posted
dittoing Field dress or bone it ASAP. Make sure you have ziplocks for the liver and heart. Any knife is fine, just don't cut too deep. Stay out of the intestines and stomach.
The advice to be totally up front with the outfitter is good. Sometimes when you've done something a gazillion times you forget what it's like to be a beginner.
-------------------- Pat McGann
Bob Lee Exotic Stickbow, 51# Bob Lee Signature T/D recurve, 55# Howatt Palomar recurve (69"), 40#
"If you leave archery for one day, it will leave you for 10 days." --Turkish proverb Posts: 820 | From: Twisp, WA | Registered: Oct 2006
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google field dress this deer in under one minute and buy the video. Its about $18. and worth it.
-------------------- Joe Ashton,D.C. Mohawk 55# and and 62" black widow 62" long bow 55# 21 century long bow 55# and 62" big horn recurve 58# and 58" Posts: 2423 | From: colorado | Registered: Feb 2007
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i never field dress. waiting a couple hours won't hurt (most of the time). i take every deer i kill back to the shop and hang them up, skin and then gut right into a large tub.
i have always thought field dressing looks messy and for my situation, unnecessary. like everyone else has said, talk to the outfitter.
if i paid to hunt, i wouldn't expect to have to do any of the dirty work.
-------------------- 06 Black Widow PSA III Clark Longbow Posts: 148 | From: Southern Illinois | Registered: Sep 2010
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I field dress and cool ASAP and have found that although a gutpile is unsightly it doesn't last long at all. A friend dressed a doe last Monday before we took a break for lunch and when we came back the only thing left was the paunch. This was 1 hour after we went out. Check with your outfitter as some don't want something dressed where other game might come across it-although it has been my experience that a gutpile doesn't spook deer as much as one might think.
-------------------- Hunting-it is not a choice but what is in my blood. Posts: 2253 | From: Grottoes,Virginia, Shenandoah Valley | Registered: Jan 2004
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I always field dress it right away. Then take a short break and start dragging it out. Where I hunted coyotes would be on it in a short time unless you took it out.
Posts: 808 | From: Garden City, Michigan | Registered: Mar 2003
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While taking proper care of meat is a top priority, the need for speed really depends on where you are hunting.
-------------------- MOLON LABE
Traditional Bowhunters Of Florida Charity Shoot January 26, 2013. State Championship Shoot March 1-3, 2013. Come shoot with us! Posts: 4872 | From: weirsdale, fl | Registered: Mar 2004
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I just reread your original post and my bet is what the outfitter meant was that from mid-morning to four pm IS the time he has scheduled to recover game. Most likely he is protecting pime morning and evening hunt time for everyone hunting the property.
-------------------- MOLON LABE
Traditional Bowhunters Of Florida Charity Shoot January 26, 2013. State Championship Shoot March 1-3, 2013. Come shoot with us! Posts: 4872 | From: weirsdale, fl | Registered: Mar 2004
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I suspect we should really know where you are hunting. FL and late season IL are waaaayy different in temps.....
I know you are really new at this so you need to ask questions of your outfitter as others have said.
As to the knife.. For me small is better than medimum, but then all I am doing is getting the guts out after which I will likely drive to the animal and haul it to the barn and hang it etc...
-------------------- Bruce A. Hering Program Coordinator/Instructor Shotgun Team Coach ACUI 2011 Div. I National Champions SCTP 2011 Collegiate Division National Champions Game Preserve/Shooting Complex Mg Southeastern Illinois College NSCA Level III Instructor Posts: 1842 | From: Illinois, Southernmost | Registered: Nov 2004
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This year were dragging our little Sika deer out to where we parked the tractor and gutted them there. My friend shot two one morning literally walking past the gutting area. Didn't phase these deer at all. Gutpiles don't last long in the woods anyway.
-------------------- PBS Reg member 1973 Maryland Bowhunters Society Traditional Bowhunters of Maryland Heart of Maryland Bowhunters NRA Posts: 3396 | From: Finksburg, MD | Registered: Aug 2008
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Speaking as someone who was a butcher for the better part of a decade - Field dress immediately and be sure to remove the entire intestinal track. Make a circular incision around its bum bum then it will just come right out when you gut it. Makes all the difference in the world. Waiting anything more than 20 minutes will make the meat taste gamey. Once you get the goop out, if you do it right, conditions permitting, you're good for as much as a day.
Posts: 225 | From: Pennsylvania | Registered: Mar 2011
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oh and the knife- the sharper the better and personally I prefer a good 6 inch blade. Unless you dont mind being a bloody mess, a longer blade helps keep the blood off you. Just watch your fangers and the hide if your intend on saving it.
Posts: 225 | From: Pennsylvania | Registered: Mar 2011
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I'll be hunting up around Marianna. It is near the panhandle of Florida close to the Alabama border. I will speak to the outfitter about field dressing. I was just concern with more then a dozen hunters on this 4000+ acres property it might take them time to come get my game. I don't want to sit around and let the deer get spoil. I know since it is a paid hunt I should let the guide do everything. But I have to learn sooner or later so why not now. If I am careful I should be able to remove all the inside guts without contaminating the meat.
Posts: 238 | From: FL | Registered: Aug 2011
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quote:Originally posted by bolo7735: Thanks everyone for the advice. Is there a certain style knife you use to gut or any knife will do.
Your Barkie is fine. I prefer a shorter blade, to be honest but yours should work just fine assuming it's nice and sharp.
I personally use a Becker BK11. I like that the blade is juuuuust long enough for me to cover the spine with my index finger. That way when you are up to your elbows in the gooey bits, you can feel exactly where your blade is and can hopefully avoid cutting any of your own tender flesh.
You'll be fine. As has already been mentioned, tell the outfitter that you are a new hunter (or new big game killer anyway) and they should be able to help you out.
As to splitting the pelvis - some do that that and some don't. It's not mandatory and you don't need to bring an ax or saw if you don't want. Certainly, don't try to break that with your Barkie - that's a nice knife.
quote:Originally posted by bolo7735: Do you guys worry about predators coming around for your game or sniffing around after your field dressed?
No. They worry about me. Posts: 2007 | From: Columbus, Ohio | Registered: Aug 2007
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