress or gut the animal to preserve the meat and avoid spoiling. Regardless of whether you are hunting with a bow or firearm, your patience. Field dressing or gralloching is the process of removing the internal organs of hunted game, and is a necessary step in preserving meat from animals harvested in the wild. The most important thing with field dressing is to have a routine or a timeline that will make the process as easy as it can get. Whether you call it field dressing, gutting, skinning or cleaning a deer, this simple guide should be helpful. Proper field dressing and handling of wild game and fish.
Position the knife within the cut with the blade facing upwards. Below are instructions on how to field dress a deer step by step. Here is a step by step description of how to do it as efficiently and cleanly as feasible. Dont hold the carcass outdoors, unrefrigerated until it can be processed.
Tips for dos and donts of fielddressing commercial deer. How to perform the gutless method on big game gohunt. Removing the internal organs and cooling the carcass is essential to keeping the meat from spoiling. For the most part, all you need to field clean a deer is a sharp knife and a strong stomach. To a deer hunter, nothing surpasses the savory taste of properly dressed, butchered, and prepared venison. Some hunters have a meat pole or skinning shed where they hang their deer to remove the entrails. Thats great, but most hunters field dress their deer on the ground prior to bringing them home or taking them to the meat processor. Once your deer is on the ground, breaking down the carcass and getting it ready to eat is another challenge.
Opening the chest initiates the cooling process and gets the internal organs away from the meat, a critical step in slowing bacteria growth and keeping spoilage at bay. On this video our very own joel lickliter the home cookin hunter. Do take the carcass to a commercial processing plant as soon as possible, if. Before you leave your vehicle or campsite to go hunting, make sure you have. Field to fork field dressing deer with food safety in mind. Properly field dressing your game animal is an essential first step in preserving the meat and preventing the occurrence of diseasecausing bacteria. Prop the deer with its head uphill or over a log or brush pile, or hoist it headfirst. Field dressing must be done as soon as possible in order to ensure rapid body heat loss, and prevent bacteria from growing on the surface of the carcass. Use 68 feet of rope to tie one of the animals legs to a tree to open up the carcass for field dressing.
By avoiding a prolonged chase of a wounded deer, you reduce the chances of. A simple step by step guide to field dressing your deer. Always wear latex or rubber gloves when field dressing or. With the help of stepbystep instructions and illustrations, monte burch passes down the wisdom of his practical experience and explains how to field dress and butcher deer in order to prepare and preserve it for cooking or storage.
Gutless field dressing can save you time, weight and handling of entrails with no significant loss of meat. If you have a long trip home, place a plastic bag full of ice inside the carcass to keep it cool. Field dress your deer as soon as possible after you have shot it. Take care to avoid puncturing or tearing the stomach and intestines during this process. You should take breaks while fielddressing your deer to allow your self to warmup or relax. The gutless method is great, if quartering is done immediately. Do not consume any deer that may look weak, sick or is staggering. Firmly wrap your stout string twice around the outstretched base of the penis or vagina and rectum and tie the ends tightly with a square knot. No detail is left out from proper field dressing and butchering to storing and preparing your venison. Field dressing consists of cleaning the deer of its entrails, which can contaminate the meat. How to gut a deer in 6 steps by will brantley author of brow tines and backstrap november 10, 2014 print recipe. Field dressing deer pocket guide penn state extension. Field dressing a whitetail deer hunt fish camp wisconsin. There are countless ways to field dress a deer, but this is how we do it back home in tennessee.
Field dress as soon as possible to remove the entrails. Techniques for field dressing deer and other large animals depend upon the size of the kill. Proper field care of meat is an important step to putting tasty wild meals on your dinner table. Field dressing tips step 1 insert your knife point under the hide only and make one long, straight incision up the belly. To me, the most important aspect of field dressing a deer is not rushing the job and making sure no internal organs are accidentally cut open. All you need to field dress a deer is a sharp field dressing knife and a strong stomach. So youve downed your first twelvepoint buck of the season. Field dressing a deer is not the most fun part of the hunt, but its just as necessary as all the careful preparation and the killing shot. After killing and field dressing the deer, it is time to. Know what you need before you begin field dressing your animal. A step by step guide to field dressing, skinning, aging, and butchering deer ultimate guides on free shipping on qualified orders. Remove all visible dirt, feces, hair, and bloodshot areas.
Field dressing, removing entrails, right away is the first step in cooling your meat harvest down quickly. Keep the carcass cool the deer should be as clean and as cool as possible during transport. I often save this step for later, or skip it altogether if i plan. Make sure you have at least a knife, a saw, and rubber gloves.
