Field Dressing Tips

Courtesy of: Big Buck Guiding Service

When the topic of field dressing comes up, it really is a matter of "each hunter to his own". There is definitely more than one effective method to use in accomplishing the task of properly field dressing your deer, but one thing all experienced hunters know is that you must tend to your game promptly and handle them with care to ensure that only top quality meat reaches your table. Each hunter has to implement their own method and tweak it to suit them, but here are a few tips that you might find useful, especially if you are not a seasoned veteran yet:

•  In order to field dress your deer it is necessary that you bring a few vital supplies along. These include a sharp hunting knife, some sturdy rope, and at least a gallon of water. It is also very helpful if you have some large Ziploc bags and an old towel large enough for you to wash up with on hand. A couple of other things you might want to consider bringing are gloves and hand sanitizer. These items are optional but can be extremely useful and convenient.

•  Arguably the most important step in properly field dressing your deer is to not waste time, especially if it is a warm day. The faster you get the deer cool, the less likely the meat will spoil. On occasion, I have found myself deep in the woods with my truck miles away attempting to dress a deer. One trick I have used when this happens on a really warm day is to drag the deer into a nearby creek. If it is available, it can help prevent early spoiling while you retrieve your vehicle.

•  Personally, I prefer to dress the deer in the field as opposed to taking it home. Once I have tracked the deer and ensured it is dead (if not, I make an incision along the juggler to bleed the deer), I roll the deer onto its side. Then I start my incision at the base of the sternum and slice down the belly to the groin. I always keep my knife shallow to avoid puncturing any organs or the paunch which will taint the meat if spilled.

•  Next, I reach into the opening, behind the sternum, and remove all internal organs.

•  I use the rope to tackle the chore of dragging the deer over to where I will be loading it, taking care to prevent dirt and brush from getting into the cavity.

•  After loading the deer, I use the water and towel to wash up, and then I'm on my way to check my hard-earned trophy. The head needs to still be attached at time of checking.

Field dressing is not a perfect science completely reliant upon an exact detailed step-by-step schematic that every hunter must follow to the letter. However, it is just as an important part of hunting as the hunt itself. As ethical hunters, we should try to remain respectful of the purpose of the deer and not become unnecessarily wasteful.

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