Deer Hunters… Helpful Videos for Gutting, Skinning and Quartering Deer
Category: article
Nov 8th, 2021 by Keith Worrall
Modified Nov 8th, 2021 at 11:42 AM
Deer Hunters… Helpful Videos for Gutting, Skinning and Quartering Deer
This is a special week for Minnesota deer hunters. Although many have already been hunting with bow, crossbow or through the youth deer hunt or special hunts in high density areas, the actual traditional deer hunting opener for gun hunting takes place this Saturday in Minnesota. It is a special time to get in nature, continue long standing traditions and for some, even shoot a deer. Hardcore deer hunters are probably dialed in when it comes to taking care of the animal after the harvest, but even skilled hunters can pick up some nice pointers through these nicely done videos put out by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.
One of the main skills a deer hunter needs is how to gut a deer. If you have never done it, don’t worry, it isn’t that difficult. In this video, all they use is a knife and a zip tie! What is the zip tie for? Actually, it isn’t a bad idea. They actually zip tie the small intestine just in front of the anus for feces from the deer doesn’t come in contact with the meat. That is a new one for this deer hunter and not a bad idea.
Some choose to bring a few extra tools with them in the woods such as disposable gloves, hunter’s field saw which makes life easy for cutting through the pelvis bone and ribs, opening up the deer to air to be not only cleaned out easier but to cool down the meat.
There is also a tool called a butt out field dressing tool. In essence, this eliminates the need for a zip tie as you basically insert this tool in the anus of your big game. This makes it so the feces doesn’t come out. It also makes it easy to cut around and pull out this part of the internals when all of the entrails are freed and ready to be rolled out of the cavity of the deer.
or many, knowing how to gut a deer is the most crucial step. It is helpful to carry a rope or strap to be able to drag your gutted deer to your ATV, UTV or truck for further transport. Make sure to tag your deer in the field when you shoot it. You also need to register your deer within the next 48 hours and before it is processed privately or commercially. That can be done online, over the phone or at a deer registration station.
If you are good with a smartphone, it is very easy to register it online. You will then write the registration numbers on the tag which is on the deer. I even do a screenshot of the registration just in case the tag would get lost, for using it later at the butcher shop if I bring my deer in to be processed, etc.
In today’s world, there are a lot of butcher shops who will process your deer. This is more expensive, but makes life easy. In this case, all you have to do is gut the deer and they will do the rest. You even have the chance to pick out what cuts you want, if you want ground, sausage, bacon, etc. made from your venison.
Some might choose to process the deer on their own. This involves skinning and quartering the deer. This can be done in the field, as the following videos show, or back in your garage or shed later.
Regardless of how you process your deer, the big thing to remember is take good care of the meat. If it is warm out when you harvest your deer, that might mean getting some big bags of ice into the cavity of the deer to cool it down and keep it cool. As the saying goes, what starts out right, ends right.
Here are two more videos, one on skinning a deer, the other on quartering a deer. For some who hunt elk, moose or other really big game, the practice of quartering your animal, putting the meat in special bags and hiking the meat out in back packs is protocol as the animal is just too large to drag, there is difficult terrain to manage, etc. This practice can certainly be used for deer as well.
Taking care of your deer is important to maintain the quality of the meat but also ethical to make sure the animal harvested goes to good use. These videos, regardless of what level hunter you might be, are helpful. If nothing else, even experienced hunters can learn a different technique or perspective.
We wish all hunters the very best in the field this year. Take the extra time to be safe and take precautions while hunting. Enjoy this outdoor activity that is so near and dear to the hearts of so many. Good luck!