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Big Game Hunting => Deer Hunting => Topic started by: 7mmfan on September 23, 2015, 09:48:54 AM


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Title: Field Dressing question
Post by: 7mmfan on September 23, 2015, 09:48:54 AM
I have field dressed about 15 deer and half a dozen elk in my life, but I have always used a small bone saw to cut the pelvis in order to pull everything out the back. Last year my saw bit the dust and I field dressed 2 elk and a deer by just fleshing out the anus to a depth where I could pull it through the front and roll all the guts out. This worked well, but each time I punctured the bladder. Luckily I was in a position to tip and then immediately flush the area out thoroughly. I didn't notice any issues with any of the meat.

My question is, for you guys that field dress this way, how to manage to not puncture the bladder, but flesh out enough of the anal canal to pull it all through? I want to look up videos but I'm at work and videos of field dressing animals are frowned upon.  :dunno:
Title: Re: Field Dressing question
Post by: HUNTaHOLIC5 on September 23, 2015, 09:55:23 AM
Learn the gutless methods and this problem doesn't exist. 10000x better. No mess and also a lot faster.  :twocents:
Title: Re: Field Dressing question
Post by: bobcat on September 23, 2015, 09:58:27 AM
Learn the gutless methods and this problem doesn't exist. 10000x better. No mess and also a lot faster.  :twocents:

 :yeah:
Title: Re: Field Dressing question
Post by: Woodchuck on September 23, 2015, 10:09:04 AM
I have field dressed about 15 deer and half a dozen elk in my life, but I have always used a small bone saw to cut the pelvis in order to pull everything out the back. Last year my saw bit the dust and I field dressed 2 elk and a deer by just fleshing out the anus to a depth where I could pull it through the front and roll all the guts out. This worked well, but each time I punctured the bladder. Luckily I was in a position to tip and then immediately flush the area out thoroughly. I didn't notice any issues with any of the meat.

My question is, for you guys that field dress this way, how to manage to not puncture the bladder, but flesh out enough of the anal canal to pull it all through? I want to look up videos but I'm at work and videos of field dressing animals are frowned upon.  :dunno:
Find the high point where the two halves of the pelvis come together. drive your knife right into that seam (may need to do it a couple times, especially on elk) then push the legs further apart and the pelvis will break along that seam.  :twocents:
Title: Re: Field Dressing question
Post by: 7mmfan on September 23, 2015, 10:32:06 AM
I tried breaking the pelvis of my deer with my knife last year but failed. I understand the gutless method is great, but realistically, it only takes a few minutes to field dress an animal and then you don't have to worry at all about the guts when breaking the animal down. That's how I prefer to do it anyhow.

I've seen plenty of videos of people removing the anus the way I described (fleshing out the back and pulling it through the front when you dump the rest of the guts) but no one explains how they do it without puncturing the bladder. Is just a matter of controlling the depth of your cut?
Title: Re: Field Dressing question
Post by: PlateauNDN on September 23, 2015, 10:35:13 AM
Control the depth of your cut and cut along the an us to dump from inside with the guts. Or just learn the gutless method, much easier and faster. I switched couple years ago to gutless and haven't looked back.
Title: Re: Field Dressing question
Post by: bobcat on September 23, 2015, 10:38:34 AM
It helps to use a small, and extremely sharp knife, like a Havalon, and also it makes it much easier if you can find a large rock, log, etc. to set the rear end of the animal on.
This gets it up off the ground so you can access it easier and see what you're doing.
Title: Re: Field Dressing question
Post by: 7mmfan on September 23, 2015, 10:41:21 AM
Alright, well I feel that the question has been answered, I just have to control my blade better. I have been considering switching to a Havalon knife after seeing how well they work on a few animals over the last couple years. Probably make that switch this year. Thanks for the input guys, I appreciate it.
Title: Re: Field Dressing question
Post by: Igor on September 23, 2015, 10:44:53 AM
It's easy, and relatively quick to do it this way. 

