How To Field Dress A Deer
A Quick Guide On How To Field Dress A Deer
Getting a pocket guide on how to field dress a deer is a good idea if you're a novice in the art. At first you might think that it may appear to be a little strange to be seen reading a book while you're trying to field dress the animal. First, chances are no one else will be around, and second, if you don't know exactly what you're supposed to be doing, you could end up making quite a mess of things.
So we'll begin by assuming you'll either purchase a small pocket guide, or copy something from the Internet. You'll find a wealth of good information there on the how to field dress a deer. The guide or web-based information are really your best source for the details of how to go about field dressing the animal. This article summarizes the preparation, actual field dressing, and the follow up activity. The intent is to give you an overview of both what to expect, and what you need to do.
As for being prepared, a sharp knife is obviously the major item you must have, and let's put an emphasis on sharp. Many experts recommend bringing plastic gloves for handling the animal, and a plastic bag (zip lock is best) if you wish to save the heart and liver. To complete your kit, bring along a small ball of twine and a length of rope, which may come in handy in dragging the animal out. Also bring a cloth or some paper towels, needed to clean your hands and to dry out the body cavity once the entrails have been removed. One other thing: Don't forget the tag, and remember to tag the deer before you actually start the field dressing process.
If possible, it's best to field dress a deer in plain sight, and not in the brush in case other hunters are in the area. Field dressing consists of the following main steps:
With the animal lying on its back, make a cut from the breastbone to the brisket, open the body cavity, remove the reproductive organs, and then split the rib cage.
Continue the cut to the anus, removing the anus, roll the animal on its side and remove the entrails. This is where you'll want the plastic bag handy to save the heart and the liver.
The final step is to wipe dry the inside of the body cavity. The carcass is then ready to be transported. If it is a large animal, more than one person may be required to do this. If you have to go for help, it would be a good idea to place the carcass out of reach of other animals. In any event, don't leave the carcass in direct sunlight, but find a cool and shady spot to avoid the possibility of spoilage.
If you forgot to bring along detailed information on how to field dress a deer, the number one thing you want to remember is to remove the entrails as soon as possible, and avoid contaminating the carcass with the contents of those entrails. Even of you make somewhat of a mess in cutting the animal up, once you get the entrails out you're a step ahead of the game. Eventually you'll get the hang of it and find that knowing how to field dress a deer isn't all that difficult. Practice makes perfect, but you have to be a good shot as well.