How to Field-Dress A Deer

Posted on January 1st, 2009 by monsterguide

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Field-dressing is a delicate process that requires skill and patience. You need to use the right equipment and know the precise mechanisms involved. Here is a step-by-step guide to field-dressing a deer.

Tools/Materials Required

Sharp knife
Kill tag with string
Flashlight
Cleaning cloth
Rope for dragging
Orange-colored cloth
Twine pieces
Large plastic cover

Attaching The Kill Tag

You could use RSS or e-tags for this purpose. Secure it firmly to the dead deer’s body. Use your knife to make notches of all relevant information on the tag, such as antler points, date, sex, etc. Use a piece of twine to attach the tag to the deer.

Dragging The Deer

You need to be careful while dragging the deer as it can result in injury to the abdominal region. Drag the deer to an open region where you can be easily spotted by other hunters. Hang an orange fabric on a tree branch above so that other hunters know you are field-dressing.

Start From The Breastbone

Make an incision with the knife in the breastbone region. The sharper blade edge should be positioned upward. There is a tendency to create a deep incision with the first cut, so it is better to begin with the sternum rather than the more delicate organs.

Abdominal Region Incision

Now make a cut through the abdominal wall. Again, the sharp edge of the knife needs to face upward. It is best to cut in an upward direction to avoid making the knife edge blunt. While making the cut, use your index finger to hold the hide away from the internal organs.

Cutting Around The Private Parts

After making the incision through the hide, you need to cut around the penis or the vagina (depending on the sex of the deer). The cut should be at the basal portion of the private part, so that you can free it easily. Check if the udder contains milk; this could pose legal issues later.

Cutting Around The Anus

Next, you will need to make a circular cut around the anal region. Make a cut around 1 inch in radius and with a depth of about 4 inches. Place the knife between the pelvic bone and the rectum. Pull out the rectum sideways, and do not make an incision inside. If fecal matter is present, plug the rectal opening with a string.

Pushing The Rectal Tract

Instead of making an incision right through the pelvic region, it is advisable to push the rectal tract downward through the pelvic opening. Making an incision can rupture the urinary bladder or other internal organs.

Removing The Urinary Bladder

After this you need to clasp one end of the bladder with your fingers and cut it away from the stomach region. You could also use a piece of twine or string to tie around the tube and make a cut about an inch from the base region of the duct.