I'd stick her in a cooler and carry to a processor myself

Congrats Tex. Nothing like the very first one

Congrats Tex! Pulling that dead weight is tough. Might want to look into a deer cart or jet sled. You’d be surprised how much easier that makes things.

Congrats on #1, first of many.

Congratulations

Congratulations! Yep, you learned...go to the sidearm to finish a deer if available.

Congratulations!!

Just deboned everything except one of the hams that just looked too good. Salted everything covered with a bit of foil and aging in the fridge. Looks like meat now!

Woohoo! Congrats!

Congrats, you earned it Tex!

I prefer to drag them out whole if I can. I like having running water to rinse my knife and hands. Keeps me from getting everything covered in hair. I workout more than the average Alabamian though. In that weather, I try to get the guts out within 3 hours. It'll be fine for a few more hours once you get the guts out.

The shoulders come off easy if you cut behind the scapula, and there's a good bit of stew/grind meat on them. I recommend practicing on rabbits and squirrels. Everything comes apart the same way, it's just smaller and you can get more carcasses to practice with.

Soak in salt water. Imo it's the only way.

Any time before you cook. 3 or 4 days is good.

I pull mine out froze put in salt water over night , Rinse off and cook .

Congrats!

Heck yea - happy for u and congrats

U can make your own but I ordered a Glens deer drag and it helped me a heck of a lot - their May b bettr devices but that what I use for dragging - it’s like a ski handle rope

I leave my quarters with the bone in and freeze them until I'm ready to cook. It saves me a lot of work at the time, and the fat and silverskin protect the meat from freezer burn. No need for vacuum sealers when it's still wrapped in nature's bag.

When I'm ready to cook one, I put it in a cooler with salt water for a few days. That gets the blood out and "ages" the meat while it thaws.

Congrats Tex. I keep a drag rope with me and toilet paper for the tracking when necessary. They'll get easier from here. I've been deer hunting for a long time and still learn something every time I go to the woods.

Congratulations on your 1st!

Nice! Your struggles reveal your determination. You did good. Now is time to savor getting your first deer and not worry much about what may have been done differently. Getting out there and doing it yourself will teach you a lot.

Congrats buddy! You are hooked now!!

Congrats!

Way to go Tex, you learned a lesson with you deer kill we all have learned and was explained to me by an old timer. I will try to quote him nicely on a public thread but he said Son deer hunting is like masturbating, it fun while you do it but sooner or later you end up with a mess on your hands. Congrats again hope you kill many more