First, do not cut the throat of the animal.  Cut the wind pipe from the inside after opening up the body cavity, reaching up as far as you can.
Then, use a very small knife to cut around the anus on the outside, just to remove connecting tissue.  Then, using your finger, remove as much of the remaining connecting tissue as you can.
You can now reach up inside, grabbing the intestine connected to the now-free anus, and grab the wind pipe with the other hand.  It will take some tugging, but the entire pile of guts will come out in one fell swoop !!

I've done this on both deer and elk.  It helps to use a very small knife for all of this, not some big Bowie knife which many hunters seem to think is necessary !!
Title: Re: Field Dressing question
Post by: 7mmfan on September 23, 2015, 10:49:59 AM
I also do believe that smaller is better when talking knives. I've been slowly decreasing the size of my knives the last few years.

Does anyone have a great, go-to video link for the gutless method? Curiosity has gotten the better of me
Title: Re: Field Dressing question
Post by: jaymark6655 on September 23, 2015, 10:50:54 AM
+1 on the small knife.  Almost anything sold in stores for hunting is too big.  I carried a saw one year, but it seemed to take too long.  Now I just carry a Fiskars hatchet and just smash the bone, its unbreakable and its light.  I probably only have to worry about losing it because I walked off not realizing that I wasn't carrying it. Have never punctured anything with this method so I will keep doing it for now.
Title: Re: Field Dressing question
Post by: PlateauNDN on September 23, 2015, 10:54:18 AM
I use a 3 inch blade for entire cut process. Also, youtube has ton of videos on gutless method
Title: Re: Field Dressing question
Post by: 7mmfan on September 23, 2015, 10:56:31 AM
Can't do Youtube at work unless their embedded into another site... like this one..  ;)
Title: Re: Field Dressing question
Post by: TSLPE on September 23, 2015, 11:29:17 AM
My partner and I bought the" butt-out" this year and are looking forward to trying it out! They are like 10 bucks on amazon. Maybe try that.
Title: Re: Field Dressing question
Post by: wreckerman5288 on September 23, 2015, 01:02:33 PM
My partner and I bought the" butt-out" this year and are looking forward to trying it out! They are like 10 bucks on amazon. Maybe try that.

When the butt-out works it works well. I have one. I have used it 4 times with excellent results, the other two times I wasn't able to get it to bite and it wouldn't do its job.
Title: Re: Field Dressing question
Post by: Eli346 on September 23, 2015, 06:33:56 PM
 Go to www.Elk101.com and you can find the gutless method there.
Title: Re: Field Dressing question
Post by: Larry S. on September 23, 2015, 06:52:25 PM
For getting through bones such as the pelvis and rib cage, take a look at Sagen Saws (www.sageninc.com). Orange-handled saw for deer size animals. Yellow-handled saw for large game. Never puncture a bladder again. I've had mine for 10+ years and will never again use anything else. Use one and you'll understand.

For the rest of the process, Havalon! That knife made easy work of cleaning and skinning.

Larry S.

Title: Re: Field Dressing question
Post by: gilroym on September 23, 2015, 07:16:02 PM
It helps to use a small, and extremely sharp knife, like a Havalon, and also it makes it much easier if you can find a large rock, log, etc. to set the rear end of the animal on.
This gets it up off the ground so you can access it easier and see what you're doing.

+1 for the Havalon. After my nephew got his deer we struggled with the knives we had. I went to the store last week and bought the Havalon camo because it was on sale and it made field dressing and processing my deer this weekend a lot easier.
Title: Re: Field Dressing question
Post by: ribka on September 24, 2015, 08:11:55 AM
[ftp]I have a havalon- the  blades I think are too thin and a pain to change without tools. Maybe just me though


I carry these with a sharpener


Great little knives


http://www.consumersearch.com/kitchen-knives/victorinox-paring-knife-4-inch/buy

Title: Re: Field Dressing question
Post by: hoytem on September 24, 2015, 08:34:52 AM
[ftp]I have a havalon- the  blades I think are too thin and a pain to change without tools. Maybe just me though


I carry these with a sharpener


Great little knives


http://www.consumersearch.com/kitchen-knives/victorinox-paring-knife-4-inch/buy

how many do you carry? do you have a scabbard or how do you carry them?
Title: Re: Field Dressing question
Post by: andersonjk4 on September 24, 2015, 08:44:29 AM
I have field dressed about 15 deer and half a dozen elk in my life, but I have always used a small bone saw to cut the pelvis in order to pull everything out the back. Last year my saw bit the dust and I field dressed 2 elk and a deer by just fleshing out the anus to a depth where I could pull it through the front and roll all the guts out. This worked well, but each time I punctured the bladder. Luckily I was in a position to tip and then immediately flush the area out thoroughly. I didn't notice any issues with any of the meat.

