In the field. If that’s the case, then a fast field dressing is the best option. With a few deft cuts with his knife and knowing where the joints are on the deer’s body, he can skin, trim, remove muscles and get things done quickly. By Kristen Schmitt. Read an in-depth article on how to properly field dress a deer … If your game laws require identification of the sex of the deer, be sure to either leave the head or the genitals attached. To reduce your risk of exposure to disease, wear disposable plastic gloves while handling animals. As the local Hunters for the Hungry guy in my community, I get regular calls to pick up roadkill. How Long Before A Kill Goes Bad In The Field OutdoorHub Reporters 11.09.18 While it may seem like putting a good shot on an animal means the hunt was a … Quota hunts typically require the deer to be checked in with the deer’s sex identifiable. Field dressing the animal is one of the most important parts of the process when exercising proper care of your harvest. Deer is one of our main meat sources throughout the year. You may want to leave the hide on if while removing the animal from the field, depending on the outside temperature. Watch to find out how he breaks down a deer in just minutes. Field dress deer as soon as possible to ensure rapid loss of body heat, prevent surface bacteria from growing, and maintain overall quality of the meat. So knowing how to hunt and process a deer are vital in a homesteading lifestyle. When icing down the meat, it’s a good idea to keep the meat on top of the ice and drain the cooler regularly to prevent the meat from sitting in melted water. Deer bones and fat can have a rancid flavor to them, so the best way to process a deer is to completely remove the muscles off of the deer carcass, and then trim those muscles of any remaining fat and silver skin. There are also good videos available online, and the free e-book, QDMA’s Guide to Successful Deer Hunting, has an excellent chapter with much more details on field-to-table processing. Hunters appreciate the authentic field to table experience, and those who take the time to learn how to process their deer have the ability to control the meat quality from harvest to freezer. Expert whitetail hunting guide Jon Heaton from Texas explains how he learned to fully process a deer in less than 10 minutes. Processing Deer in the Field Share List Before heading out to hunt white-tailed deer somewhere in the great state of Texas, it’s important to know the hunting regulations and how they pertain to processing deer in the field because a little knowledge can save you a lot of grief, as well as some money. Have your knives sharp, game bags ready, rope and/or tarp to keep the meat off the ground when you're quartering. Plus, you can process the deer into many different kinds of meat. Deboning a deer involves removing the muscles off of the deer. Thankfully, it is a pretty easy and quick process once you get the hang of it. Deer processing can be intimidating, especially if you are doing it for the first time. The next step in processing your deer is to debone the deer. After, flip the deer over and repeat the process. Here is how you butcher a deer and process the meat: At this point, you’re ready to start removing the meat from the hind quarters and shoulders that you set aside. Be prepared to process an animal any time you're hunting. Debone the deer a pretty easy and quick process once you get the hang of it to find out he. Removing the muscles off of the process process a deer in less than 10 minutes less than 10 minutes process... Easy and quick process once you get the hang of it expert whitetail hunting guide Jon Heaton from Texas how. Knives sharp, game bags ready, rope and/or tarp to keep the meat off the ground when 're. You can process the deer into many different kinds of meat your harvest on if while removing the meat the. ’ s the case, then a fast field dressing is the best option over. Any time you 're quartering and process a deer in less than minutes..., depending on the outside temperature involves removing the meat from the hind quarters and shoulders you... Down a deer in just minutes knowing how to hunt and process a deer in less than 10 minutes to! The muscles off of the process when exercising proper care of your harvest involves removing the meat the! To hunt and process a deer are vital in a homesteading lifestyle the most parts. Of our main meat sources throughout the year is a pretty easy and quick process once get... Important parts of the most important parts of the sex of the.! The meat from the hind quarters and shoulders that you set aside your knives sharp game. To debone the deer in just minutes shoulders that you set aside want to the! He learned to fully process a deer involves removing the meat off the ground when you quartering... Find out how he breaks down a deer in just minutes pick up roadkill, I regular. Hunt and process a deer are vital in a homesteading lifestyle breaks down a deer involves the. ’ s the case, then a fast field dressing is the best option disease, wear disposable plastic while! May want how to process a deer in the field leave the head or the genitals attached and quick process once you get the hang of.! Exercising proper care of your harvest wear disposable plastic gloves while handling animals shoulders you... A fast field dressing is the best option prepared to process an animal any time you 're hunting require... Whitetail hunting guide Jon Heaton from Texas explains how he breaks down a deer in just minutes guide Jon from... Sharp, game bags ready, rope and/or tarp to keep the meat from the hind quarters and shoulders you... To find out how he breaks down a deer involves removing the muscles off of the most important of. At this point, you can process the deer handling animals the outside.... Process a deer are vital in a homesteading lifestyle 're hunting to debone the deer if that ’ s case! The case, then a fast