Field Dressing


waterfowler_gal

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Re: Field Dressing

When I hunt with my grandfather, which is most of the time, we hang the deer by the neck while field dressing. The land is right behind the house, so why not. It's a lot easier. I'd say it takes about 10 minutes.

Usually leave the tarsal glands. However, I have used them with some success, but usually just don't feel like foolin' with 'em.

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Re: Field Dressing

5-10 minutes for me too.

If it's a doe and during the rut I cut the tarsals off and hang them on a trail by my stand,but otherwise I just leave them on.

The bad part about field dressing a deer fast is everyone else in the gruop wants you to "show them" how you do it so quick.Usually on their deer. tongue.gif

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Re: Field Dressing

5 to 10 minutes here too.

I use the trucks tailgate like a big cutting board though.

That means its dragged out to the feild edge and loaded up whole weight. crazy.gif

Lucky for me I own the feilds so we can just drive out to get the deer. cool.gif

Very little dragging that way... smirk.gif

I have used the tail gate method for a few years now.

Its nice having the deer higher up for ease of cutting, reaching in there when needed, and not having to be on your head and knees to look into the chest cavity, etc.

Also the add benifits are the 2 rear tie down hooks to hold the front and rear legs up and out of the way. Litytle rope, or what I use, motorcycle tie downs with hooks.

Its like having an extra set of hands helping you hold the deer.

Guts fall out and off the back and ya drive away. crazy.gifcool.gifsmirk.gif

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Re: Field Dressing

I am REAL slow. I piddle around with just about every phase of the whole operation. If I have blades missing or pieces of blades missing, it REALLY takes a long time. I never timed myself but I would guess I'm in the 20-30 minute range, at least. And then, trying to get as much blood and goo off my hands as possible so I don't gook up my bow takes even more time. It seems as though even if I wear rubber gloves, I still manage to make a pretty good mess of myself.

I've done an awful lot of deer over the years, but I really don't seem to be getting any faster .... lol.

Doc

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Guest ILclimber

Re: Field Dressing

It usually takes 5 or 10 minutes to do a good job. Some people that I have watched do it, do it poorly and that is one reason that people think deer meat is unedible. But if you take care of the animal properly, no problems. I have never taken the glands of the animal, but it's food for thought.

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Re: Field Dressing

Takes me about 5 minutes.

I leave the tarsal glands on.

I never cut through the pelvic area.

The first cut I make is just under the hide, from the butt, up around the penis, etc and back to the butt. Next I continue that cut around the butt area, and release the penis, etc, and bring it all back with the butt, and tie it all off with a string.

Then I make my gut cut, up to the brisket, cutting first just the hide, and then carefully through the skin as not to puncture the gut area.

Then make my two cuts on either side, following the diaphram.

you don't want to slit the throat, if saving the cape for the taxidermist, so just reach in, up forward, with both hands and grab the wind-pipe, ahead of the lungs, and either yank it, until it breaks, or reach in the carefully cut it, without cutting yourself. (remove the rest of the windpipe, at home after skinning)

Everything comes out easy after that, and if your careful, you can pull the butt, etc, right through the pelvic area and out, along with the ponch and a nice full bladder, which you can drain into a canister and use for hunting later. (Nothing like fresh deer pee...eh)

The whole thing takes about 5 minutes, and your not spilling any urine on your precious venison. wink.gif

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Re: Field Dressing

10 to 15 min. With a helping hand to hold a leg and a sharp knife nothing to it.

Although I have some relatives and it takes them about 30 minutes or better, but thats because they are gagging and or puking while they do it. Funniest thing every to watch them. They have weak stomaches. Oh and if they cut the guts forget, an hour. Always a good laugh.

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Re: Field Dressing

Pretty fast, I really don't think it takes more than 5 minutes

I do the same as Buckee described and never cut the pelvis...no need to if you cut out the anus good enough. Don't keep the pee though.

Haven't messed with the tarsal glands much.

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Re: Field Dressing

I go pretty slow. It usually takes me 20-30 minutes. It takes about 5-10 minutes less if I have a helper. I also remove, clean, and package the tenderloins and those underloin things (from the neck area) when I field dress, otherwise they dry up too much when the deer is hanging. I guess another reason why it takes me so long is that our bucks have pretty big bodies on average up here in Saskatchewan.

Last year I boned-out the meat on my mule deer while in the field, and that took me about 2 hours, but I was by myself wrestling with a 300+ lb carcass on the ground, and I took along time around the chest/neck area because I didn't want to ruin the cape.

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