Field dressing a deer

[SDMF]

For those of you that quarter in the field- can you get a deer back to the truck in one load?

Yep.

 

[Enslow]

Actually it has to do with breaking down of MUSCLE tissue versus Fat. Muscle= toughness...breaking down muscle tissue(aging) helps said meat more tender.

Im still not sold that aging deer meat in a fridge in a bag is nothing more than rotting the meat haha.

 

[Rowdie]

I'm pretty sure that in SD it is illegal to transport deer that way.

 

[SDMF]

I'm pretty sure that in SD it is illegal to transport deer that way.

What would be the rationale behind not allowing it? If you've got a tag punched and evidence of gender left naturally attached, WTF are they going to do? Take away your birthday?

 

[Petras]

For those of you that quarter in the field- can you get a deer back to the truck in one load?

Yes, but if you plan on trying this, don't do it with a cheap ass pack like I did 2 years ago... I packed out my muledeer 2 years ago. all the meat in the pack, and the head strapped to the outside and it was fricken miserable. I was using a cheap ALPZ brand pack and I'll tell ya they are great for just putzin around carrying water/snacks/whatever while your hunting, but next time I try packing out a whole deer, or anything for that matter, it will be with a pack frame.

 

[Kurtr]

I'm pretty sure that in SD it is illegal to transport deer that way.

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Yes, but if you plan on trying this, don't do it with a cheap ass pack like I did 2 years ago... I packed out my muledeer 2 years ago. all the meat in the pack, and the head strapped to the outside and it was fricken miserable. I was using a cheap ALPZ brand pack and I'll tell ya they are great for just putzin around carrying water/snacks/whatever while your hunting, but next time I try packing out a whole deer, or anything for that matter, it will be with a pack frame.

did the same with the eberlestock no functional load lifters make for a long day on the shoulders

 

[RNinND]

I've been quartering in the field for the past several years (just less bones to deal with at home). The skin comes off very easy when they're warm. My only problem is that I always seem to have a fair amount of hair and grass on my quarters when done. Maybe my technique sucks?

 

[CAH]

To me, I like the memories made bullshitting around a hung deer in the back garage telling stories and lies with the family... I would miss that aspect if I started field quartering my deer. Now if I were in a back country situation, definitely quarter in field and haul on my back.

 

[Bowhunter_24]

I've probably deboned and packed out more deer and elk than most here. With that being said, if I can drive up to the deer I'm loading it up and hanging it somewhere else to skin and debone. It makes caping an animal much easier and cleaner too

 

[Retired Educator]

I've hauled out a boned-out doe by myself. A big buck with head, antlers, and hide for mounting + the meat, is an easy load for 3 and not bad for 2.

 

[Rowdie]

What would be the rationale behind not allowing it? If you've got a tag punched and evidence of gender left naturally attached, WTF are they going to do? Take away your birthday?

A) Rational and laws going together?? Since when? I guess the only people transporting game that way would be poachers. Easier to catch poachers??

B) They will fine you for violations of illegal transporting of big game.

I grew up in SD and it was always illegal to transport quartered big game. I have a friend who transported an antelope from Corson Co. where he hunted, to Spearfish. He only had a car so he skinned it, cut the head and legs off and bagged them. He had the carcass in one bag and head, cape, and legs in other. They were sealed up good since he had a nice Camaro. The tag was on one of the legs, like they do in SD. These were heave duty clear bags. He went through one game check at the bridge by Corson Co. and they chastised him but didn't ticket him. The other game check down by Sturgis he wasn't so lucky, the ticketed him. This was in the mid 90's.

 

[SDMF]

A) Rational and laws going together?? Since when? I guess the only people transporting game that way would be poachers. Easier to catch poachers??

B) They will fine you for violations of illegal transporting of big game.

I grew up in SD and it was always illegal to transport quartered big game. I have a friend who transported an antelope from Corson Co. where he hunted, to Spearfish. He only had a car so he skinned it, cut the head and legs off and bagged them. He had the carcass in one bag and head, cape, and legs in other. They were sealed up good since he had a nice Camaro. The tag was on one of the legs, like they do in SD. These were heave duty clear bags. He went through one game check at the bridge by Corson Co. and they chastised him but didn't ticket him. The other game check down by Sturgis he wasn't so lucky, the ticketed him. This was in the mid 90's.

The SD GF&P videos above are from 2014, looks like as long as you leave evidence of gender attached and get the tag through a rear quarter you're golden.

 

[WormWiggler]

At what point in field dressing / boning does a concern of wanton waste violation start to occur? Say I opt to leave the front shoulders or just take the back straps?

 

[Kurtr]

A) Rational and laws going together?? Since when? I guess the only people transporting game that way would be poachers. Easier to catch poachers??

B) They will fine you for violations of illegal transporting of big game.

I grew up in SD and it was always illegal to transport quartered big game. I have a friend who transported an antelope from Corson Co. where he hunted, to Spearfish. He only had a car so he skinned it, cut the head and legs off and bagged them. He had the carcass in one bag and head, cape, and legs in other. They were sealed up good since he had a nice Camaro. The tag was on one of the legs, like they do in SD. These were heave duty clear bags. He went through one game check at the bridge by Corson Co. and they chastised him but didn't ticket him. The other game check down by Sturgis he wasn't so lucky, the ticketed him. This was in the mid 90's.

In 1998 i did the same thing and the warden had no problem. The videos i posted are from the sd gfp. How would they expect you to get a whole elk out of the hills. Its not illegal

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At what point in field dressing / boning does a concern of wanton waste violation start to occur? Say I opt to leave the front shoulders or just take the back straps?

any usable meat it is clearly defined in most states. some state that you dont have to take neck or rib meat

 

[Allen]

ND once published something on the meats that constituted wanton waste. If I remember correctly, if you left any of the quarters or backstraps behind it was a clear violation of wanton waste.

I think the clarification stemmed from a guy who shot an elk in the Killdeer Mountains and promptly packed out the rack and cape, then failed to retrieve the meat.

 

[KDM]

I prefer to process my game in the comfort of my own slaughter house where I have ample light, heat, tables, running water, no wind, no dirt, no grass, a radio, and a fridge of beverages. I like to field dress and hang my critters from the pelvic bones head down for a day or two before processing. I think aging the carcass helps tenderize the meat. They wouldn't age cattle carcasses if there wasn't a benefit to the flavor and quality of the meat as aging costs money to perform. If I'm traveling, space always tends to be an issue and I totally bone out the meat in the field if I can and remove the horns if I there are any at the kill site and carry as little weight as possible while following the regs of whatever state I'm in.

 

[guywhofishes]

I think the clarification stemmed from a guy who shot an elk in the Killdeer Mountains and promptly packed out the rack and cape, then failed to retrieve the meat.

good grief

 

[Kurtr]

I hate dealing with guts. It seems i also have less hair and wasted meat when i quarter them. I bring a small piece of poly with to use as a ground sheet to lay meat on.

 

[guywhofishes]

It's easiest to just have mom do it.

 

[Kurtr]

i have one of these hanging in my garage. it is a 400# model