Can I field dress a deer after an hour long car ride?

[Core]

I hope you enjoyed the thread title.

Situation is I have a daughter who wants to see me field dress a deer (no, she's not a psycho, at least as far as I know--she very well may be, but that would be another thread). Schedule is making it hard to get her out to my hunting land, so as long as I recover a deer quickly I'm thinking I could bring it home and field dress it in the back yard.

Normally I field dress immediately, but I can't really see how this is any different than waiting  a few hours to recover a deer, so I'm thinking it's fine. Just want to run it by y'all before I do it

[Culvercreek hunt club]

1 minute ago, Core said:

I hope you enjoyed the thread title.

Situation is I have a daughter who wants to see me field dress a deer (no, she's not a psycho, at least as far as I know--she very well may be, but that would be another thread). Schedule is making it hard to get her out to my hunting land, so as long as I recover a deer quickly I'm thinking I could bring it home and field dress it in the back yard.

Normally I field dress immediately, but I can't really see how this is any different than waiting  a few hours to recover a deer, so I'm thinking it's fine. Just want to run it by y'all before I do it

Temp depending, if you shoot one with an arrow and it runs off it could be hours before you recover it normally. Judge the temps and time and have at it. I wouldn't try in on those 89 degree days but with the weather I am seeing forecast I say go for it. 

[Core]

Just now, Culvercreek hunt club said:

Temp depending, if you shoot one with an arrow and it runs off it could be hours before you recover it normally. Judge the temps and time and have at it. I wouldn't try in on those 89 degree days but with the weather I am seeing forecast I say go for it. 

Considering hunting always, always goes as planned, I intend on double-lunging it, it runs 100 yards toward my car, temps are 42, and I drive home with the windows open.

[steve863]

Many places in the south they don't gut them in the field.  Sometimes it's several hours before they bring them back in somewhere for field dressing.  I don't think they die or get poisoned after they eat the venison.

 

 

[wildcat junkie]

As long as you don't get into the paunch you should be fine. Any quartering shot or ant shot near the back of the rib cage would be suspect

[bartman9]

I don't see any problem with this, as long as it isn't real warm out.  But, better yet, go pick her up (or have someone bring her) and let her help you track it.  Did this with my daughter and she had a blast.  

[moog5050]

Think about where you will be tossing the guts!   But I agree - weather and time from shot to recovery dependent (and wildcat makes a good point on shot location) it should be fine.  

[phade]

We couldn't field dress in the south...as part of the club we had to weigh deer out via a program with the state's version of the DEC.

[Five Seasons]

as others have mentioned, some don't field dress for various reason. Heck your local butcher will tell you how they get the "whole deer" in sometimes haha. Generally the sooner you get the stuff that puffs and bloats out the better. It also allows for better cooling of the meat and most importantly for most... a lot less weight to drag out. All that said, so long as its not gut shot I don't see the issue, but generally sooner is better.

[Fletch]

I see no issue as long as it is not gut shot. Always try to cool the animal down as best as possible but a couple hours is not going to hurt it.

[Bolt action]

3 hours ago, Core said:

Considering hunting always, always goes as planned, I intend on double-lunging it, it runs 100 yards toward my car, temps are 42, and I drive home with the windows open.

Windows open? You planning on stuffing it in the back seat?!

[crappyice]

Windows open? You planning on stuffing it in the back seat?!

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[wolc123]

Does she have a go-pro camera and a tripod you could borrow ?   That way you could send her the video.  She could watch it as many times as she wants and even share it with her friends and teachers.  

[Hunter007]

1 minute ago, wolc123 said:

Does she have a go-pro camera and a tripod you could borrow ?   That way you could send her the video.  She could watch it as many times as she wants and even share it with her friends and teachers.  

Or better yet just YouTube how to gut a deer 

[Hunter007]

 

[Core]

14 minutes ago, Bolt action said:

Windows open? You planning on stuffing it in the back seat?!

Minivan

 

Thanks all!

[Core]

5 minutes ago, wolc123 said:

Does she have a go-pro camera and a tripod you could borrow ?   That way you could send her the video.  She could watch it as many times as she wants and even share it with her friends and teachers.  

I think she wants to be involved  

[Hunter007]

Just now, Core said:

I think she wants to be involved  

Cool but I think watching it on YouTube will be a  much better experience for her  with out the smell of blood and Guts .

[Robhuntandfish]

1 minute ago, Core said:

I think she wants to be involved  

Def , a video ain't gonna cut it.  That's no fun.  

 Prob a lot easier to go get her and more fun for all to be in on the blood trail and experience finding the deer with you.  Stuff like that might get her hooked and hunting with you.  Good luck

[Hunter007]

You should see how she reacts to a video showing the process first ,maybe so she is more prepared for the real thing .

 

Edited October 17, 2018 by Storm914

[Timeless]

10 minutes ago, Core said:

Minivan

 

Thanks all!

I don’t know where you’re hunting, but be wary of ticks that will come off the dead deer as it cools...and into your sweet ride.

 

To answer your question, people recover deer hours upon hours after they’re shot.  You’ll be fine as long as the temperatures cooperate.

Edited October 17, 2018 by Timeless
Derp

[Nomad]

28 minutes ago, Core said:

Minivan

 

Thanks all!

The best hunting vehicle! I loved mine , remove middle seats , place bow or gun on rear seat , can get dressed inside, nap, easy to,pull deer in .

Great for hunting ,of course not macho enough for most guys ....Just  got my first pick up truck, what a pain to hunt out of . Gas mileage sucks , parking sucks ,ride sucks .

[Marion]

The best hunting vehicle! I loved mine , remove middle seats , place bow or gun on rear seat , can get dressed inside, nap, easy to,pull deer in .
Great for hunting ,of course not macho enough for most guys ....Just  got my first pick up truck, what a pain to hunt out of . Gas mileage sucks , parking sucks ,ride sucks .

I'll take it off your hands

Sent from my SM-G935V using Tapatalk

[Nomad]

We bought it to tow a RV .  But I drive the Subaru when ever I can ,way more fun than that ,  chunky Z71 . I honestly don’t understand why anyone would drive one ,if they didn’t need it for work or towing .

[wolc123]

You got to get one of these for your mini-van.  They only cost about  $ 40 from Harbor Freight and U-Haul will mount a 2" receiver on most mini-vans for less than $ 200.   That way the tics and the blood and guts stay outside.  Also, way easier to load a heavy deer (like that ^^ 46" chest-girth slob), than a pickup truck.  That will be an even more important consideration if you leave the guts in.