Gutting

[not_nuf_time]

Hi all, After I gut a deer, I have always cleaned out body cavity with water. I feel this just keeps it cleaner for boning and less bacteria. My bro-inlaw says no way wash the cavity creates more bacteria. Just wondering what you guys do. Thxs

[LightningBG]

I talked to the butcher who did mine a couple years ago (I do all mine now). He said leave it if it's relatively clean, but if there is any funk in there (bile, stomach, urine, anything else) then go ahead an wash it out, no big deal either way.

[skee0025]

I alway rinse mine out with clean water. I dont see how cleaning the cavity of blood and other things that make there way in during the gutting/dragging process can increase the bacteria growth. Kinda like saying rinsing off dirty hands increases the risk illness. It doesnt make a whole lot of sense to me.

[MUSKY18]

I have always been told the same thing. DO NOT RINSE IT OUT! Read a report on it somewhere and believe it or not, it does create more bacteria than if you don't wash it out. Something to do with introducing the forgein bacteria from the water will promote growth of it faster. Can't remember exactly, but we stopped rinsing our deer out after that.

[psepuncher]

There are about half a million protozoa and 50 billion bacteria per gram of rumen material in a healthy deer.

just sayin.....

[skee0025]

Ive been looking on line and so far I have only found other forums like this one. However I did find these instructions from a meat processing facility in NY. "When you get home and if the deer is still warm and fresh, rinse its cavity with clean potable water, drying and wiping out any excess water with clean paper towels. Never rinse out your deer with river or pond water, as there are high counts of bacteria in the water that will spoil the meat."

[reinhard1]

it's expecialy a great idea to have extra water along if an unfortunate situation like a gut shot takes place. we always have extra fresh water along for a final rinse after we hang the deer at camp. we have plenty of paper towels also for the extra moisture. some of the water up north out of a stream or lake aint that bad either. had some a time or two. good luck.

[goblueM]

I have always been told the same thing. DO NOT RINSE IT OUT! Read a report on it somewhere and believe it or not, it does create more bacteria than if you don't wash it out. Something to do with introducing the forgein bacteria from the water will promote growth of it faster. Can't remember exactly, but we stopped rinsing our deer out after that.

The issue with washing the cavity out is you SPREAD the bacteria to more parts of the meat... not really analogous to washing your hands

[eyeguy 54]

just use the water if nasty stuff like pooo and peee needs help going away.

[skee0025]

The issue with washing the cavity out is you SPREAD the bacteria to more parts of the meat... not really analogous to washing your hands

Its not like were talking about a sterile environment to begin with, you wouldnt be introducing mass amounts of bacteria with potable water. By rinsing you would only be moving some of whats already there. Add in wiping the deer down after the rinse and you get less moisture to promote growth vs. just leaving the cavity as is. Given the time frame from the shot to when most deer make it to the butcher or the butcher table, the effect of rinsing vs. not rising would be next to nothing. The main factor affecting any bacteria growth would be temperature.

[LightningBG]

This is from the MI DNR:

Quote:

STEP 7: CLEAN THE BODY CAVITY

Roll the deer carcass all the way over so that he opening to the body

cavity can drain. However, don’t contaminate the meat with dirt and

debris. After a few minutes, roll the deer over on its back and

remove any debris. The use of snow or water for cleaning the inside

of the cavity is not recommended in most cases. Rinse out the body

cavity with water or snow ONLY if the carcass has been tainted by

contents of the digestive or urinary tracts. If this is done, dry the

excess water in the cavity as quickly as possible.

This is from a game processing place:

Quote:

When you get home and if the deer is still warm and fresh, rinse its cavity with clean potable water, drying and wiping out any excess water with clean paper towels. Never rinse out your deer with river or pond water, as there are high counts of bacteria in the water that will spoil the meat.

So I think the jury is still out.

[reinhard1]

were we rinse with fresh area is in the lower cavity to make sure any urine or [PoorWordUsage] debries are gone. this should be done in my opinion if you can get the deer in a position for good drainage like hanging head up for example. always make sure to dry the cavity when done. i believe this is a positive step in my opinion, and since i do all the processing [and have done so for years] i like to have a clean a animal withing reason to work with. good luck.

[mrklean]

Ha your gutting a deer in the woods on the ground then you drag it across the ground and I forgot you shot it with a lead bullet and your worried about water

[John478]

I guess I haven't figured out how to gut a deer wuth out leaving some kind of funk behind. I'll be washing mind out no matter what any one else says. Been doing it for 25+ years, haven't got sick yet

[MJ1657]

Ha your gutting a deer in the woods on the ground then you drag it across the ground and I forgot you shot it with a lead bullet and your worried about water

Good point!!!

[Red Miller]

Ha your gutting a deer in the woods on the ground then you drag it across the ground and I forgot you shot it with a lead bullet and your worried about water

+1

[eyeguy 54]

[frogtosser]

I've heard not to use water but just a damp rag, I think the bottom line is just wipe it down if there is nasty stuff in there.

[goblueM]

Ha your gutting a deer in the woods on the ground then you drag it across the ground and I forgot you shot it with a lead bullet and your worried about water

i worry a lot more about the bacteria IN the deer's digestive tract than the minimal bacteria on a stick or on some grass. that's the point i think is trying to be made

[Boar]

bacteria needs water to swim, grow am mutiply. Rinsing out the body cavity an immedeatly hanging the deer to drain an dry is ok. just dont let the deer be allowed to pool any liquid, like blood an water. Been washing out mine for 30 yrs an no problems. but some will rinse out the cavity the load them for the long trip home without allowing to drain, not good. boar

[wallegator]

Not sure about the bacteria, but I was told spreading lead particles could be a concern if you rinse out the cavity. So for me it depends where the animal was shot.

[jmd1]

if you want to rinse go ahead but remember you are also washing out some of the taste that goes with the blood. my concern would be getting the windpipe out first thing then worry about the rest with water. good luck

[schmoe147]

JMD1 I couldnt agree more with getting the windpipe out first ASAP. As far as spraying down inside cavity of deer I do this to every deer, hang it from the head and spray the inside. I avoid getting the hind quarters wet but the inside cavity always gets sprayed down in my camp. Just my 2cents

[highlife4me]

I usually cut up our deer within a day or two of harvesting so I usually rinse with water but my experiance is if you hang your deer for several days the meat tends to dry out more if rinsed with water. If left alone the blood dries and somewhat seals the meat from drying out too much.

[shortfatguy]

I don't use water unless it's a gut shot or car killed deer. If you gut the deer properly when you cut the wind pipe and pull it withe the lungs, heart, liver etc all in one piece the diaphragm should actually peel off as wall as the membrane that lines the abdominal cavity. If you cut around the back end before you do this the rectum and bladder and all will come out without any spillage. Once the abdominal lining peels off the inside is spotless. Not even much for blood.