Be prepared ahead of time before you leave your vehicle or campsite to go hunting, make sure you have the following materials with you. This method is a fast and easy way to get your animal out of the field. Drag it to a spot where you will have plenty of working room and prop it up on its back. Oct 29, 2018 step by step guide to successfully field dressing a deer are you new to deer hunting and are worried about field dressing a deer for the first time. Skinning remember that a deers hide is a tremendous insulator as evidenced by the fact that deer do not freeze.
Be careful if you want to eat the kidneys of the deer. Many successful big game hunters have learned the hard way that venison quality is strongly influenced by handling of the carcass from the time of the kill until it is. Spread the hind legs by propping a branch between them or position the carcass on its back with rocks or logs to keep it in place. After shooting an animal, the sooner you field dress it, the better. A stepbystep guide to field dressing, skinning, aging, and butchering deer ultimate guides on free shipping on qualified orders. Field dressing and handling of deer and other large animals. Nov 06, 20 to help with that endeavor, here is a step by step pictorial guide to fielddressing a whitetailed deer. After all, you have just harvested 30 to 50 pounds of lean meat. Stepbystep instructions, from field to table salads top. Follow the previous incision from the pelvis to the anus. By implementing a few precautionary measures during field dressing, the hunter can help ensure the final product is fit to consume. The steps below are what we do when it comes to field dressing deer.
Field dressing big game alaska department of fish state of alaska. Field dressing an elk is a nasty job, but somebodys gotta do it. Prop open the body cavity with a clean stick or branch. For those who intend to complete the butchering and processing of the deer themselves, the next step is skinning. That is the final step in field dressing a deer and you are ready to transport it out of the woods. Skinning remember that a deers hide is a tremendous insulator as. Field dressing a deer step 1 oregon state university. Thats great, but most hunters fielddress their deer on the ground prior to bringing them home or taking them to the meat processor. Honor the animaland get better meals by butchering your deer yourself. Theres only one problem your 30 pounds of meat is stuck behind a wall of hide and bone.
It is peak hunting season, and you have just bagged yourself a twelvepoint buck. You can field dress a deer by simply straddling the animal and pushing the legs out with your knees. If youre a backcountry diy hunter and you want to quickly break an animal down into manageable pieces and get it cooled down, the best way to do that is called the gutless field dressing method. If youve never tried the gutless methodor even if you havecheck out these helpful tips and tricks, in our 5step guide to the gutless method. A deers internal organs need to be removed as quickly as possible for a variety of reasons. This is easiest with a limber, freshly killed animal.
Oct 26, 2018 this will help to drain out any remaining blood in the cavity. I prefer the gutless method because i think it is much more simple to do in the field because you are removing the meat from the animal without exposing the sometimes stinky and messy innards and guts. Pnw 517 revised january 2010 big game from hunt to home. To help with that endeavor, here is a step bystep pictorial guide to field dressing a whitetailed deer.
When it comes to the skin, you have two different options. How to skin a deer step by step guideline outdoorhill. This process also helps cool the carcass, slow bacterial growth, and remove blood and paunch stomach materials from the meat. The moment your bullet or arrow hits a deer, venison care begins. A simple stepbystep guide to field dressing your deer. Field dressing as soon as your deer is tagged prepare it for field dressing. Place your deer backsidedown on a slight incline if possible head pointed uphill. Now urine and feces cannot escape from the bears urinary bladder or rectum during the rest of the field dressing process. This will help to drain out any remaining blood in the cavity. General information wellcared for deer and antelope make fine table fare for many people.
A stepbystep guide to butchering your own deer field. I bought this as a christmas gift for my husband and he loved it. Wipe the inside of the body cavity with a dry cloth or paper towels. Kentucky department of fish and wildlife resources. Cut the skin and muscle from the bottom of the breastbone to the brisket. May 09, 2016 pdf field dressing and butchering deer.
Field dressing deer pocket guide college of agricultural sciences agricultural research and cooperative extension step 2. Step by step guide to successfully field dressing a deer are you new to deer hunting and are worried about field dressing a deer for the first time. Whitetail deer hunting produces outstanding memories in the field and it also provides excellent meat for our families to eat. Deer processing 101 complete field to table guide bone.
Wear a pair of shoulderlength plastic fielddressing gloves to keep your arms and clothes clean. This method also allows hunters to skip the traditional step of splitting and handling the spine, which can contain fluids associated with chronic wasting disease. And the process might differ from how someone else does it. This is the best way to fully utilize the nutritional resources from the onceliving animal. Step by step instructions, from field to table salads top.
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