Post by: ljsommer on October 23, 2023, 11:17:51 AM
You know what makes me nervous? Shooting a deer at last light and then trying to figure out how to process that deer in the pitch black with only a headlamp, on a slope (because of course it will be on a slope). I say "figure out how" because it's been so many years since my last deer that I think I'll be starting all over again.
Don't get me wrong, I'll take that shot and I'll figure it out but I don't relish trying to get this done by myself in pitch black.
Now: time to get out there and find that deer.
Post by: cavemann on October 23, 2023, 11:22:55 AM
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Post by: ljsommer on October 23, 2023, 11:24:49 AM
Post by: cavemann on October 23, 2023, 11:26:16 AM
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Post by: GOcougsHunter on October 23, 2023, 11:41:54 AM
Post by: ljsommer on October 23, 2023, 11:46:01 AM
The only thing I would do differently processing at night or be concerned about is making sure you don't accidentally cut yourself on a broken shard of bone or a possible lost arrow in the cavity. Use your headlamp and/or flashlight. Gutting by braille is a good way to hurt yourself.
On my first deer I thought I was being really clever by tying the antlers to a stump so that it wouldn't slide around on the hill. What I didn't realize is that I effectively created a river of blood that turned the dirt to slippery mud beneath the deer, so i couldn't stand anywhere lower than the deer and had to work from the sides. I'm sure that's obvious to seasoned hunters but to me it was one of those "oh. Huh." moments. I can only imagine how comical that would've been if it had also been at night time.
Post by: Rugsnfeathers on October 23, 2023, 12:02:02 PM
Post by: Rainier10 on October 23, 2023, 12:15:58 PM
Long day hunting, normally have exhausted my water supply for the day and now my day just got longer. Bending over, kneeling down, always make me cramp up if not while processing while hiking out with the heavy pack.
Post by: savagehunter on October 23, 2023, 12:16:37 PM
Post by: logola512c on October 23, 2023, 12:37:29 PM
Post by: Dark2Dark on October 23, 2023, 12:37:33 PM
If you’re quartering, gutless is fast and the way to go.
If you’re just gutting it, I think it helps to carry a saw so I can cut way up the brisket to the neck. I’ll take a little wedge out of there. Opening it up as much as you can makes it easier to get everything loose and means less blind cutting.
I’m far less concerned doing it around here than I was with the griz around!
Post by: ljsommer on October 23, 2023, 12:42:09 PM
There are a lot of things that dictate how you do this. Where the deer is shot may dictate if you go gutless or standard how far of a pack out and what kind of terrain. May be better off hanging the meat and coming back in daylight or if it's 70 yards down to the road drag it whole, down to take care of it in the headlights. How big he is and how steep it is . It is way more likely to get hurt trying to take a big load out in the dark especially by yourself. Also posting for help on here is liable to get a good response I know I would drive anywhere in snohomish county or south skagit to help a fellow member out of a jam especially getting them out safely.
I'll likely be about 5 miles in (if I go back to the spot I've been going to the last few years) so it'll be a pack out of some cut debris up to a fire road and then miles of fire roads back out.
I have a mountain bike but I find it really hard to ride a bike with a ton of weight hanging off my back - it constantly pulls me backwards and it's very tiring using my arms and core to counter-balance that.
Post by: ljsommer on October 23, 2023, 12:43:41 PM
I bring a bunch of extra lights in my truck. The ones that make me feel the best are three inexpensive led hanging shop lights that are less than a pound each. I go about 10 feet in three directions and then hang them facing away from me. Lights up the night all around me and let's me focus on what I'm doing. If I'm less than a mile from the truck, I mark the animal with a chem light that I always have in my pack, then go back to the truck for the extra lights. Field dressing with a headlamp can be tough. I cut myself doing it once, and now I also carry two cut resistant gloves in my kill kit that I wear underneath my latex gloves. Funny how the latex gloves always end up with little cuts that I don't feel with the cut-resistant gloves underneath.
I really like this idea - keeping extra lights in the truck to retrieve just to light up a work space. That already gives me a pretty good idea. Thank you!
Post by: Pacific Ghost on October 23, 2023, 12:54:40 PM
Post by: logola512c on October 23, 2023, 01:25:25 PM
Post by: RC on October 23, 2023, 01:38:28 PM
There are a lot of things that dictate how you do this. Where the deer is shot may dictate if you go gutless or standard how far of a pack out and what kind of terrain. May be better off hanging the meat and coming back in daylight or if it's 70 yards down to the road drag it whole, down to take care of it in the headlights. How big he is and how steep it is . It is way more likely to get hurt trying to take a big load out in the dark especially by yourself. Also posting for help on here is liable to get a good response I know I would drive anywhere in snohomish county or south skagit to help a fellow member out of a jam especially getting them out safely.
