Field dressing a deer.

[SCUMFROG]

I'm planning on going deer hunting this year for the first time. I most likely will be going to public land and alone, witch I know I shouldn't do but every I know that hunts uses a rifle, I have a slug gun. And I can't find any one that will let me tag along.

What I want to know is there any good sites out there that diagram field dressing a deer? If I get one I'll need to know how to do it.

[irvingdog]

I never know when a link will get me in trouble with the powers that be, but, this one is really helpful.

http://ianrpubs.unl.edu/wildlife/g279.htm

[SCUMFROG]

Thanks that site is very helpful. I hope I do ok.

[tealitup]

Go with your friends anyways; you can still use a slug in the rifle areas. In fact, some will say that it is better to use - at least for the shots under 75 yards.

[SCUMFROG]

I would but they don't have any more room for me. It's like I'm an out cast cause I want to use a sulg.

[captkev]

That is a good link, but if you shoot a trophy, that you plan to have mounted, DONT cut the neck, I only cut up into the 2nd or 3rd rib threw the brest plate, carefuly cut the diaphram (tissue) that seperates the heart and lung area from the intestines and stomach, reach up and pull on the wind pipe with one hand and cut carefuly with the other,keep ahold of the wind pipe with your hands and pull back towards the back end... I hope you get a deer by yourself, then rub it in to your friends what a great time you had. I think very highly of someone like you that is trying to do their best, Heck if I knew for shure that I did'nt have to work on the opener you could come with me.

Do you have transportation?

[SCUMFROG]

Yeah I hope I get one a big buck my first time out.

I think the only thing that I'll have trouble with is gutting it.

Were do you hunt captkev?

[captkev]

I hunt mainly in Todd county, but also hunt Cass, Wadena, and Morrison. I do hunt Otter tail later durring Muzzle loader season.

[SCUMFROG]

What do you shot? slug, rifle?

[captkev]

That all depends where I'm at, Todd county (hwy. 71) is the deviding line from Slug or rifle If north of the hwy I use my 243cal if shooting in the open on stand, if I'm in a river bottom or in the brush still hunting edges of feilds I cary my 308cal, when I hunt south of 71, I use the slug gun for drives, and if I'm on stand, I like to sit with my Muzzle loader. If I travel up north, to Cass or Wadena countys, I'm usualy packing my 308.

[SCUMFROG]

Holy cow. I have 1 gun, an 870 12g with 2 barrels 1 for sulg and 1 for shot. But I do have 20g for shot also. But I realy don't think that'll bring down a deer. And I would need to get a new barrel for it.

[captkev]

That 20ga. will bring down a deer, just the same as any other legal firearm, you just need to practice, and know the limitations, I have a friend who loves to sit with a 410ga. single shot. he don't take long shots and has allways put meat in the frezzer with it. I've offered to let him use a bigger gun and he simply replys, " I've never lost one yet"...I've seen him hunt and he waits till there standing 25-30 yards or less from him. he don't take shots at running deer and he will not shoot threw the brush, he only takes shots he knows he'll make.

[SCUMFROG]

Well I'm not that good yet, so I think I'll stay with the 12g.

[ZOKU]

Quote:

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I have a friend who loves to sit with a 410ga. single shot. he don't take long shots and has allways put meat in the freezer with it. I've offered to let him use a bigger gun and he simply replys, " I've never lost one yet"

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Insane... that is cool!

[deeky]

My suggestion is get a small folding saw to take with you. Gerber makes a good one with like an 8 inch blade. I also have a buck with a saw, guthook, and knife blade that I like. The saw makes it much easier to cut through the ribs and the pelvis (if you clean it that way). I've seen too many people nearly loose fingers because they were trying to cut ribs with a knife and it slipped. If you use a saw on the pelvis, just make sure to use your other hand to hold the plumbing down and away from the blade to avoid knicking.

Growing up, I helped my uncle clean a few deer. He works in the lab at a VA hospital. It was more like an autopsy than just cleaning. Took a little longer, but I sure learned a lot about anatomy.

Best way to learn is just get in there and do it, and carry some water with you to rinse in case you knick something from the stomach down.