Seems a lot more common up north. I've never seen anyone do it where I've hunted in the south.

Yep

Haven't gutted one in years in Alabama. Bucksters in Montgomery charges $20 I think if they remember to charge you.

Now in Illinois, it's another matter. Processor I went to would not accept the deer unless it had been gutted.

I really don't understand why anyone would spend extra money to do something that takes 5 mins tops.

With the deer hanging head down you can open the stomach cavity to remove bladder and colon. Gravity keeps all remaining organs down low. Cut inner loins out then everything else. Only thing left is chest cavity, head and 4 legs which makes for easy disposal.

If I had my own land I would have a nice skinning shed that would feed into my processing area. Maybe when I retire

What difference does it make whether you are getting it processed. If getting processed I just take the 4 quarters in, keeping backstraps and inside loins at home. Quarters are in an ice chest with my name on it. when I pick up my processed frozen packages they are in my ice chest for the ride home. Saves a lot on the price of getting one processed.

I never gut a deer until I’m home at the skinning shed and I only gut them there if I keep the ribs.

I’m also to cheap to pay for gutting, skinning, tenderizing and deboneing so I do it all myself and just drop off the deboned meat at the processor to get sausage made at the end of the year.

Depends on how far the drag is, temperature and where I’m at if I gut or not. I quarter mine with or without but if taking directly to processor I normally gut them.

Because if i'm getting it processed, they're gonna gut it and charge me for it. If i'm doing it myself, well I don't keep the ribs, so no need to gut it.

I wasn't commenting on your post. I was commenting on Outbacks comment on Matt Brocks post about not gutting one in years. I think you and I are in agreement. the more weight I take in the more its going to cost me, Its easier to hang by back legs, skin, cut front shoulders off, get backstraps, open just enough to get inside loins, I filet meat off each side of neck, cut backbone off in front of hindquarters, split hindquarters, cut off legs and I'm done.leaving guts in carcass. I know some don't have facilities and places to dispose of scraps though. About 30 minutes total.

i havent field dressed a deer in 3 or 4 years my processor doesnt charge to gut so i see no point since they are a 5 minute drive from the woods if they start charging again i will field dress

The processor I use in Gordo asks not to gut the deer prior to bringing it to him. He doesn't like the mess that people leave inside the deer (dirt, guts, etc...). He doesn't charge to gut the deer.

Are these processors that don’t charge for gutting and skinning backyard/come and go type business. I have never seen a top notch processor that did not charge a fee for dressing a deer.

The ones that I was referring to are both very well-known processors (I'd venture to say the most well-known in their respective areas). They both advertise on their price list that they offer that service for an add'l fee ($10-15). One of them NEVER charged me, the other is about 50/50. I don't know if they just forgot or what...

I process most of my own deer, including cube steak and ground. I do what MBrock described most of the time, bag the quarters, and get them on ice. Backstraps come out easy, and a small poacher's cut frees the inside loins. Big deer, I'll pull the neck roasts also.

One processor near where I hunt, Central Alabama Deer Processing, does a great job, and will gut for a small additional charge. If I shoot when it's convenient, then I'll take the deer up there without doing anything.

Some of the processors clean and quarter their deer like I do and they don’t gut them all. It’s so much more efficient and not messy at all. The ones who do guy I’m not aware of a charge. If there is it’s not much.

For those asking about the inner tenderloins, do a YouTube search for "gutless method." Common practice for Western game like elk and mule deer.

Hall’s in Gordo and The Meat Locker in Fosters don’t charge to gut and skin.

I gut the ones we take to processor. I enjoy gutting a deer. Got the facility to do it so that helps. The ones we donate we just load em up let the processor handle that