Aldeer.com Forums Alabama Deer Talk Serious Deer Talk Forum Field Dressing

Hey guys, I need an opinion (I noticed there may be 1 or 2 on here). After you have killed your deer, do you field dress it before taking it to the processor, or leave it as is? I have read opinions both ways. I am a rookie in my second full season, but I have yet to kill one. I am not out for a trophy buck, I am hunting for the enjoyment and good food. Thanks

Field dress first. Some processors will do it for extra $$, but I like to get the guts out ASAP.

Field dressing, is gutting the deer, and yes i always gut the deer before carrying it to the processor. It is required by most, but not all. Usually an extra $10 fee for gutting.

don't forget the goozle

Depends on how far away. I used to have one about 5 miles from my camp. We would shoot a deer, load it in the ranger and haul it straight in. That one closed down, so now I just clean it myself and take the skinned legs to the processor since it might be a day or two.

The processors that I've used charge extra if they have to skin them, field dressing didn't reduce cost.

If you were closer, I'd be happy to show you, then let you practice in all my deer.

But yes, gut them first. It takes about 5 mins and is very simple.

Naturally occurring bacteria in the body starts breaking the body down as soon as the animal ceases living. Letting this process continue for too long can effect the taste of your meat. One author even suggested that the "gamey" taste that some people refer to is the initial stages of spoilage. Get the guys out as soon as practical so you don't have anything to worry about. BTW, the processor I use charges $12 for gutting and I've seen some that charge $20 or more. For most of these guys, it's a disposal issue. They don't want their dumpsters full of guts because they need that space for the rest of the carcass.

Thanks for the info guys. And Bigbamaboy, if you could put me on deer for a weekend, I would clean any deer you killed that weekend. I hunt a friends family farm and the deer sightings are far a few between, but the price is right.

I don't gut mine, if I take it somewhere or clean it myself.

I never field dress, I throw it in the truck and either take I to the processor or clean it myself.

My processor charges whole/gutted/skinned 75/65/55. Depends on the time of day, mood I'm in, and how cold it is going to be the next few days. Our processor you can drop off 24 hours a day. If it's cool enough, my preference is to hang them a couple of days. I have also gutted and dropped it in the freezer for a couple days until I was heading over near the processor. Re-freezing does absolutely nothing to hurt the meat.

Said it before and Ill say it again, biggest waste of time there is. Ive never field dressed a deer in my life and dont plan on starting. ive driven up to 4 hours (when its cool enough) and also left them overnight to find the next morning and never had a bad experience. Quarter it up, get the inner and outer loins and never split the gut. Ice it and drain for several days, best tasting meat out there.

Field dress immediately if I'm not deboning there on the ground. Same reasons as most have mentioned.

How do you get the inner loins out without gutting?

Just drop it slightly below to where they're exposed, then cut them out.

X2 I don't gut any deer I kill.

I just slit the stomach enough to get to them when hanging by the back legs. Neck hangers probably would have to gut it.

Same here.

X3. Rarely ever gut one anymore.

It's usually a long drag where I hunt and I gut them where they hit the ground just to cut down on weight.