I'll likely be about 5 miles in (if I go back to the spot I've been going to the last few years) so it'll be a pack out of some cut debris up to a fire road and then miles of fire roads back out.
I have a mountain bike but I find it really hard to ride a bike with a ton of weight hanging off my back - it constantly pulls me backwards and it's very tiring using my arms and core to counter-balance that.
If you're able to drag the deer to the fire road, why not just ride it out on the bike? Body cavity on the bike seat, front legs zip tied to the front forks and back legs zip tied to the back forks, then hop on and go. Any sort of uphill can be a little challenging, but riding out on the flat or downhill is pretty easy.
Post by: Bullkllr on October 23, 2023, 02:33:35 PM
:yeah: Done exactly that several times. Great way to get a deer out even if you end up pushing. I'll bring a bike (or have one available) even where I'd prefer to be on foot just for that reason. Bring a plastic bag to put over the seat.There are a lot of things that dictate how you do this. Where the deer is shot may dictate if you go gutless or standard how far of a pack out and what kind of terrain. May be better off hanging the meat and coming back in daylight or if it's 70 yards down to the road drag it whole, down to take care of it in the headlights. How big he is and how steep it is . It is way more likely to get hurt trying to take a big load out in the dark especially by yourself. Also posting for help on here is liable to get a good response I know I would drive anywhere in snohomish county or south skagit to help a fellow member out of a jam especially getting them out safely.
I'll likely be about 5 miles in (if I go back to the spot I've been going to the last few years) so it'll be a pack out of some cut debris up to a fire road and then miles of fire roads back out.
I have a mountain bike but I find it really hard to ride a bike with a ton of weight hanging off my back - it constantly pulls me backwards and it's very tiring using my arms and core to counter-balance that.
If you're able to drag the deer to the fire road, why not just ride it out on the bike? Body cavity on the bike seat, front legs zip tied to the front forks and back legs zip tied to the back forks, then hop on and go. Any sort of uphill can be a little challenging, but riding out on the flat or downhill is pretty easy.
Post by: mcrawfordaf on October 23, 2023, 02:42:37 PM
:yeah: Done exactly that several times. Great way to get a deer out even if you end up pushing. I'll bring a bike (or have one available) even where I'd prefer to be on foot just for that reason. Bring a plastic bag to put over the seat.There are a lot of things that dictate how you do this. Where the deer is shot may dictate if you go gutless or standard how far of a pack out and what kind of terrain. May be better off hanging the meat and coming back in daylight or if it's 70 yards down to the road drag it whole, down to take care of it in the headlights. How big he is and how steep it is . It is way more likely to get hurt trying to take a big load out in the dark especially by yourself. Also posting for help on here is liable to get a good response I know I would drive anywhere in snohomish county or south skagit to help a fellow member out of a jam especially getting them out safely.
I'll likely be about 5 miles in (if I go back to the spot I've been going to the last few years) so it'll be a pack out of some cut debris up to a fire road and then miles of fire roads back out.
I have a mountain bike but I find it really hard to ride a bike with a ton of weight hanging off my back - it constantly pulls me backwards and it's very tiring using my arms and core to counter-balance that.
If you're able to drag the deer to the fire road, why not just ride it out on the bike? Body cavity on the bike seat, front legs zip tied to the front forks and back legs zip tied to the back forks, then hop on and go. Any sort of uphill can be a little challenging, but riding out on the flat or downhill is pretty easy.
Don’t be dumb like me and forget to wash your bike before putting it in the garage corner for the season…
Post by: ljsommer on October 23, 2023, 03:24:59 PM
Post by: Sundance on October 23, 2023, 03:39:30 PM
Post by: RC on October 23, 2023, 03:43:12 PM
I've got to ask: once the deer is on the bike, with the body cavity resting on the bike seat...did you actually try to throw a leg over and ride the bike?!? If so doesn't it just look like you're riding a flying deer corpse?!
Of course! But yes, a bit of an interesting look, but I don't care. In addition to putting a grocery bag over the seat, make sure you have a sturdy book rack. If it's a bigger deer, the back end will hang off and drag on the back tire. Learned that the hard way my first time using this method 20+ years ago.
