Dressing a deer question(s)

Dunrobin · Post by **Dunrobin** » Thu Sep 16, 2004 2:14 am

Hi, I am so new that I do not even have an xbow... yet! I am thinking about an exocet, but I hear great things about the exomag... thanks to this forum, I have enough info to make a decision. I have only been hunting for one year... I went on a party hunt last year (rifle season) and although I did not see a deer, I had a great time. Two guys in the party landed a couple of does, but they were already field dressed by the time I arrived. I am a bit nervous about xbow hunting as I will be primarily by myself. Why you may ask? I have never dressed a deer. I guess my question is, do you folks know where I can go to get some good instructional information, either by book or video? Your help is definitely appreciated. Once I learn that, then I can move to education on butchering, but first thing is first. If I am lucky and I harvest one, I want to do it right! Thanks

icthus153 · Post by **icthus153** » Thu Sep 16, 2004 3:44 am

dunrobin , the first deer i ever cleaned i did so without any help or knowledge ( my dad was at work that day ) he asked how i did it and i told him i just acted like it was a big squirrell. now 16 years and 90+ deer later, i still do it the same way , open the package and take out everything that doesnt look like meat. but seriously there are books and videos at places like cabelas that can show you step by step. i think one is called venison from field to table or something like that. after your first you will not have any problem.

tkstae · Post by **tkstae** » Thu Sep 16, 2004 6:26 am

Thats a great way to describe the cleaning of a deer. To me it looks just like a big squirrel, and thats just what I told my 22yr old son. I still end up cleaning his deer, and his squirrels. Oh well, what are Dads for.

stump · Post by **stump** » Thu Sep 16, 2004 7:05 am

Dunrobin, if you're Canadian you may not have much experience cleaning a squirrel so wouldn't be able to rely on that experience to help you with a deer. Tell us where you're from and maybe one of us can help you out. You'll have to register if you want to pm anyone.

Digger · Post by **Digger** » Thu Sep 16, 2004 8:03 am

Dunrobin.
try here you'll need acrobat but is a free down load

http://www.msue.msu.edu/msue/imp/modac/visuals/E657.pdf

Digger

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Thu Sep 16, 2004 8:15 am

Mike Lapinski's Video(I believe by stoney wolf productions) shows step by step cleaning of a deer. Good video

Sandman · Post by **Sandman** » Thu Sep 16, 2004 8:44 am

Dunrobin - Where are you from?

maple · Post by **maple** » Thu Sep 16, 2004 8:47 am

Dunrobin,

Like many others, my first deer was dressed "by the book", literally.
Not having anyone to show me in the field, and hoping for the miracle of a successful hunt, I read my illustrated chapter on "how-to dress a deer" a hundred times. It was a kind of Time-Life style book with pictures. When I did eventually get to put my book-learnin' into practice, it went pretty well. I think all the adrenalin helped too. And the boys are right. It's just like a big squirrel, or rabbit. And keep in mind that everybody does it a bit differently anyway. So what you do pick up from a book or video should be a good start. Good luck.

Are you actually from Dunrobin? Lots of good people around there to give you a hand I'd think.

Maple

Woody Williams · Post by **Woody Williams** » Thu Sep 16, 2004 9:16 am

Field Dressing a Deer

By Woody Williams

Most "strong-tasting" venison is caused by one thing, improper handling of the deer once it is dead. Most bowhunters are not aware that once the deer is dead it is no longer just a deer, but is now "meat." How that meat is handled determines whether it will be gourmet food or dog meat. Heat is the number one spoiler of meat. Therefore, it is necessary to cool the carcass quickly by immediately field dressing the deer. This is not too difficult of a task if done properly. After making sure the animal is dead you:

**Be cautious if you do not know where the broadhead is.

**Roll the animal onto its back.

**Starting at the sternum or breastbone, cut carefully towards the pelvis through the skin and thin wall of the body cavity. By inserting two fingers in the cut that will slide just ahead of and on each side of the knife blade, you can prevent puncturing the stomach or intestines.

**If your animal is a buck, make cuts on both sides of his spam all the way back to his anus. This will free the urine track. You may leave this attached to prevent any urinal flow that may contaminate the meat. If your animal is a doe, simply cutting away the milk glands is sufficient.

**Insert the tip of your knife next to the anus and cut completely around the anus. This will free up the end of the intestines.

**Rolling the deer onto each of its sides, you can then reach in to cut around the edges of the diaphragm.

**You then cut the ribs off to the side of the breastbone by pulling up on your knife. Be careful how far you cut if you are planning on mounting your trophy. DO NOT pull the knife towards you.

**Reach up into the chest cavity and grasp the windpipe. Cut the windpipe in two ahead of where you are holding. Once the windpipe has been cut, start pulling on it towards the rear of the deer. You might have to use your knife to help free the organs as you pull.

**After pulling the organs free, turn the animal over on its belly and elevate the head if possible to allow drainage of blood.

**If the weather is warm, the deer needs to be hung in a controlled temperature cooler or butchered immediately. If the weather is cool (no more than 45øF) the deer can be hung and aged for up to a week out of the sun.

**The deer should be hung in a garage or shed to provide shade and keep the neighbor's dog away. A game bag and/or a liberal dose of pepper will help keep away flies.

Dunrobin · Post by **Dunrobin** » Thu Sep 16, 2004 10:26 am

Thanks very much for the replies. Yes, I do live just outside of Ottawa and No, (your right), I have never cleaned a squirrel! Great feedback from everyone and thanks for the step by step Woody!... I will get my profile on here soon. I travel quite a bit, (in San Diego now), but it always makes me feel at home to think of the woods, the trees and the hunt!! Thanks for the great welcome.

Woody Williams · Post by **Woody Williams** » Thu Sep 16, 2004 10:37 am

One other word of advice - TAKE YOUR TIME..

There is no need to hurry in getting this job done. He ain't going anywhere..except to a freezer...

johnbuck9 · Post by **johnbuck9** » Thu Sep 16, 2004 10:47 am

Hey Woody,

Great job, couldint have said it any better, Now lets EAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hope your feeling better, I know your in some kinda discomfort, but when you picture that 150 class buck thats going too come into your shooting lane this year, the discomfort seems too vanish, you take care,and don't get in a hurry on anything, you'll be ready for Oct.

Hoss · Post by **Hoss** » Thu Sep 16, 2004 10:52 am

good job Woody..

i would add only one step that is optional
.1.if you have axcess to a garden hose rinse him out good....

It helps cool them down quicker...since Im in Oklahoma Its not an option for me but a must for me..

Woody Williams · Post by **Woody Williams** » Thu Sep 16, 2004 11:03 am

Hoss,

The only time I rinse them out with a garden hose is if I busted a gut or pee bag either with the arrow or a cut that ended up wrong.

That tends to "marinate" the meat.

The blood in cavity will "glaze" the insides and give some protection from bugs, flies and germs.

For extremely hot weather it is get it into a cooler fast or put a couple bags of ice in the chest cavity..

icthus153 · Post by **icthus153** » Thu Sep 16, 2004 7:58 pm

i forgot to tell ya in my post above that i am allergic to deer the way some folks are to dogs and cats . i found out as i was cleaning my first deer , my eyes started to swell shut and my arms felt like they were on fire. i can eat the meat but i cant get blood on me or rub my eyes after i touch the fur. crazy i know but i would rather itch than stop hunting

Excalibur Crossbow Forum

Dressing a deer question(s)

Dressing a deer question(s)

field dressing deer

Here is how I do it...........

[b]Thanks![/b]

fielddressing