Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Deer Hunting Gut em in the woods or back at camp?

I haven't gutted a deer or elk in many years. Put the animal on its belly, slit the skin from the crown of the head down to the tail, peel off the hide, remove the backstraps and quarters, put the meat into game bags and haul them out by backpack, ATV, game cart or horse. I leave the carcass with the guts inside at the kill site.

I hunt in SW MS and this is how we do it too.

In the woods if they die in the woods or in a field if they die in a field.

Gutless boneless where they are.

It wasn't in Pennsylvania. We field dress our deer where they drop.

With the exception of Tommy, who carries the knife the Marine Corps issued him before his two tours in Viet Nam, no one wears anything remarkable on their belt.

Never seen anybody with a custom knife here. Most of the guys I've hunted with don't carry any knife on their belt but will have a factory folder of some type in a pocket.

I never had a custom knife until I met Beaver and usually carry a Spyderco Impala in my pocket.

Maybe it's just me, and the distance from where I hunt to a processor (not that I normally use them anyway), but it is absolutely baffling to me that some hunters don't gut/quarter their deer before taking it to a processor, and even more so that some don't even know how to do it.

I guess it's all in how you learned....and what you're comfortable with.

So true! I am usually no where near a vehicle and the times I have been I still have done gutless boned out. The responses on here always crack me up. Keep them coming!

I can't fathom why anyone would want to haul an deer with guts still in it, back to a camp to gut it.

I gut em where they drop. Or within a few yards of it anyway. Plan to 1/4 one up this fall...hopefully.

For the record, I never carry a knife on my belt, never have, they always reside in my pack. Hardly wear a belt, suspenders all the time

It depends on if it is morning or afternoon and how cold it is. In the morning I skin cut the meat off of them. Put them in a cooler under salted ice. Gut them to get the heart and tenderloins out. Afternoon And cold enough. I might gut and hang.

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just a question . do ya'll eat the liver & heart out of deer elk bear & prong horn ? i never been out west .

Nope. Some folks do

Nope, I don't eat internal organs....liver, heart, etc.

I’ll eat butthole waaaay before liver!! 🤣🤣

I never eat the organ meat, nor do any hunters I know.

I like the heart so will save it if it ain't blown to shyt. My gramps liked the liver so I'd save it for him when he was still alive. Since he died don't know anybody else who wants it so it gets left with the guts.

As long as the heart wasn't all fuggered up when I shot the deer I will save it and the liver.


Same w squirrel liver, never tried the hearts.