Deer processing

[gsganzer]

Oh, you wanted that pelt? How about making some coin purses? :laughing:

I noticed that too. Most processors charge an additional $20 to skin your deer and then sell the hides to tanners to help make a little extra on each deer.

I skin hogs the way he does it. Usually at least 2 pieces, sometimes more depending how big they are.

 

[kenmac]

Not physically able is reason to quit hunting IMHO. Or if one is really not able, bring someone along or have someone available on call to help you. It's just respect for the animal. And how good meat gets ruined.

Choosing not to field dress my deer has nothing to do with respect for the animal. It means I don't want to fool with it. If you don't like to hunt, then don't.

 

[roadhunter]

Old timers. LOL. You don't have to field dress animals anymore. I stopped field dressing animals when I started hunting miles away from roads and 4 wheeler trails. The gutless method is what I use now and I pack just the meat out.

When I worked for an outfitter in Wyoming they had a winch system on a telephone pole in front of the meat processing building. They could skin a deer or antelope in no time.

 

[oosik]

We always field dressed our animals - moose. Left the hide on until we got home. The meat stayed cleaner that way. Besides, by the time we would get the "beast" field dressed and quartered it would already be partially frozen. A whole lot easier to handle a totally frozen moose when in a heated garage with a concrete floor.

Getting to "fancy" out in the field when its -30F to -40F is a good way to wind up with some pretty nasty cuts to your hands. Even when just skinning/quartering a moose - we always had a bucket of warm water. Good to keep your hands clean and to release a knife that had frozen to your hand.