Processing Game

[Blacktail Sniper]

On a serious note, spraying the carcus down with water is something I have done many times.   What is important is to make sure you dry it when you are done.  The wet will aid/promote bacteria growth...not good.  A wipe down with vinegar is also good.

As for the flys, the vinegar and or black pepper are supposed to be good preventative measures.  Can't say that I have ever really had a problem with flys as I usually get the hide off as quick as possible then cover the carcus in a game bag if it is going to exposed for any length of time.

It is good to see you asking questions, no such thing as a dumb question.  As you can see, there is a lot of decent people on here ready to step-up and help.   

[DoubleJ]

Hey guys, lay off.  You don't know what goes on there.  Maybe she operates a lucrative home business from the garage or maybe that's where they keep the Porche housed.  Lots of reasons out there for a wife to object to cutting a deer in the garage.

[h20hunter]

Ah....DoubleJ....I get it. You are kidding of course.

Nope nope nope nope nope. My garage.....my area. End of story. She gets the whole damn house.....I'm keeping the garage.

Lots of good tips on here. I'm learning some new ones.

[jechicdr]

I have a $300 dollar knife that I was given for a present that I use to skin and quarter my elk/deer.  I wasted money on the "butchering kit" from Cabelas.  The best knife for separating muscles from each other and from bones...a Rapala 9 inch fillet knife (~$35.00).  Easy to sharpen when it gets tougher to cut through the meat.  "Fillet" off the fascia and gristle with ease.

[724wd]

Ok, only a few more questions I prommise:)

1) I have been told a buck's scent glands are in it's hind quarters and that I want to cut those out ASAP. How important is it to do this and how long do I have before the meat gets bad?  They come off with the hide.  Don't worry about them (but don't go rubbing your hands in them and touching the meat, either!)
2) Is it fine to spray down the carcass with water in order to get the hair and dirt off? Yes, perfectly fine.
3) I will have to cut the deer apart and skin it outside since there is no way my wife will let me do it in the garage, so is there going to be a problem with flies landing on the carcass and if so, is there a trick to get rid of them?  As soon as the hide comes off, a game bag goes on (after washing).  make sure there are no gaps or holes.  flys are serious business and not to be allowed on the meat.  While cutting, keep the flies off your meat piles, too. 

Ask all the questions you want!  we're here to help you get good, clean, tasty venison ready to eat!   

[Buckmark]

Yep ask all the questions you can, better than not asking and making a error.
But if you post up stuff about what you have permission to use at your house, well you are then fair game.. And i will leave it at that.
For having to cut outside with the bugs, i hate flies, ever seen were they have been?  set up a fan blowing across the area your using, not directly on the meat so it dries out but jsut above it to keep the winged pets away.......
Or go buy her (it is a her, yes?) a nice gift certificate to a spa and send her ass there for the day and cut away in the garage, while drinking beer, watching the game and telling lies with the guys, then light up a fat celebratory cuban when your done and grill up some steaks...

[h20hunter]

Yes. As Buckmark said......you are getting tons of tips here and that is all good. However, you are going to have to just take the beating about the garage thing. I'm sorry. You said it, to late. Good tip on the fan. That will also help keep the air moving and cool the meat down faster.

[h20hunter]

Ok.....here is some inspiration.

Please note the following can be found in this picture:

Dillon Precsion Box
Fishing Gear
Workbench
BBQ grill
Hunting gear
Dive gear (storage boxes far right)
A dead bear
Me
A brother in law
Bloody bits on the floor

What is not in the picture but present:

Hunting forum budddy Joe (Fishtq)
Beers, open and being consumed at 9:30 in the morning

[724wd]

Shoot!  i didn't put the pic of the paper dispenser in my post! 

[DoubleJ]

Pro Tip:  Dogs love frozen deer bones in the summer.  Hell, they love them anytime.  Leg bones come apart with a bit of tendon cutting with your knife.  Take a hack saw to the back bone.  Put into a garbage bag and freeze.  In a day or 2, pull them out and drop them on the concrete to separate and then put them back into the freezer until ready to use.

I try to use as much of the deer as I can.  The deer I just processed, the only thing I left in the field was the hide and guts and only threw out the head.  The meat got cut up and the bones are ready for the dogs.

[Buckmark]

Ok.....here is some inspiration.

Please note the following can be found in this picture:

Dillon Precsion Box
Fishing Gear
Workbench
BBQ grill
Hunting gear
Dive gear (storage boxes far right)
A dead bear
Me
A brother in law
Bloody bits on the floor

What is not in the picture but present:

Hunting forum budddy Joe (Fishtq)
Beers, open and being consumed at 9:30 in the morning

Also notice the garage doors are open so the nieghbors can see what you are doing, it helps keep them away in the future...
*
H20 you need a shed to put some of that crap in, then the pink Fj would have a nice dry place to rest.

[h20hunter]

We have skinned two bear this year....mine and the one shot by Reagnsquad. Both were also rinsed in the front yard. What keeps my neighbors from hating me is smoked salmon, crab, bear pep sticks, and the occasional bit of bbq. Gotta keep them happy when you are rinsing a bear caracass in the front yard. The classic line from the neigbor mom this summer...."Girls.....Devin is rising the tarps off....don't ride your bikes in the blood then come tromping in the house!". The problem with keeping the FJ inside the garage is folks can't see it. When you drive a big 'ol pink FJ folks keep a pretty fair distance.

Back to the tips...

DoubleJ....that is a nice dispenser. Looks old and proven...bulletproof. I'd like to have one like that.

[Buckmark]

Good looking depspenser, my dad has one he made out of some old wood, like a big paper towel despenser that he clamps to the table with 2 c-clamps...i will try to gt a pic, but easy to make.
 

[Optimusprime]

Ok ok I get it. The wife is only part of the garage issue. I actually only have a small workbench and shelves for my tools/junk to sit on. The rest of it is actually a crossfit gym so there is no way I am going to cut the animal apart in there. There is already enough blood let in there and the last thing I need is more that isn't mine But really, thanks a ton guys. I'm starting to understand the process much better.

[Blacktail Sniper]

Ok ok I get it. The wife is only part of the garage issue. I actually only have a small workbench and shelves for my tools/junk to sit on. The rest of it is actually a crossfit gym so there is no way I am going to cut the animal apart in there. There is already enough blood let in there and the last thing I need is more that isn't mine But really, thanks a ton guys. I'm starting to understand the process much better.