Posted: 8/5/2012 9:05:28 PM EDT
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It is official, I've caught the hunting bug. I killed my first animal about a month ago, which was a hog, and now I want to take a multitude of different animals. Only problem is I've never been taught nor seen an animal field dressed after the kill. I want to take a good size whitetail off the property this year but I'm apprehensive due to my lack of knowledge of what to do after the shot.
So my question is, is there any resources online where I can see how to field dress and skin animals? is pretty much every animal the same? any tips tricks from you guys? I want to know it all so "spill your guts"  on the details.
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As stated there are some pretty good ones on youtube.
It's a ritual wherever I've hunted that the first deer you shoot you WATCH someone with experience dress your deer while you hold a hoof. I've always said this is where a hunter is made. Anyone can put the crosshairs on the vitals and pull a trigger. Field dressing is a whole nother story..... I always find it pretty interesting - seeing how everything is laid out. It's not all that hard. Usually you start off "all daintylike" but by the end you elbows deep in blood and guts. You really cant do it wrong, with the exception of poking the piss bag or spilling stomach contents all over the interior. Go slowly and the way things are attached (and removed) are pretty self evident..... |
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Forget a bunch of gutting animals. For deer, elk and antelope we do the following.
Gutless Here is another one with better care of the hide: Gutless Method Elk 101 |
I use a non-standard process. I host the deer up with a rope tied under the head. I make a small slit in the hide directly under the sternum with a pocket knife. I put fingers inside the flesh one on each side of the blade. That keeps me from cutting the intestines or stomach. Then I cut all the way to the bottom of the pelvis. When everything falls out, I start cutting up. I cut the sternum and up the throat and end up cutting the trachea. That lets all the insides fall outside but still connected by the anus/man thing.  I cut around that entire area and pull it out. It only takes about 10 min. The last step is to wash out the cavity with a bottle of water, nothing too through. After I drag the carcass back to the truck I put a couple of bags of ice in the cavity and head for the processer.
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Quoted:
As stated there are some pretty good ones on youtube. It's a ritual wherever I've hunted that the first deer you shoot you WATCH someone with experience dress your deer while you hold a hoof. I've always said this is where a hunter is made. Anyone can put the crosshairs on the vitals and pull a trigger. Field dressing is a whole nother story..... I always find it pretty interesting - seeing how everything is laid out. It's not all that hard. Usually you start off "all daintylike" but by the end you elbows deep in blood and guts. You really cant do it wrong, with the exception of poking the piss bag or spilling stomach contents all over the interior. Go slowly and the way things are attached (and removed) are pretty self evident..... Very good post! Yeah, go slow the first time. Take your time. Even fill out the tag & place on the animal. (if necessary in your state.) It's dead. It's not going anywhere. (Although, a few hunters have gotten a big surprise.) Be careful going up the belly not to open the stomach or intestines while gutting. It can get nasty if you do & extra rinsing would be in order. (Although, some do a autopsy of the stomach contents to study what they are feeding on.) Also, be careful around the bladder. Oh, a good tip is to move it around or drag a little to point it's head/body uphill (If there are hills where you hunt.) . So the blood will run down hill.Easier to see what your cutting. Oh, if you get a good chest cavity shot, there may not be too much blood until you cut the diaphragm. then it will gush. But, it is a cool anatomy lesson. Especially between the liver & the spleen. Heart and Spleen & onions is not as good as liver & onions. 
Oh, wear gloves! Latex if your not allergic to them. Just in case of Lyme Disease & it's allot easier to clean your hands. PS Don't forget you knife or rifle/bow when your done! |
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Quoted:
I use a non-standard process. I host the deer up with a rope tied under the head. I make a small slit in the hide directly under the sternum with a pocket knife. I put fingers inside the flesh one on each side of the blade. That keeps me from cutting the intestines or stomach. Then I cut all the way to the bottom of the pelvis. When everything falls out, I start cutting up. I cut the sternum and up the throat and end up cutting the trachea. That lets all the insides fall outside but still connected by the anus/man thing. I cut around that entire area and pull it out. It only takes about 10 min. The last step is to wash out the cavity with a bottle of water, nothing too through. After I drag the carcass back to the truck I put a couple of bags of ice in the cavity and head for the processer.I do pretty much the same except I do it on the ground with the head uphill and pull the guts out and off to the side as I work my way down. |
I usually have to drag it somewhere first, so I dress it before I have to apply effort into moving it.  The videos will show you much better than anyone can explain it, but take your time and try not to puncture anymore than you have to. And buy these. You're welcome.
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One tip I'll add is don't use a knife to gut it. Get some of those disposable snap-off razor blade knives at the $1 store. Much easier to maniputate so you don't cut too deep or into organs, and they slice thru skin like butter so you're not using much pressure, which can cause you to slip or cut too deep. One will last for 4-5 animals easily so it's not a big investment and it's well worth it.
Then for the butchering of the meat switch to a knife and a hacksaw. Just get some new hacksaw blades and set them aside just for this purpose. I wash them with soap and water before and after use and keep them coated in olive oil in a baggie when not in use. They cut thru bone so easy it's a joke. I think mine are 14 TPI metal cutting blades, Lowes or wal-mart will have them. Too many newbs (myself included) start out with a 8" Buck Knife and try to do everything with it. It's time consuming and you're only fighting the knife for half of the process. Make your life easier and get the right tools for the job the first time. Razor knives + hacksaw is like $10 and will last for years. |
| Look up Kentucky Afield. They have some good videos that will show you the ropes it will also show you how to de-bone on the hoof if you can get the deer into the air. I use a 4" fixed blade or folder and keep a sharpener that has the carbon blades in it for blade touch ups while working. |