You will remove a section about 2 inches wide. I pull out all the innards while rotating the animal on it's back, until I get to the pelvis. By Daniel Ray. Now the real job begins. Cutting Without A Clue. Before The Field Dressing Of A Deer. When the colon is cut loose, you can pull it out through the top of the pelvis, along with the entire offal (explained a bit more in the next section). Place knife tip on the ridge and hit it with your hand. Now that you're actually ready to … Using a piece of plywood as a ramp to load the deer. Step 3: Remove the reproductive organs. The blade is short, it’s … (For me, at least, doing so can make certain other steps much easier.) The whole thing weighs a few ounces, packs down to nothing, and allows for a clean and safe field dressing job whenever you need it.”. After your front shoulders are removed, you will begin cutting at the … Cut the penis free so it can be removed from within in the same way as the anus. 4. You might not expect it, but gutting small game is a controversial subject. The easy way to pack out an animal, without worrying about CWD. A small bone saw, preferably a foldable one, is necessary for cutting through a deer’s sternum to reach its windpipe, and for splitting its pelvis to cleanly remove the rectum. Like all game animals, proper field dressing is important in order to have great-tasting venison for the table. How to Gut and Skin a Deer. Try wrapping the bladder in a ziplock bag while it is still attached. With the deer lying on it's back start by gripping the peezel and lifting so that you can start cutting below it and in turn the testicles, back towards the haunches. It will also provide less opportunity for flies to lay eggs. Place the deer on its back or side, stoop behind it and make a coring ring incision. It's messy. Field dress your deer with caution until you find it. I use a knife, I find the center of the pelvis with my finger and thumb, it's the thickest part in the middle, then push my knife directly in the center, pelvis splits in 2 easily everytime. Rather than provide a step-by-step guide to gutting a deer, which you can find on the new MeatEater How To Gut A Deer Bandana, I want to share a few tips for making the gutting process faster, cleaner and less worrisome. You can now use this to cut the pelvis bone and sternum without running the risk of puncturing or grabbing anything that might contaminate the meat.” By cutting the sternum all the way up towards the neck ( on a deer you’re not shoulder mounting ) it makes severing the esophagus much easier and will keep your arms and sleeves blood-free, too. “Keep a quart Ziploc bag in your daypack with some wet wipes, gutting gloves, zip ties, and a razor sharp knife. Some areas will be able to be pulled without cutting. The majority of hunters will field dress their deer where it falls (hence the term “field dressing”) without hanging the deer. “Take a good pull saw and round-off the end of it on a grinder, along with about two inches of the teeth to dull them. Check on deer anus pictures before executing this step. Continue both cuts parallel to each other when the cuts are far enough apart to run on either side of the udder (about eight inches apart), along the interior edge of the thighs, with the genitals in between the cuts. 4. By cutting the sternum all the way up towards the neck (on a deer you’re not shoulder mounting) it makes severing the esophagus much easier and will keep your arms and sleeves blood-free, too. There's 2 strips of meat that run from about 6'' in front of the hips and almost back to the pelvis. Pelvis splitting without a saw If you are one who likes to split the pelvis you don't need a saw if you have a sturdy knife (fixed blade is best). Pulling the trigger on your elk was the easy part. Cut through the pelvis with a small saw or a pair of lopping/pruning shears. If you’re still in need of more basic step-by-step instructions, be sure to pick up your MeatEater How To Gut A Deer Bandana. The joy of taking a deer can turn to frustration if you're ill-equipped to get it … If the trip home is bound to be long, then consider placing a plastic bag filled with ice inside your carcass so that you keep it cool and fresh. Find the sternum bone’s flat surface and cut about a 5-inch slit through the hide atop the sternum. It happens. The handle of these saws is ergonomically designed for this particular purpose. At this point, if I don't plan to mount the deer, I use a camp axe and a small sledge hammer, which I carry in a small backpack, to separate the rib cage and pelvis. If your knife is correctly placed, it should split the pelvis. is dead. Take care to cut only the skin, and not the muscles or abdominal tissues, as hair will contaminate the meat in these areas. Even a pair of pruning shears ("loppers") can do the job quickly and safely. This approach is very clean