How to gut a deer.

[Mr VJP]

This is a very good video on how to properly gut a deer.  A lot of new hunters ask how to do this.  This video does a great job of teaching you.

 

[Paula]

Sharp tools. Um, was the deer pretty much blood free?

[Jeremy K]

They're called zip lock bags , the work great for putting the heart and anything else you want to take home with you.

[nycredneck]

Steve is a great no nonsense kind of guy, his video's are the same. Not a lot of HYPE or BS like some other celebs, I like his style.

[Doc]

Great video. There are others that vary slightly, but the one thing that he uses that I have to get is a small bone saw. I like the idea of opening up the pelvic bone, and the sternum. Currently I have not been doing that and it makes the job a whole lot more difficult pulling the anus and colon through that opening under the bone. It can be hard cutting every bit of the connective tissue. With that bone cut, everything is exposed and easy to remove. As far as splitting the sternum, the less distance that I have to reach up inside to get to the windpipe, the less mess all over my forearms. Also, if there is a broadhead or pieces of broadhead hidden up inside there, having things as wide open and visible as possible lessens the chances of getting sliced on them.

 

So even an old geezer like myself can pick up some pointers. Thanks for posting the link to this video. Now, I have to go out and find a mini-bone saw.

[Mr VJP]

I find it easy to open the sternum with a knife.  Never used a saw.  Even on the pelvic bone.  I take my fixed blade knife, that I carry just for these jobs, place it on the pelvic bone and tap it with a baseball sized rock to get it to cut through.  No extra tools required.

 

[Vince1]

saw this a few times, one of the better instructional vids

[turkeyfeathers]

I've never split the sternum, may have to give this a try. I'm practically crawling in the deer with the gauntlet gloves to cut the esophagus. One trick I use as a lot might : I'll close my left hand around as high as I can grab the esophagus and then run the back of the blade with my right hand along my thumb til I feel it run off the edge. (hope that makes sense) I know then I can make my cut without cutting myself. I believe most guys/gals cut themselves in this area of field dressing.

 Re: anus and colon , I use the Buttout tool. Maybe the best $ I've ever spent. Quick zip tie and you're good to go. 

Never timed myself but complete field dressing taking about 15 minutes at most. 

Going to watch this video again. Very clean job he did.

 

[diplomat019]

steve rinella is awesome.  i read his book "meat eater".  i recommend it.

[HectorBuckBuster]

I never split the sternum either anymore, when I took my first deer to a butcher, he pretty much yelled at me, saying I wasted alot of meat because it drys it out and showed me the correct way he wanted it done. A few year later I took a deer to a different butcher as the other butcher retired. When I went back to pick up my meat, he made a comment about this is the first deer he has seen that was field dressed the correct way, and asked me where I learned it from. I told him from a old butcher.

[A Sportsman]

If you have a long drag ahead of you especially over nasty terrain I would think twice about cutting sternum or pevis open. Better chance for dirt to get in there And/or damage to some meat. Also I imagine legs will be flopping around a lot.

But I've cut sternum bones on some deer and it certainly does help get in there.

[nycredneck]

I dont split the hams, meat gets dried out and therefore becomes wasted. I do however split the sternum, did not think there was meat wasted there.

Edited October 8, 2014 by nycredneck

[Water Rat]

Wish my deer were that cooperative while gutting them .

[Pygmy]

I've never split the sternum, may have to give this a try. I'm practically crawling in the deer with the gauntlet gloves to cut the esophagus. One trick I use as a lot might : I'll close my left hand around as high as I can grab the esophagus and then run the back of the blade with my right hand along my thumb til I feel it run off the edge. (hope that makes sense) I know then I can make my cut without cutting myself. I believe most guys/gals cut themselves in this area of field dressing.

 Re: anus and colon , I use the Buttout tool. Maybe the best $ I've ever spent. Quick zip tie and you're good to go. 

Never timed myself but complete field dressing taking about 15 minutes at most. 

Going to watch this video again. Very clean job he did.

 

Excellent tip about running the backside of the blade along your thumb when cutting loose the esophagus...

 

I never thought of that.  I am always very wary while reaching up  out of sight with a knife.. I'm somewhat paranoid about that..  Thanks, TF...

Edited October 8, 2014 by Pygmy

[josephmrtn]

Great video. There are others that vary slightly, but the one thing that he uses that I have to get is a small bone saw. I like the idea of opening up the pelvic bone, and the sternum. Currently I have not been doing that and it makes the job a whole lot more difficult pulling the anus and colon through that opening under the bone. It can be hard cutting every bit of the connective tissue. With that bone cut, everything is exposed and easy to remove. As far as splitting the sternum, the less distance that I have to reach up inside to get to the windpipe, the less mess all over my forearms. Also, if there is a broadhead or pieces of broadhead hidden up inside there, having things as wide open and visible as possible lessens the chances of getting sliced on them.

 

So even an old geezer like myself can pick up some pointers. Thanks for posting the link to this video. Now, I have to go out and find a mini-bone saw.

Leatherman wave has a saw and knife that work great

[TrophyHunter33]

I never spilt the sternum or pelvic but everything is is just textbook.

[Terry]

I am always very wary while reaching up out of sight with a knife.. I'm somewhat paranoid about that.. Thanks, TF...

I hold the knife with my index finger pointing towards the tip of the knife and resting on the spine of the blade. This gives me control and lets me know where the cutting edge is. I make sure it's pointed away from me and out of the way. I then stick my other hand up in and find the esophagus. Bring the knife down to it and cut.

It's just another method you can try.