First Deer, Lots to Learn
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buck460XVR
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Congrats on your first deer. First lesson most folks learn is that the work really begins when then animal is down. Only way to learn is to jump in and do it. One thing I'll suggest is the use of rubber gloves. Deer blood/fat can be a tough as engine oil to get from underneath one's fingernails. It also will protect you from transmission of bovine tuberculosis.
Shanghai McCoy
Member
Congratulations on your first deer. Plenty of good information has been shared here with you for the next one but it looks like you guys managed to do just fine.
Enjoy the memories and the meals you'll have from this deer.
Enjoy the memories and the meals you'll have from this deer.
Congratulations !! Every hunter remembers that first deer. You'll get more knowledge each and every year. Now you are "experienced" as your first chapter of your hunting career is complete. Enjoy the success as well as the reward of the food from the land. It is a feeling far too few know anything about these days.
-Jeff
-Jeff
stillquietvoice
Contributing Member
243 win is a good caliber for deer.
I killed 3 with mine all drt no tracking. I did have some .5 mile drags but well worth the effort.
Thanks for the info.
I use 3/8 in rope and tie the front legs over the head, loop around the neck and use a stick tied in the other end to drag out.
newfalguy101
Member
I believe that no matter how many deer hunts you participate in or deer you take....there will always be something to learn.
Took my first deer about 25 years ago with an open sight SKS.
There are hundreds of tricks to pick up slong the way, listen and learn, and if you have a chance, hook up with an experienced hunter to somewhat shorten the learning curve.
However, at the end of the day, what you did worked, with meat in the freezer,
Congrats
Took my first deer about 25 years ago with an open sight SKS.
There are hundreds of tricks to pick up slong the way, listen and learn, and if you have a chance, hook up with an experienced hunter to somewhat shorten the learning curve.
However, at the end of the day, what you did worked, with meat in the freezer,
Congrats
Well done. My daughter who butchers my deer/elk can always find something I did wrong.
First one is always memorable and don’t worry about the things that weren’t done perfectly. Learn from them but Remember the things that were done right. You outfoxed a very smart animal who’s instinct is to avoid you and stay alive. That says something.
First one is always memorable and don’t worry about the things that weren’t done perfectly. Learn from them but Remember the things that were done right. You outfoxed a very smart animal who’s instinct is to avoid you and stay alive. That says something.
Jack Ryan
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- Jan 29, 2019
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- 778
Every time you shoot one it is a different "problem" to field dress. I've never seen one yet I'd call "pretty".
If you can just keep the stinky guts part separate from the tasty look'n meat parts separate from each other that is the goal. Kinda like keeping the peas and taters from touching on the dinner plate.
If you can just keep the stinky guts part separate from the tasty look'n meat parts separate from each other that is the goal. Kinda like keeping the peas and taters from touching on the dinner plate.
Random 8
Member
Congratulations on your deer. You may be overthinking things. Field dressing, so long as you get the organs, intestines, man-parts and any poop, goop or foreign matter out, it's a good job. Tidiness will come with experience. I do not generally quarter in the field unless dragging/carting to a vehicle is not a viable option. I use a commercial deer cart, the cheap $50-70 kind and have taken them out of up to a mile of broken country with this. Keep about 20' of paracord or similar rope wrapped around it ready to go, the provided tie downs suck and you'll want more. In situations where packing and quartering may be necessary, I carry an ALICE military frame pack and lots of cable pulling line (paracord will work well). The external frame has plenty of tie down points if anything won't fit inside like hide and antlers. A couple of 30 mil contractor bags keep everything clean.
I usually skin and quarter just prior to butchering. A poly picnic table is the butcher table, and a couple of disposable construction boards work well for cutting on. 2x12 scraps are perfect. I tape a layer of butcher's paper to the table, and throw down some poly drop cloth, blood is a pain to clean from textured concrete. Hang the deer from the hind leg tendons with a skinning gambrel (light duty "deer" ones are inexpensive and work well enough). You'll want to add a swivel and carabiner, and a block and tackle or at least a pully will make the chore easier. Skin and quarter and bring the quarters directly to the butcher table and things will be cleaner and your venison won't dry out. Use duct tape to remove the majority of the hair, a propane torch to rid the meat of any stragglers. Hope this helps with your next one!
Edit...read one of your follow up posts on the reason for quartering in the field. In that situation, you can buy some time by placing one or 2 blocks or bags of ice in the cavity and covering the deer in the shade while you rig proper gear for hanging and quartering. Our kit in warmer weather includes a couple of milk jugs frozen full of water. Keeps the beer and deer cold if needed. Had to do a hasty butcher in camp some years ago. Ran a rope over a heavy limb on a tree, and used the pickup to hoist the deer by the hind legs with a homemade gambrel (2x6 section with a lag bolt in either end). Used a folding poly picnic table to butcher on. Much easier than skinning or quartering on a tailgate.
I usually skin and quarter just prior to butchering. A poly picnic table is the butcher table, and a couple of disposable construction boards work well for cutting on. 2x12 scraps are perfect. I tape a layer of butcher's paper to the table, and throw down some poly drop cloth, blood is a pain to clean from textured concrete. Hang the deer from the hind leg tendons with a skinning gambrel (light duty "deer" ones are inexpensive and work well enough). You'll want to add a swivel and carabiner, and a block and tackle or at least a pully will make the chore easier. Skin and quarter and bring the quarters directly to the butcher table and things will be cleaner and your venison won't dry out. Use duct tape to remove the majority of the hair, a propane torch to rid the meat of any stragglers. Hope this helps with your next one!
Edit...read one of your follow up posts on the reason for quartering in the field. In that situation, you can buy some time by placing one or 2 blocks or bags of ice in the cavity and covering the deer in the shade while you rig proper gear for hanging and quartering. Our kit in warmer weather includes a couple of milk jugs frozen full of water. Keeps the beer and deer cold if needed. Had to do a hasty butcher in camp some years ago. Ran a rope over a heavy limb on a tree, and used the pickup to hoist the deer by the hind legs with a homemade gambrel (2x6 section with a lag bolt in either end). Used a folding poly picnic table to butcher on. Much easier than skinning or quartering on a tailgate.
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