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New Deer Hunter-Have Questions?

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I've been a city boy all my life (unfortunately), but now I live in Southern Virginia. I am looking forward to deer hunting with some friends. I was wondering if anybody could recommend a good video on field dressing and butchering deer meat and any good recipes.



Thanks very much for the responses, you guys always seem to help me out.





:)
 
I just had antelope tacos with the wife, they were yummy. I bone out the carcass, then slice the back-straps and tenderloins into steaks. I cut roasts out of the hams, cut off some steak off the front shoulders and burger or stew the rest. Sausage kits are nice too. Good luck!
 
First of all, I would like to say that's great you are willing to taking up deer hunting. It is a very rewarding sport IMHO that produces memories that last (even if only get to see the big one, let alone get a shot at him :D ). I can't really recommend any videos on field dressing deer, the best way to learn is by doing. If somebody gets one, offer to help with gutting it, and if they don't care, ask if they would let you do it. Like I have read before here on the TDR, "watch one, do one, teach one... " The three biggest tips I can tell you is make sure you have a very sharp knife, keep the knife blade away from the stomach and intestines, and don't puncture the urine bladder. By the third one, you'll have it down. I ain't much of a chef, and I don't mind the taste of venison, so my only advice on cooking is make sure you use a medium heat. Venison doesn't have much fat in it, and is easy to over cook and become very dry. Hope this helps and if you want, pm me with any questions. Good luck with the upcoming season.



Scott
 
Big Ed

No video here but to gut him out its a 10 minute job at the very most, first cut his throat up high just below the jaw then if there is a hill put his head down so he can bleed out, I also like to work his limbs like he is walking, this helps the bleed out process, then with his head still downhill go to the other end and poke your index finger in his um um um bunghole and then cut all around it so it is free from the carcus but still hooked to his guts, at this point cut just the hyde all the way up the center clear up to the cut throat, then skin it back a few inches so you wont get hair all over . Now cut the layer between the hyde and the guts, careful not to cut the guts as you may puke from the smell, now saw the pelvic bone, careful again not to cut the poope tube!!!, OK now flip his head uphill and ass down, now saw the brisket bone thru the middle till it ends up by his front shoulders. Now cut a stick to prop the ribcage open, this will help you to finish and the stick can stay in place for better cooling of the carcus, now pull all the guts downhill so you can see the liner between his guts and lungs, cut the thin wall next to the ribcage then pull the wind pipe out and all the guts will roll down the hill. At this point you may want to pump his legs to help bleed him out. If you are neer your truck use a 5 gal water to wash him and start the cooling. If the animal is in the sun, drag him to the shade . Cooling the meat is very important!!!



Good luck and be safe... ... ... ... ... cheers,Kevin
 
Hey Whitmore, I have never seen one started at the neck like you describe, but hey, whatever works. I usually always start at the pelvis, get rid of the milk bag/nads, make a slit, follow it up the middle of the hide on the underside/stomach running the knife blade between my fingers and pulling the hide away from the guts at the same time finishing at the bottom of the ribcage. Then I go and cut around the anus and let the guts spill out. I crack the pelvis with my knife blade by putting the point into the middle of the bone and give it some good blows (only recommended with a lock blade knife). Usually pops open on the 3rd or 4th blow (I wonder why my knife is always dull :rolleyes: ). Then I reach up in the chest cavity, grab the windpipe and pull. This is good enough for me until I get it hung up where I can do some final cutting. The dogs enjoy it too when I wait. The hill trick is a good technique to remember especially when blood has pooled in the chest cavity. That's a good idea about pumping the legs, I think I will try that one this year.



As you can see BigEd, there are alot of different ways to gut a deer. Go with what is the easiest, least messy, etc. for you. Hope this helps.



Scott
 
Let me clarify

as not to confuse anyone.



When I saids start at the neck, I ment to just cut his throat so he can bleedout from the jugluir vain.



I have seen people go from the neck to the pelvis and it looks to difficult :confused: but the outcome is the same.



Big Ed, a couple more things

Try to get all the windpipe because if you leave some it will go rotten fast.



