Any hunters here? I have a question for you

I use a gerber gator. Great knife and not too spendy.

Are caping it out or just getting the hide off to get to the meat?

I don't know.. I've never done it before. I just want to be able to get all of the meat off of it though. Not sure what caping it out means.

Yep... Gerber makes a nice, inexpensive knife. I have expensive knives, but I hate using them. My Gerbers always deliver and I don't worry about them.

Just did a search for that, there's like 20 different things Gerber makes called Gator, most of them knives too.

Caping would be to save it for a mount.

I have a gerber knife with a guttiing hook for the field work. Any sharp knife will do to slit the hide and pull it off the carcass, I use gforschner knives for cutting the meat off the bones.

Are you going with people that have done this before?

This is the one I use you can get it cheaper if you get one with the standard handle.

[link to www.cabelas.com]

Almost any good skinning knife will do for your skinning and cleaning. Some prefer a skinning knife with a hook on the end of the blade to cut the stomach lining without damaging the intestines, good plan if you have not cleaned many deer.

More important is to have a good bone saw or hacksaw to cut through the legs and neck. Also you want a good spreader that will go through the hind legs, at the tendons in the lower legs near the hooves to spread the deer so you have access to do the skinning and cleaning as the deer is hanging. Can hang deer from a tree limb, swing set or any other raised point to make it much easier to skin.

Other option is to take it to a local processor and allow them to skin and process the meat and package it. This is the best option if you are not accustomed to skinning and cleaning a deer@@@@

FYI most states are now advising against cutting through the back bone due to CWD.

I don't know anybody who's hunted or skinned an animal before. I recently joined a local firearm forum though, and there is a section for hunting, so I'm sure I could probably find someone there who would be willing to show me the ropes. If I did that I would still want to have a bit of knowledge, and the proper tools, beforehand.

I would want to save my first kill for a mount, so I'm probably going to look into caping now. Want to have something to remember my first successful hunting trip by.

Yup, hope you are going with some experience hunters. They will help you gut your first deer. Don't let them do it for you, though, just have them there for guidance. Cutting out the anus can be a little tricky for the novice. Also, the scent glands on the bucks hind legs must be handled with care.

here is a whole bunch of youtube videos on field dressing:

[link to www.youtube.com]

I don't want to take it to a processor. There is one very close to my house, but I'd rather learn to do it myself and save the money. Thanks about the spreader and hacksaw advice though, I hadn't thought of that.

Here is a good video that shows how to butcher without cutting through the bones.

Fuck now this thread is making me hungry.

from experience, we grind up a lot of meat into hamburger. I don't mind the work, but the family would rather watch Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade or whatever is on..The Lions...

But the meat processor guy (my local grocery store meat guy does it on the side in the fall)does it really fast. I suppose he's a butcher. He even has blue tooth phone or whatever and talks and cuts.

There are places that will give you something for the hide. My grocery store will give like either $5 or a pair of leather gloves (deer hide gloves, I think?) While much smaller than the hide, I don't know anyone that makes their own gloves.

If you have no experience in cleaning a deer I totally agree! If you are planning on doing your own processing you must cut off the lower legs and the head to properly get the cuts you desire on the processing table.

I advise if you do not know what you are doing to take the entire deer to a processor and pay the cost of having them cut, process and package the meat. You do not want to mess around with spoiled or contaminated meat. Skinning is fairly simple if you know how to properly remove the urine sack, remove the rectum and lower intestine without contaminating the meat.

Also, take a few pairs of disposable latex gloves, some paper towels, and some of those moist towelettes.

I would advise against getting it done at your local grocery store those places tend to mix everyones meat together. YMMV.

Mounting is expensive.

I forget how much.


Last year someone got their first buck. We took the antlers and mounted those on wood. Looked nice, if you get a good design.

I've seen everything, wives who want it to look pretty so they put lace on the mounting board.

Putting the shell of the round that hit the deer up with the antlers

I forget what you actually call those things

If you're in camo (Or orange, but you want to keep your orange on if that's the case so you don't get shot) take it off. Blood stains

If I get a buck I always just set it in with my dermestid beetle colony. Makes a great european mount.

Hit the wrong button!!!

Having hunted since I was 11-12 and killed over 100 deer in the last 25 years I advise you if you do not have someone to guide you through it the first couple of times to pay the piper and take it to a processor.

It is a very easy process once you have been through it a few times. The key is having the proper set up and not try to do it with the deer on the ground in the middle of the woods. Unless you have some experience you are liable to split the gut, cut the bowel as well as the urine sack and end up with bad meat.

I have cleaned over 200 deer with friends over the years. It is enjoyable and easy if you know what you are doing. Should only take you about an hour unless you are caping it for mounting. It does get to be a chore if you are not aware of what you are doing.

I now live in a neighborhood that has a very strict homeowners association so I have got used to killing a deer, loading it up in the truck, taking it to the camp to be tagged and transporting it to the processor. For $80-$150 according to weight, it is a lot easier to pick it up a week later already packaged and ready to prepare.

I encourage you to learn how to clean a few, excellent skill to learn, and then decide which is more enjoyable and affordable for your lifestyle!

this ^^

I never had anyone teach me. I just shot the deer and learned. They sell rubber gloves that go up to your shoulder, really nice to keep your arm blood free.

I hunted with exchange student and he shot at a deer. We walked to where the deer was fist seen and found a gut pile. I thought this was strange because it was opening morning. We walked another 75 yards and found his deer.

His shot had slit the belly skin and all the guts fell out. All that was left in the deer was the lungs and heart.
I highly recommend a shot like this. LOL.

haha, that would be amazing.