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Q:
What is the best way to field dress a deer?

Question by fisherman14. Uploaded on August 10, 2009

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Answers (12)

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from 007Dom wrote 14 weeks 3 days ago

well i was on youtube while ago looking for the same thing. i forget how but if yuo loook it up im sure youll find somthing.

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from 007Dom wrote 14 weeks 3 days ago

i mean if you look it up.

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from rudyglove27 wrote 14 weeks 3 days ago

Here is the Link you can use:
http://hunting.about.com/od/deerbiggame/ht/htfielddress.htm
Enjoy and Good Luck!!!!!

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from Clay Cooper wrote 14 weeks 3 days ago

Have someone else do it!

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from WA Mtnhunter wrote 14 weeks 2 days ago

LOL, Clay!

That's why you always take someone inexperienced hunting with you. So you can be their 'spiritual advisor' and talk them through the intricate steps and finer points of field dressing and skinning while savoring the fine aroma of innards! Whilst you enjoy the remaining cup of coffee in the Thermos! LOL

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from 270WSM wrote 14 weeks 2 days ago

I am with WA Mtnhunter, but if it is your first time. Take someone with you who can show YOU. The first deer I shot several years ago I was with my father in law. The deer was gut shot and when I open him up we both got a nose full. I looked at my father in law and all he had to say was "you shot it".

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from hjohn429 wrote 14 weeks 2 days ago

With a sharp knife and some darn good lighting is how I usually do it........

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from GiantWhitetails wrote 14 weeks 2 days ago

as soon as you can, especially when its hot, keep the meat cool, fresh, and bug free.

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from WA Mtnhunter wrote 14 weeks 2 days ago

270WSM

Yeah, man! You shoot, you gut!

A couple of years ago, I helped one of the guys get his elk out of the brush down to a clear area where I then parked my carcass on a rock. He asked, "Aren't you going to help me gut it?"

"Nope", I said, "When you are ready, I'll help you roll him over, though. I'm resting before I walk back to get the four wheeler. Get to guttin', boy!"

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from RobinHood wrote 9 weeks 6 days ago

Field dressing can be a daunting task if you have never done it, have no one with you, and you are not entirely sure of the anatomy of a deer. I would always recommend bringing someone with you who knows what they are doing for your first time, plus they will be able to help you haul it out. Even the smallest deer are heavy to drag or carry out.

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from crm3006 wrote 9 weeks 6 days ago

fisherman14-
I see you got some smart ass, but not much real advice. I will try my humble best.
Assemble the right tools. This should consist of a small plastic tool called a Butt-out, nitrile or latex gloves, a 4" or so drop point knife, and a small hand axe. A quart of water is handy, also.
Insert the Butt-out into the deer's anus, and pull out enough gut to tie in a knot. The gut will then retract into the deer's body. Start at the neck, and open the deer up along the windpipe down and through the ribcage. After you are through the ribcage,
STOP! Insert two fingers into the deer's belly cavity, and very carefully cut upwards down to the deer's pelvis. (This is to avoid cutting into an intestine, which is worse than gut-shooting. Trust me on this.) Prop the deer up in the back, with the head slightly downhill, if possible. Use a rock or chunk to stabilize the deer carcass. Cut down through the muscles between the deer's back legs until you reach the pelvic bone. Now stand behind the deer and use the small axe to split the pelvic bone. Roll the deer on it's side, and cut the windpipe loose, using the windpipe, drag out all the intestines, lungs, etc. from the carcass, being careful not to drag the offal over the hams. Now, grasp the deer under the front legs, and lift the carcass until all the blood runs out of the pelvic area. If you have a hunting partner, (and you always should), have him to pour about half of your water into the rib cage, and let that wash out all the blood it will. Use the rest to wash your hands, knife, axe and Butt-out for next time. Dispose of the gut pile as local ordinance requires, but do not leave the nitrile or rubber gloves with the guts. They will kill scavenger animals. With a deer or two practice, you can perform the above steps faster than you read this answer.
**NOTE- This is field dressing for meat. If you want to head or shoulder mount a trophy, you need to start in the opposite direction, and do some field skinning and caping to preserve the head.

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from milissalea1974 wrote 8 weeks 3 days ago

CRM3006 that was some damn good advice for fisherman14. You showed alot of patience with your writing. I'm sure fisherman will appreciate that. Good luck fisherman!

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from rudyglove27 wrote 14 weeks 3 days ago

Here is the Link you can use:
http://hunting.about.com/od/deerbiggame/ht/htfielddress.htm
Enjoy and Good Luck!!!!!