Hardest part is getting the deer off the ground once it's attached to the bike. If you're by yourself, you just have to make sure the tires are pushed up against something solid, otherwise you'll never get it off the ground.
Post by: pianoman9701 on October 23, 2023, 04:35:16 PM
Post by: Bullkllr on October 23, 2023, 05:32:42 PM
I've got to ask: once the deer is on the bike, with the body cavity resting on the bike seat...did you actually try to throw a leg over and ride the bike?!? If so doesn't it just look like you're riding a flying deer corpse?!
Of course! But yes, a bit of an interesting look, but I don't care. In addition to putting a grocery bag over the seat, make sure you have a sturdy book rack. If it's a bigger deer, the back end will hang off and drag on the back tire. Learned that the hard way my first time using this method 20+ years ago.
Hardest part is getting the deer off the ground once it's attached to the bike. If you're by yourself, you just have to make sure the tires are pushed up against something solid, otherwise you'll never get it off the ground.
The 'ride' for me is mostly coasting on the downhills while standing on the pedals, pedaling some.
Post by: tgomez on October 23, 2023, 06:30:21 PM
I am a 40 year old, self-confident guy, physically fit and have never struggled with anxiety or fear of any kind. I am also a very amateur hunter with only one deer under my belt and it was a morning deer so I got to process him in the daylight.Get a good pack and watch Randy Newberg's Gutless Method video. Watch it a few times, take some notes.
You know what makes me nervous? Shooting a deer at last light and then trying to figure out how to process that deer in the pitch black with only a headlamp, on a slope (because of course it will be on a slope). I say "figure out how" because it's been so many years since my last deer that I think I'll be starting all over again.
Don't get me wrong, I'll take that shot and I'll figure it out but I don't relish trying to get this done by myself in pitch black.
Now: time to get out there and find that deer.
Post by: dilleytech on October 24, 2023, 11:12:35 AM
That reminds me...I should throw a 5-hour-energy into my pack for just this sort of situation....
I have never felt tired working on an animal
Late into the night. I don’t think you need to worry about falling asleep you will have to Much adrenaline.
Post by: tvandy45 on October 24, 2023, 11:47:09 AM
Water is what I am always in need of when processing at night is water.
Long day hunting, normally have exhausted my water supply for the day and now my day just got longer. Bending over, kneeling down, always make me cramp up if not while processing while hiking out with the heavy pack.
Post by: Molon5labe on October 24, 2023, 12:20:13 PM
Post by: brokentrail on October 24, 2023, 01:00:52 PM
:yeah: Done exactly that several times. Great way to get a deer out even if you end up pushing. I'll bring a bike (or have one available) even where I'd prefer to be on foot just for that reason. Bring a plastic bag to put over the seat.There are a lot of things that dictate how you do this. Where the deer is shot may dictate if you go gutless or standard how far of a pack out and what kind of terrain. May be better off hanging the meat and coming back in daylight or if it's 70 yards down to the road drag it whole, down to take care of it in the headlights. How big he is and how steep it is . It is way more likely to get hurt trying to take a big load out in the dark especially by yourself. Also posting for help on here is liable to get a good response I know I would drive anywhere in snohomish county or south skagit to help a fellow member out of a jam especially getting them out safely.
I'll likely be about 5 miles in (if I go back to the spot I've been going to the last few years) so it'll be a pack out of some cut debris up to a fire road and then miles of fire roads back out.
I have a mountain bike but I find it really hard to ride a bike with a ton of weight hanging off my back - it constantly pulls me backwards and it's very tiring using my arms and core to counter-balance that.
If you're able to drag the deer to the fire road, why not just ride it out on the bike? Body cavity on the bike seat, front legs zip tied to the front forks and back legs zip tied to the back forks, then hop on and go. Any sort of uphill can be a little challenging, but riding out on the flat or downhill is pretty easy.
I have used this method on a bunch of deer and taught my boys to do the same. I usually end up pushing it, and I usually zip tie the back legs to the frame to keep them from dragging, but it sure beats trying to drag it. Then, I went to a small pull behind bike trailer, which works out really good, both for bringing stuff with me that I don't specifically want to carry on my back as well as getting a deer out. I am usually miles behind a locked gate and I try and hunt daylight until dark, so having a few extra supplies never hurts. Granted, this method means you can get the deer to the road if you want to bring it out whole. Last year, I couldn't get mine to a road, was too steep, so I used the gutless method and quartered him, hauled the game bags to the road and then rode them in the trailer.