My question is, for you guys that field dress this way, how to manage to not puncture the bladder, but flesh out enough of the anal canal to pull it all through? I want to look up videos but I'm at work and videos of field dressing animals are frowned upon.  :dunno:
Find the high point where the two halves of the pelvis come together. drive your knife right into that seam (may need to do it a couple times, especially on elk) then push the legs further apart and the pelvis will break along that seam.  :twocents:

 :yeah:

Where I hunt whitetails I am fortunate enough to be able to get my deer out whole, so I don't use the gutless method for deer... elk is a different story.  But anyway, I agree with Woodchuck, about breaking the pelvis if you do not have a saw.  I carry a heavy bladed knive just for splitting the pelvis.  I find the ridge that runs right down the middle of the pelvic bone and get my knife started right at the top of the ridge.  Then I take a small rock (about baseball sized) and use it to tap on the back of my knife to drive it right down the center of the ridge.  This technique does take a little bit to get the hang of, but it works great and as long as you can find a rock and you have a knife then you are in business.  I have been in situations where I couldn't find a rock (way out in the middle of a wheat field) and I had to clear out the anal canal and pull everything back up through it as 7mm described. And as Bobcat said propping up the back end to give you a better angle to get up in there helps a bunch.  If you have someone else with you, having them grab both back legs and pull them up toward the head of the animal also helps you get up in there good. 
Title: Re: Field Dressing question
Post by: Curly on September 24, 2015, 10:31:22 AM
No need to split the pelvis.  As has been said, use a havalon and carefully cut the connective tissue and you can push the anus in through the pelvic cavity. (I think it's cleaner to not split the pelvis).

I do prefer the gutless method though. I carry my havalon and a leatherman.  If a blade is getting dull I just pull out the leatherman and take off the dull blade and put on a new blade......works great. :tup:
Title: Re: Field Dressing question
Post by: 7mmfan on September 24, 2015, 10:39:58 AM
No need to split the pelvis.  As has been said, use a havalon and carefully cut the connective tissue and you can push the anus in through the pelvic cavity. (I think it's cleaner to not split the pelvis).

I do prefer the gutless method though. I carry my havalon and a leatherman.  If a blade is getting dull I just pull out the leatherman and take off the dull blade and put on a new blade......works great. :tup:

I'm really trying to get away from carrying a whole processing kit with me, that why I don't want to bother with splitting the pelvis anymore. I had a friend basically breakdown a whole elk with me a couple years ago with his Havalon, changed my whole outlook on the process.
Title: Re: Field Dressing question
Post by: Brute on September 24, 2015, 10:55:15 AM
I still laugh every time I see this.  :chuckle:
Title: Re: Field Dressing question
Post by: 7mmfan on September 24, 2015, 11:05:41 AM
LOL yes that is the wrong way to do it!
Title: Re: Field Dressing question
Post by: throttlejocky20 on September 24, 2015, 11:10:03 AM
It's easy, and relatively quick to do it this way. 

First, do not cut the throat of the animal.  Cut the wind pipe from the inside after opening up the body cavity, reaching up as far as you can.
Then, use a very small knife to cut around the anus on the outside, just to remove connecting tissue.  Then, using your finger, remove as much of the remaining connecting tissue as you can.
You can now reach up inside, grabbing the intestine connected to the now-free anus, and grab the wind pipe with the other hand.  It will take some tugging, but the entire pile of guts will come out in one fell swoop !!

I've done this on both deer and elk.  It helps to use a very small knife for all of this, not some big Bowie knife which many hunters seem to think is necessary !!
This is exactly the way i do it. Cut everything free on the outside and use my fingers to free it up on the inside.
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