Also on Bucks only- on the hind lege there are scent patches that drop scent on the ground so the does can smell and hopefully follow... ... ..... Kinda like some of us men hehehe :confused: anyhow cut the scent patches off as they are rank. follow your nose you will find them, the hair on the scent patches are all twisted ... ..... you will see



Cheers,Kevin



P. S. I have shot 23 bull elk and 23 deer... ... ... 1 each per year & also I have guided my wife to 8 elk and 8 deer.



I am 100% success and finally gave it up because of too many hunters spoiling the hunt... ... . it got down to all luck and skill only played a small part :{ :{ :{ I do miss it though !
 
BigEd -



Where in So. Va. ? Virginia is infested with my relatives, though I've been an Arizonan for 32+ Years.



Cleaning deer is a learned task, your way will be the right way if it works, I can do it in 15 minutes flat now, done 2 - 3 a year since I was 10.



I start head uphill, buck or doe. Cut from ribcage to pelvis, around all the goodies. If its not a mount, I'll split the rib cage and cut through, up the neck, if a mount, I'll cut across and behind the brisket, skin up to the base of the head rolling the skin, then split ribcage up through throat.



I roll all the innards straight down between the legs keeping everything intact, cutting any sinew left holding in the way, saving the liver and heart if intact. Then prop the chest open, get the rest of the lungs, then reach up all the way to the bottom of the skull and pull the windpipe out, cutting if necessary. This part is really messy on your sleeves.



You may mess up the backstraps the first time, no disaster.



Flip it over on the opened chest, propped with a stick f needed, for a few minutes to pick up knives and load pack, then roll it over, clean up with some paper towels and carry it out of the woods.



For Skinning, I hang em head down, I only shoot bucks so the head is removed, except I think VA requires it left on, not sure. I then skin around pulling down the skin over the rump, cutting just above, actually below since its hanging, the scent glands, until I have about 1/3 of the hide pulled. I tie a piece of rope around the bunched hide, run it under my boot and back up to my free hand, and use it to pull the hide off, over the shoulders and neck, then off the front legs which I cut below the knee, trimming as I go.



This gives a very clean carcass, save whatever mess the ol' . 300 caused, which needs to be trimmed away.



As for butchering, I don't anymore, its only $40 to $80 at a meat processor and they are much better at it than I ever was. If this is your first, get blended deer burger, the fat helps the taste, get lots of sausage made, make chorizo if they can or know how. The worked meats help get the family acquainted with the taste. Just don't get any spoiled meat, hairy meat, no flies, body fluids on the meat. Be Clean, act like the USDA or a Rabbi is watching you, it shows in the finished product. Pick a processor BEFORE you hunt.



Have Fun! My son and I leave for hunting on wendsday for 2 weeks, I WILL have fun! ( If I can stay off TDR and get my work done!) Been doin' this for 30 Years!



The First one is Always the best one, no matter how big, no matter how old! And when you learn, teach someone else, enjoy the hunt, the time in the woods, the time with your (insert hunting companion here), take the meat to the processor or cooler right away and then go back to camp, not work, it can wait, it will be there when you get back, guaranteed!



My Sons First Kaibab Buck.

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Whitmore -



You mean you quit hunting?!? We need to do something about that!



BTW, We crashed a plane not far from you in '92, in Riverton, Wyo. Had a great time fishing Wind River, took a 6X6 Bull SW of Thermopolis, and 2 Antelope south of Gillette. What's up with Wyoming that made you quit? Other than private property issues for hunting I love Wyoming!



John
 
Originally posted by DIESELMAN

Whitmore -



You mean you quit hunting?!? We need to do something about that!



BTW, We crashed a plane not far from you in '92, in Riverton, Wyo. Had a great time fishing Wind River, took a 6X6 Bull SW of Thermopolis, and 2 Antelope south of Gillette. What's up with Wyoming that made you quit? Other than private property issues for hunting I love Wyoming!



John



Dieselman, I guess I thought I needed the whole mountain to myself hehehe, really what it was when the 4 wheelers came out and all the lazy hunters would come driving in where the wife and I just spent an hour walking into, that was the breaker , I watched a couple times as elk were grazing and patiently was waiting for the big bull to come out, you know they are always last and of course 5 minutes before dark, well these elk was just grazing along and when they heard the 4 wheelers comming they would walk into the trees, 15 minutes after the 4 wheelers left the elk would come out again... ... ... ... . they aint stupid but the modern day hunter is when it comes to 4 wheelers :mad: I hate them :mad:
 
Whitmore -



I agree, I cussed those ATV riders, then I got one. I still cuss them. Seems I use the ATV for what its intended, low intrusion access on roads and trails, then I abandon the thing and find it that night when I come out, usually.