+3 Good Comment? | | Report
from Clay Cooper wrote 14 weeks 3 days ago

Have someone else do it!

+3 Good Comment? | | Report
from 007Dom wrote 14 weeks 3 days ago

well i was on youtube while ago looking for the same thing. i forget how but if yuo loook it up im sure youll find somthing.

+2 Good Comment? | | Report
from 007Dom wrote 14 weeks 3 days ago

i mean if you look it up.

+2 Good Comment? | | Report
from 270WSM wrote 14 weeks 2 days ago

I am with WA Mtnhunter, but if it is your first time. Take someone with you who can show YOU. The first deer I shot several years ago I was with my father in law. The deer was gut shot and when I open him up we both got a nose full. I looked at my father in law and all he had to say was "you shot it".

+2 Good Comment? | | Report
from WA Mtnhunter wrote 14 weeks 2 days ago

LOL, Clay!

That's why you always take someone inexperienced hunting with you. So you can be their 'spiritual advisor' and talk them through the intricate steps and finer points of field dressing and skinning while savoring the fine aroma of innards! Whilst you enjoy the remaining cup of coffee in the Thermos! LOL

+1 Good Comment? | | Report
from hjohn429 wrote 14 weeks 2 days ago

With a sharp knife and some darn good lighting is how I usually do it........

+1 Good Comment? | | Report
from GiantWhitetails wrote 14 weeks 2 days ago

as soon as you can, especially when its hot, keep the meat cool, fresh, and bug free.

+1 Good Comment? | | Report
from WA Mtnhunter wrote 14 weeks 2 days ago

270WSM

Yeah, man! You shoot, you gut!

A couple of years ago, I helped one of the guys get his elk out of the brush down to a clear area where I then parked my carcass on a rock. He asked, "Aren't you going to help me gut it?"

"Nope", I said, "When you are ready, I'll help you roll him over, though. I'm resting before I walk back to get the four wheeler. Get to guttin', boy!"

+1 Good Comment? | | Report
from RobinHood wrote 9 weeks 6 days ago

Field dressing can be a daunting task if you have never done it, have no one with you, and you are not entirely sure of the anatomy of a deer. I would always recommend bringing someone with you who knows what they are doing for your first time, plus they will be able to help you haul it out. Even the smallest deer are heavy to drag or carry out.

+1 Good Comment? | | Report
from crm3006 wrote 9 weeks 6 days ago

fisherman14-
I see you got some smart ass, but not much real advice. I will try my humble best.
Assemble the right tools. This should consist of a small plastic tool called a Butt-out, nitrile or latex gloves, a 4" or so drop point knife, and a small hand axe. A quart of water is handy, also.
Insert the Butt-out into the deer's anus, and pull out enough gut to tie in a knot. The gut will then retract into the deer's body. Start at the neck, and open the deer up along the windpipe down and through the ribcage. After you are through the ribcage,
STOP! Insert two fingers into the deer's belly cavity, and very carefully cut upwards down to the deer's pelvis. (This is to avoid cutting into an intestine, which is worse than gut-shooting. Trust me on this.) Prop the deer up in the back, with the head slightly downhill, if possible. Use a rock or chunk to stabilize the deer carcass. Cut down through the muscles between the deer's back legs until you reach the pelvic bone. Now stand behind the deer and use the small axe to split the pelvic bone. Roll the deer on it's side, and cut the windpipe loose, using the windpipe, drag out all the intestines, lungs, etc. from the carcass, being careful not to drag the offal over the hams. Now, grasp the deer under the front legs, and lift the carcass until all the blood runs out of the pelvic area. If you have a hunting partner, (and you always should), have him to pour about half of your water into the rib cage, and let that wash out all the blood it will. Use the rest to wash your hands, knife, axe and Butt-out for next time. Dispose of the gut pile as local ordinance requires, but do not leave the nitrile or rubber gloves with the guts. They will kill scavenger animals. With a deer or two practice, you can perform the above steps faster than you read this answer.
**NOTE- This is field dressing for meat. If you want to head or shoulder mount a trophy, you need to start in the opposite direction, and do some field skinning and caping to preserve the head.

+1 Good Comment? | | Report
from milissalea1974 wrote 8 weeks 3 days ago

CRM3006 that was some damn good advice for fisherman14. You showed alot of patience with your writing. I'm sure fisherman will appreciate that. Good luck fisherman!

0 Good Comment? | | Report

Post an Answer