Remembering Gutless Method in the Field

[WBouldin]

So if i get a deer this weekend, it will be my first time field dressing A) by myself and B) in the back country. Ive watched the gutless method video over and over but am worried about forgetting the steps while actually in the process. I have written down the steps on paper and am hoping thats a good fall back plan but I am wondering if you have any good tips to make it easy to remember?

My buddy's back-up plan is to throw said deer over his shoulders and hike out....not going to rely on that! haha

 

[Bambistew]

Which step do you think you'll forget, taking the hide off, removing the legs, tenderloins, loins, or neck meat? You start with an intact animal, you end with him in a bunch of pieces in your backpack a skinned carcass of bones with guts in it. You want to make sure you get all the meat in your backpack, pretty simple. No wrong way to go from whole carcass to backpack. Some sequences are just faster/easier.

Good luck!

Don't sweat the easy stuff.

 

[Sawtooth]

Remember that all muscles are in a casing similar to a sausage skin. Follow those natural separation points as much as you can and try to keep your cuts through those muscle membranes to a minimum. Try to keep the muscle groups together to keep your chunks of venison as large possible to reduce its contact to air and bacteria. Don't make it more difficult than it is. If it is meat, take it off and bag it. It is pretty straightforward except for the tenderloins which will take some patience to be careful not to cut the bladder or intestines. Good luck and good hunting.

 

[duckhunt]

Just take your time. Once you get started and you are actually looking at the animal its an easy process.

 

[Idahoarcheryhunter]

Take it slow, don't get in a rush careful knife work is the name of the game.

 

[Deleted member 28227]

I had the exact same feelings of trepidation the first time I did it on a solo trip 3 years ago. Don't worry after you make the first cut it will be smooth sailing just go slow and keep things clean. I recommend taking a contractor bag with you, they are super light, and laying it on the ground next to your animal so you have clean working area to lay the meat out on... can be a struggle to get a quarter in a game bag by yourself on a hill side. It's nice to be able to set it down. Also helps if you layout everything you need neatly on the bag before you start so you don't have to dig around in your pack looking halfway through the process.

 

[nidahunter]

Good advice given, just take it slow and be methodical. I have done it 4 or 5 times, it never looks as pretty as Randys videos but I always manage to get it done.

 

[mtmuley]

If gutless worries you, do it the normal way. mtmuley

 

[emrah1028]

You'll figure it out. I was nervous too but after doing it I was over thinking it. Just remember "clean". I possible, skin back as much of the hide in one section as possible. Start either from the back down to the legs or start at the legs and work up; doesn't matter. Remember the inside of the hide is clean so you can temporarily lay meat on it. Better yet is a contractor bag. Then bag it up in game bags and you're off!

Emrah

 

[Big Fin]

For $2.99, or the cost of two good rounds of ammo, you can download it to your phone at this link.

http://randynewberg.vhx.tv/

 

[MoGreen]

Don't forget to not gut it and you will be doing fine

 

[WBouldin]

For $2.99, or the cost of two good rounds of ammo, you can download it to your phone at this link.

http://randynewberg.vhx.tv/

Thanks Randy! Just to be sure, that's a local file on the phone and doesn't need Internet to be accessed - correct?

 

[WBouldin]

And thank you to all who responded. I appreciate the encouragement and have had similar thoughts that once I'm working on the animal it will all make sense

 

[Big Fin]

Thanks Randy! Just to be sure, that's a local file on the phone and doesn't need Internet to be accessed - correct?

If you download it, it will be a local file on whatever device. Obviously we put it there for phones, as a lot of guys have asked for it. And a lot of folks have downloaded it.

 

[WBouldin]

Thanks Randy!

 

[RobG]

If you aren't familiar with breaking down a deer in the field I would remove the stomach and intestines before you start cutting meat, or at least get them out of the way. It won't cost you anything and all the other steps for breaking down the animal are the same. The front legs and backstraps shouldn't give any problems, but it is easy to make a mistake on the back legs and slice the gut and have a pshitnami on your hands. Once you've done it a time or two you can decide if you want to go true gutless.

 

[SFC B]

For $2.99, or the cost of two good rounds of ammo, you can download it to your phone at this link.

http://randynewberg.vhx.tv/

^^^^ Glad Fin chimed in with this....I hate mobile devices in general but THAT is a bargain for newbies!! I have done the gutless method twice now (one elk, one muley) and the only issue I had was the partner I had on the elk almost cutting my fingers off with sloppy knife work I would also say that if you do want to do it old school but easier and cleaner you can use what I also carry.... https://www.walmart.com/ip/Hunter-s-Specialties-Butt-Out-2/15111191 Takes away a good part of the chance of contamination. I introduced it to the ranch hands when I went hunting in Texas a couple of years ago and they freaked for it. In the end I think you will probably be happier learning from and having the download. As they said above, the only tricky part is the tenderloins. Best of luck!!

 

[1_pointer]

IMO/E, its one of those things that is easier doing it than watching/reading about it. First time I suggested it to a buddy, after just reading about it, he thought it sounded stupid. Half way through the first buck he decided he's gonna do them all that way.

If you want some practice, go buy a goat/sheep/pig and do it in your garage...

 

[Sawtooth]

For a second I thought the SFC B was going to recommend using the "Gut Rake" Method!

 

[Backstrap]

This reminds me of my first big game kill, a mule deer. My Wife read aloud from a book while I attempted to break the animal down while experiencing all of the feelings (and smells) one has when dressing a kill.

Like everyone says, once you've done it it really is intuitive and not very difficult to do it pretty well.