Boning out a buck- How much weight is saved?

[TriggerMike]

How much weight is saved when you have to pack out an average muley buck but bone it out first? In other words, how much do the bones of a quartered out buck weigh on average.

[Rainier10]

Tag, my guess is 28-30 pounds.

[PlateauNDN]

I'd say about 30lbs as well. Might not sound like much but it adds up fast when you've got a few miles and hills to scale. I bone out all the time less stuff to carry and also throw away.

[DIYARCHERYJUNKIE]

Compared to quarters w the bone on.  Probably 30-40 lbs extra.

[RadSav]

Compared to quarters w the bone on.  Probably 30-40 lbs extra.

Man, you must shoot some BIG deer!!

[huntnnw]

More like 20lbs max ..go pick up a 40lb dumbell and tell me 4 deer leg bones weigh 40lbs!! NO WAY

[RadSav]

More like 20lbs max ..go pick up a 40lb dumbell and tell me 4 deer leg bones weigh 40lbs!! NO WAY

I remember reading a University (Pennsylvania I think) study where they broke down the weight distribution of deer.  Average skeleton weight of a buck deer was only 12% of the live weight.  Hide was 9% of live weight and blood was 5% of the live weight. 

If the study was true or remotely accurate:

200# Buck - live weight =
24# of bones
18# of hide
10# of blood

[DIYARCHERYJUNKIE]

More like 20lbs max ..go pick up a 40lb dumbell and tell me 4 deer leg bones weigh 40lbs!! NO WAY

25 30 40 I'm no human scale.  I know the pile of bones I leave on a mule buck weighs a lot and is ocward  to carry.  Taking the meat off the bone allows the meat to cool WAY faster.  Making the meat a lot better on the table.  It also allows you to place the meat on the pack in the best way possible for long hauls or even short packs.  De boning can get the meat bloody and moisten it up.  Let it hang and air dry on the kill spot in the shade, after de boning.  I'll never take the bones.  Way to much weight that I can't eat.  And for proper meat care removing the meat from the bone as soon as possible will produce better quality meat.  The meat could still be warm 24 hrs after killed if not removed from the bone. 

[trophyhunt]

I will play the devils advocate, even though I also bone out most our elk we get.  Leaving it on the bone helps keep it clean and you don't mess up the cuts of meat, It's also easy to hang.  I always feel the deboned meat stays warm when it's all stuck together in a meat bag. Keep in mind we hunt rifle elk in Idaho, it's usually cold.  Not arguing here just giving another side, like I said, we bone out most the time.

[DIYARCHERYJUNKIE]

yeah September is different.  And Idaho in October for deer can get hot in the day.

[huntnnw]

I will play the devils advocate, even though I also bone out most our elk we get.  Leaving it on the bone helps keep it clean and you don't mess up the cuts of meat, It's also easy to hang.  I always feel the deboned meat stays warm when it's all stuck together in a meat bag. Keep in mind we hunt rifle elk in Idaho, it's usually cold.  Not arguing here just giving another side, like I said, we bone out most the time.

  I usually debone too, but meat does stay cleaner and there is far less waste too. When you expose more surfaces of the meat to the air, dirt and ice theres more to trim off.

[DIYARCHERYJUNKIE]

oh no.  None of the meat touches anything.  hang air dry and into the game bag.  If the meat gets dirt on it its ruined.  any portion that touches dirt is wasted.  so if you feel the need to drop it in the dirt then yea de bone might not be the way to go.  The aged portions that "touch the air"  are the best tasting portions.  I only remove sinu after the curing has finished and meats getting cut.  there is no waste with deboning unless you suck with a knife or drop it on the ground.  Lots of reasons to bone very few to not.  the only ones brought up are negated by simple logic.  I sure feel tough packing a lot of unnecessary weight though.  Legs of a Greek god.

[huntnnw]

you dont have the luxury of having a helping hand when deboning a bull miles in and on steep hillside...sometimes things get dirty when you are trying not to get dirt on it

[trophyhunt]

you dont have the luxury of having a helping hand when deboning a bull miles in and on steep hillside...sometimes things get dirty when you are trying not to get dirt on it

you don't realize the amount of work it is when your by yourself. 

[DIYARCHERYJUNKIE]

you dont have the luxury of having a helping hand when deboning a bull miles in and on steep hillside...sometimes things get dirty when you are trying not to get dirt on it

I've boned animals deep in by myself on a steep hill side in the dark.  I know the hardship you describe.  The hide is the best method I have found.  Keeping all debris off of and away from the hide so it can be used to lay the meat on while cutting.  have the game bag handy to put any cut meat directly into.  Keeping the meat on the bone will spoil meat fast.  unless its freezing at night or right close to freezing I remove the meat and hang in game bags to cure.  In Idaho even in October I have to take the meat down during the day and insulate the cold inside it so the heat of the day doesn't spoil the meat.  With all my time effort money put into my hunts I want the best result when I sit down to eat my dinner.  I found that comes from Cooling the meat as fast as possible while keeping it dry and clean.