if you shoot a deer in the last minutes of daylight

[aman]

if you shoot a deer in the last minutes of daylight would you wait until next morning to start gutting it or start immediately?

[vandeman17]

Lots of factors but 99% of the time I am at least gutting him to get the meat cooling. 

[dvolmer]

I carry a head lamp if it is even possible that I might get an animal at dusk.  Takes me less than a half an hour to debone the entire animal and have two bags of meat only.  Gutless method is the only way to go!  No mess at home with carcass and hide.  If you are going to gut the animal, I would do it as soon as you possibly can.

[7mmfan]

If I find him, I'm at the very least field dressing him, but I'm probably going to quarter/bone it and stash what I can't pack out. Once it's dark, it's dark, and if I have an animal on the ground, I don't really care how late it is since I'd be packing the next day anyway. Carry a good headlamp, a backup headlamp, and some batteries and get to work!

[Bushcraft]

If I find him, I'm at the very least field dressing him, but I'm probably going to quarter/bone it and stash what I can't pack out. Once it's dark, it's dark, and if I have an animal on the ground, I don't really care how late it is since I'd be packing the next day anyway. Carry a good headlamp, a backup headlamp, and some batteries and get to work!

Exactly. Get to work.

[kselkhunter]

I agree with others above.  Cut it up that night.  Gutless quartering is fast (or deboning if you feel like taking the extra time).   For lighting, in addition to my primary and backup headlamps, I also pack the small lightweight Black Diamond Orbit backpack lantern specifically for the purpose of butchering in the dark.  Gives some extra light around the area than just where my headlamp beam is pointed and just makes it a little easier for me with the extra light.   

[Taco280AI]

Gut it, prop open its chest cavity with a stick to help with cooling. Leave some clothing on it for scent. Have done it with elk.

[JimmyHoffa]

Field dress or gutless, get it away from the guts as fast as possible.  You have grace period with the rest.  The stomach keeps heating the guts which heats the meat after death.

[Jonathan_S]

Time of day really has no impact.  Meat's got to cool no matter what.

[Westside88]

If I know where it is, it’s getting gutted. If there’s any chance at all to get it out safely (even in the dark) that’s what I’m doing. If not then at least try and get it off the ground and preferably skinned.

[X-Force]

Time of day really has no impact.  Meat's got to cool no matter what.

100% agree

[huntnphool]

Time of day really has no impact.  Meat's got to cool no matter what.

 That's been my experience as well, especially with mule deer. We've tagged several in the last couple minutes of light and always get them gutted, skinned and boned out before heading back, even if we have to come back the next morning to get the rest. We have never had "gamie" tasting meet this way or had critter issues.

 Plan ahead and be prepared. Carry a headlamp, knife and enough bags to do the job.

[WapitiTalk1]

I guess I don't understand anyone would consider not immediately field dressing (boneless/gutless, quarters/gutless, just gutting, whatever) any big game animal upon shooting/dropping it (or finding it after tracking)? 

[yakimanoob]

I guess I don't understand anyone would consider not immediately field dressing (boneless/gutless, quarters/gutless, just gutting, whatever) any big game animal upon shooting/dropping it (or finding it after tracking)?

[Bushcraft]

I guess I don't understand anyone would consider not immediately field dressing (boneless/gutless, quarters/gutless, just gutting, whatever) any big game animal upon shooting/dropping it (or finding it after tracking)?

That's exactly where I'm coming from. The very notion of not immediately getting to work seems incomprehensible.