How to cape and quarter

[jackelope]

I saw this on another board and thought it might be good for some who have never done this before.
http://www.monsterhuntclips.com/video/662/How-To-Cape--Quarter-Your-Buck

[Alchase]

Good video, thanks

[JackOfAllTrades]

OMG...

He says "That's it".

   He's leaving another 15+ pounds of meat behind! (well, on a better buck anyway..) Stew meat and burger. I'm sure he did cut the back strap out, not in the video.  I don't see reason for the senseless hide cut down the back of the neck. I prefer a cut around the torsow and role the hide up to the head with back cuts on legs/hide.

Sorry, I don't agree with the lazy no-gut operation.  I usually clean the ribcage pretty well. All that little meat goes to pepperoni!

Guess I'm a meat hunter and not a trophy hunter. I don't like to see any of the animal go to waste.

-Steve

[jackelope]

well he did say he had the backstraps on the tarp. i don't think he showed when he cut them but he did have them on the tarp.
i have always seen the cut up the back of the neck method used. seems it would be a lot easier than rolling the whole hide off of the neck.     if it's good, bad or indifferent. my guess is indifferent especially if you're not trophy hunting.

i've always taken the ribs and neck meat, good for ground meat for brats and sausage but i have  always been curious what gets taken by most.

[alecvg]

I too noticed that, I maybe understand leaving rib meat, though I would generally take that too, but leaving the neck meat?  That is alot of burger and peperonni left for the 'yotes. 

[JackOfAllTrades]

Well, we've both lived back east.   In states where you take several deer a year, I guess they don't worry about wasting any available meat. And, with the smaller deer, it's slim pickins from the rib cage and neck I suppose. Around here, I've been fortunate enough to be able to bring most of my meat and trophy out whole, so I guess I take my time when hanging/skinning in my shop. On deer, unless a big one, I don't expect the butcher to scrape the rib bones clean. He does have better flex knives for the neck though. So, I clean the ribs pretty well and put the meat in a bag wired to the ribs for him to process.  Yes, rolling the cape up to the head is more work. Any cut not required in the field is less for the taxi to repair. If I've got to quarter/debone an animal out, If I've got the weather and time to do it, I'll avoid that back of the neck cut.

my guess is indifferent especially if you're not trophy hunting

Very true!

i've always taken the ribs and neck meat, good for ground meat for brats and sausage but i have  always been curious what gets taken by most.

Well, that's what grand dad passed to dad. I'll pass the same on to my boys.

-Steve

[Crowns]

It appeared to me that he left more meat than I would also. I have read on this tactic several times, dont really agree 100%. I carve the ribs on most animals and its a whole lot easier to get to the tenderloins when its been gutted first. Plus, I usually reach up inside to get the heart if its in good shape and I grab the liver on some animals. Just my  . Also make a couple passes on the neck. As far as the V cut caping, its the best way. Tubing down the neck is only really sensible on a hanging animal and you cant always have that. Plus the taxidermist needs to make that cut anyways.

[hogsniper]

THe neck cut is a valuable one and sure saves alot of time.    With deer I dont take the rib meat. Not enough in my opinion to mess with.  Do take the neck meat tho.  THat is pretty slick how he got the loins out but might as well just get the guts out.  Always an old timer somewheres to give the liver and heart to!   Just my 

[jackelope]

I get most all of my deer out whole. i also do all the quartering and de-boning, then i cut all my own steaks and other pieces. one or the other guys/gals usually do the actual grinding and wrapping. we do 4 deer in a day at the most. thats a whole deer hanging, already skinned to packed and in the cooler. we don't leave any meat, especially if the old guys have anything to say about it. i will admit i am not as picky-clean as they are. they pick the carcass clean like a coyote would.

[JackOfAllTrades]

OK, so far I think we're in agreement that there's more meat to be recovered. Personal choice for the rib meat then. (Definately on an Elk! Maybe not worthwhile on a small Deer.)

I learn something every day so... Since I've never done a bit of taxi-work,  What say Michelle or Bucklucky about that cut up the back of the neck?

-Steve

[jackelope]

http://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php/topic,33287.0.html

it looks like michelle likes your method.

[JackOfAllTrades]

I'll have to ask my taxi too.  (not that I wouldn't ever use Bucklucky or Michelle, they just aren't convenient access for me.)

-Steve

[LongTatLaw]

I can tell ya that I no longer leave the neck/head.skulls of my deer, elk ect in the cape.

I used to until I found a situation where I needed the space so much I couldnt leave it.

Now, I always take the skull out using a long "Y" cut the inverted v off of each horn moving back and to the center and all the way down to the torso cut. People worry about that cut but they almost ALWAYS cut the cape too short. When ur cutting a cape...cut the torso cut basically 1/2 between the front and back legs!

If u over-exagerate that cut...u wont ever be limited on what form to use!

Most people ...even hunter far more experienced than me could never decide after the fact to say ...do a pedestal mount because about 60% of all capes are too short. What ever seems right...drop 6 inches lower...its another 3 pounds...its worth it!

all taxi's...

ALL taxi's eventually do a long y cut to the tubed animal u bring them! one of the first things they do is "split" the cape...  so they can get in there and work on fleshing ect!

[JackOfAllTrades]

Oh, I know they make the cut, I just don't know if 'I' should be the one doing it.   

-Steve

[LongTatLaw]

lol

yeah

i didnt mention ive messed up several capes learning to cape off of the head...
never so bad it couldnt be used...just bad enough to earn me a few extra bucks at the taxi

however, ive also had taxi's give me a 25$ discount for caped off the head!

but not michelle nelson...or bucklucky....