I still find myself miles from anyone, so I thought, when some jackass comes lumbering along, hunting on an ATV. They usually leave and so do I, further into the woods.



My son and I follow the mile or more rule, then we never see hunters, and when I do, they are friendly hard working outdoor loving individuals like me, or illegal jerks making new roads. I won't hesitate to drop a dime on someone who is threatening my chosen lifestyle.



But the ATV's are sure useful, and when ridden right, non destructive. Notice my sons Honda behind him in the picture? When he dropped his deer, I hiked out to get the machine and brought it close to where we could load at. We still had to hike the deer out of the canyon about a mile and a half to get to the machine. We saw no one in these canyons in 6 weeks of scouting and 5 days of legal hunt time.



Lack of common sense and courtesy will ruin it for everyone. Find a bigger mountain, don't quit!
 
Big Ed, I'd also like to encourage you to get a good locking blade knife, I have a Buck 110. A small bone saw (Wyoming saw works good) and also a Wyoming knife. You can find these in the Cabela's catalog. The Wyo knife is around $20 and are very usefull when gutting and skinning. A guy can unzip his kill in seconds w/o poking into the guts. I take my horses many more places than anyone will ever take an ATV and leave nothing more than animal track. my . 02
 
TIM

I respect your hunting ethics, they are right on, if more people would have a little respect for the sport that maybe more Wyo people would still be hunting. :)



Another straw that broke me was the last year I hunted I was watching 6 elk feeding , the biggest was a 5 point so I was just watching, anyway from the opposit direction a truck pulled up to a point on the ridge and saw the elk, 3 people got out and walked down thru the canyon and up to the next ridge, these 3 people shot the 6 elk, they were skilled hunters and did a fine job but they were party hunting prolly for their wifes too :mad: :mad: :mad: , while they were gutting the elk out I worked my way around to their vehicle to a point where I could get the plate ###. I then called the game and fish to report it , the G/F said they were very busy and would contact me for all the details. Never heard from them :( ... ... ... . 5 days later I had heard that the hunters were aware of the G/F knowing of their party hunting so I was curious and took a camera up to the place of killing and guess what all the elk were still there and the meat on all 6 were spoiled. I took 24 pictures of this mess and had the film developed , gave the pics to the G/F and STILL nothing came of it.



I figgered between the 4 wheelers and the illegal hunters that the sport was ruined, I been soured up eversince :mad: :mad: :mad:
 
Whitmore,



I gave it up a few years ago because the regulations got to be too much to deal with. You need a lawyer to figure out if where you want to hunt and what you can hunt for are ok. If it want to eat venison I can just shoot one of the varmits eating our yard and apple trees.
 
Joe,

Can I come up to your place? We've been hunting out of Mad River and I have yet to see anything legal... . My partner shot two 3x2s opening weekend but I haven't seen anything yet. Maybe it's me? I did do my part and drive the second buck over to Mike - I had no idea the buck was there because I was trying not fall down the hill.



Hwy 36 sure is fun to tow my trailer on:) 2nd gear up that damn grade... .



Brian
 
Brian,



Did you meet any log trucks on 36?:D:D That's always fun. It should be especially exciting pulling a trailer.



I have hunted a lot near Blakes Spring on the northern end of South Fork Mountain near Mad River and done very well. Northeast side of the ridge. I haven't been up that way in over ten years so I don't know what the conditions are now. Look for white thorn brush that looks like hedge clippers have been used on it. The clear cut blocks where I hunted have probably grown up by now, but there should be some newer ones. Lots of timber up there that hasn't been cut.



We have a regular visitor every night eating our yard. Four points on each side and pretty big animal for a coast black tail. Close enuff to shoot with a pistol from the bedroom window.
 
Dieselman



I live in Tazewell, VA. It's about 70 miles north of Bristol, TN and about 120 miles south of Ronoake, VA. I used to live in Baltimore, MD, but I had to get out of the rat race. :D It is very rural down here. It's taking some getting use to, but I like it.



Thanks for your reply.
 
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