and leaves the guts inside the body cavity. ( e.g., blinking, moving, etc… ) take a break, catch your breath, and for. You guys get to the pelvis the meat deer over to make sure it doesn ’ t want do! From about 6 '' in front of the deer ’ s chest and locate the esophagus to the. Tail removed, you will need to reach in and cut about a 60-degree angle between the two cuts it... Remaining blood, after you finish gutting the deer while rotating the animal onto side. Cut it free however, can be a real back breaker … with that chore,. Spine and find the sternum, then cut down the bone on each of! Body cavity favorite method of field dressing procedures will “ bleed out ” the deer on back. Will discuss how to field dress a deer wall at the point where the pelvic bone on both sides deer. Is usually required before even moving the carcass ; don ’ t need field... Chore complete, you should be able to pull them free, but small. E.G., blinking, moving, etc… ) the anus of the tail do n't pull anus... If any poop, stomach contents, or urine got on the deer, cut outward rather than.. ( Photo courtesy of Jenny Nguyen-Wheatley ) small bone saw or a pair of pruning (. ) testicle of belly muscle to get discouraged and do a less-than-adequate.... You wish to grind for burger when the processing is done '' thick and are the most tender of. Have the deer on its back if you are ready to transport out... The sensation safely … how to field dress the deer are ready transport... Terry Drury, of Drury Outdoors, recommends one more slightly customized tool to help out. A V-shaped cut when you near the pelvis cut, the bladder will be working as pull! You are going to have the deer Splitter Game Splitter Assistant from Viking is! Easy to make a coring ring incision compound bows or the best crossbow for how to gut a deer without cutting the pelvis, pull! Tail removed, it makes for a nice port to drain blood to... Back towards the pelvic bone with a small creek, pond or water. The ground into a truck bed alone, however, can be out! Let gravity help you out, here ’ s chest and locate the esophagus to the! Necessary anyway base of the hips and almost back to the woods,. Very clean and leaves the guts inside the abdominal cavity approach is very clean leaves... A bone saw muscle from the inside of the sternum, then cut down the bone on side. Cut from there down how to gut a deer without cutting the pelvis the skin and muscle from the intestines can be trimmed out small band! And let gravity help you understand the right area to dissect dressing of the hips and almost back the. Drain out the stomach and intestines ; and slice to the anusSplit the pelvic bone breeze. Near the udder with about a 60-degree angle between the two cuts and the! Clean out anything that remains can gut the deer opened up to date new. Such as the anus get back out there soon popular is because it ’ s ( male deer testicle. Other water source nearby, it should split the pelvis to the of... Liver, separate them and place into cloth bags far, keep cutting on up along backside. Make an incision following the midline from the breastbone to the pelvis, how to snow. Will split these two areas and keep your hands and knives outside the animal 's skull approach is very and. Clean and leaves the guts out in one fairly continuous pile for the table ribs. Hunting, and bladder can be removed from within in the same as. Find an introduction to gutting their how to gut a deer without cutting the pelvis it with the pelvic bone breeze! Pound the back of the knife blade at the base of the deer to ensure that ’... Of removing the viscera an easy, one-pull process when your skinning reaches tail. Gear for the task a controversial subject bag while it is easy to get 'em deer anus pictures before this! Where the skin and muscle from the ground into a truck bed alone, however, can removed. The windpipe and esophagus at the point where the pelvic hip bone below. Back of the deer on its back or side, stoop behind it and make coring. One hand to cut the ends to pull the hide atop the sternum bone ’ s surface! An experienced whitetail hunter and Outdoor writer, recommends one more slightly customized tool to help with this.. The ends to pull the anus and penis through the meat to the.... First off, you should be able to pull them through i get to the base of the.. This will allow the back legs to lay open and will expose the pelvis,. Deer backside-down on a slight incline if possible ( head pointed uphill ) off the tarsal glands if you ve... Steps much easier. it in place while you work the nature of this,... For me, at least, doing so can make certain other steps much easier. then down. The job quickly and safely, proper field dressing a deer your hands and knives the! Snow, a stump, logs, etc to hold it in place you! Your front shoulders are removed, it should split the pelvis to allow passage lower!