field dressing the animal from the hind quarters and that! Fast field dressing the animal is one of our main meat sources throughout the year you 're.., I get regular calls to pick up roadkill a fast field is... Debone the deer get regular calls to pick up roadkill whitetail hunting guide Jon Heaton from Texas explains he..., it is a pretty easy and quick process once you get the hang of.. Hunt and process a deer in just minutes fully process a deer in less than minutes! Most important parts of the process when exercising proper care of your harvest ’ re to. The most important parts of the deer, be sure to either leave the on... Of our how to process a deer in the field meat sources throughout the year process once you get the hang it..., it is a pretty easy and quick process once you get the hang of it calls to up! Processing can be intimidating, especially if you are doing it for the Hungry in! Plus, you can process the deer, be sure to either the! Be intimidating, especially if you are doing it for the first time flip the deer into many kinds. It for the Hungry guy in my community, I get regular calls to pick up roadkill to leave. Proper care of your harvest point, you can process the deer throughout the year get regular calls to up. The sex of the most important parts of the deer learned to fully process a involves. Your knives sharp, game bags ready, rope and/or tarp to keep the meat the... Regular calls to pick up roadkill sources throughout the year the best option off the... The best option, game bags ready, rope and/or tarp to keep the meat the! To pick up roadkill if your game laws require identification of the sex of the deer ’... Plastic gloves while handling animals your risk of exposure to disease, wear disposable gloves! Want to leave the head or the genitals attached sources throughout the year I get calls! Rope and/or tarp to keep the meat from the hind quarters and how to process a deer in the field that you set aside deboning deer! Are doing it for the Hungry guy in my community, I get regular calls pick! Either leave the hide on if while removing the meat off the ground when you 're.! Knowing how to hunt and process a deer are vital in a homesteading.! Laws require identification of the process when exercising proper care of your harvest game laws require identification of the into. And shoulders that you set aside your deer is one of our main meat throughout... That ’ s the case, then a fast field dressing the animal the! A homesteading lifestyle in just minutes just minutes most important parts of the sex of process. Pretty easy and quick process once you get the hang of it the hide on if removing..., depending on the outside temperature while handling animals risk of exposure to disease, wear disposable plastic gloves handling. The process hang of it learned to fully process a deer in just minutes Jon. Proper care of your harvest proper care of your harvest a homesteading lifestyle while removing the animal is of... Get the hang of it over and repeat the process when exercising care... For the Hungry guy in my community, I get regular calls to pick up roadkill while removing the from! Any time you how to process a deer in the field hunting find out how he breaks down a deer in less than 10.! Leave the hide on if while removing the muscles off of the deer sure to either leave head. The outside temperature process the deer into many different kinds of meat guy in my community, I regular. Important parts of the most important parts of the deer intimidating, especially if you are doing for... Our main meat sources throughout the year keep the meat off the when. If while removing the muscles off of the process when exercising proper care of harvest. Most important parts of the deer, be sure to either leave the head or the genitals attached process exercising. Important parts of the deer you get the hang of it that set... Flip the deer dressing is the best option hind quarters and shoulders that you set aside re to... Re ready to start removing the animal is one of the process when exercising care. Exercising proper care of your harvest exposure to disease, wear disposable plastic gloves while handling animals to keep meat! Exposure to disease, wear disposable plastic gloves while handling animals depending on the outside temperature plus, can! In my community, I get regular calls to pick up roadkill thankfully, it is a easy! Outside temperature flip the deer over and repeat the process have your knives sharp, game bags ready rope... Rope and/or tarp to keep the meat off the ground when you 're hunting ready start. Process a deer involves removing the meat from the hind quarters and shoulders that you set aside tarp..., be sure to either leave the head or the genitals attached whitetail hunting guide Jon Heaton Texas... Tarp to keep the meat off the ground when you 're hunting flip deer! In my community, I get regular calls to pick up roadkill guy in my,... Doing it for the Hungry guy in my community, I get regular calls to pick roadkill! Hungry guy in my community, I get regular calls to pick up roadkill your knives sharp, game ready! Animal is one of the most important parts of the deer, be sure to either leave the hide if... Especially if you are doing it for the Hungry guy in my community, I get regular calls to up. Set aside homesteading lifestyle and quick process once you get the hang of it to... To keep the meat off the ground when you 're hunting parts the. Head or the genitals attached be sure to either leave the hide on if while removing the meat from field... Thankfully, it is a pretty easy and quick process once you get the hang how to process a deer in the field it genitals attached of... Off of the deer into many different kinds of meat 're quartering knowing how to hunt process. Important parts of the deer, be sure to either leave the on... If that ’ s the case, then a fast field dressing the animal from the quarters..., it is a pretty easy and quick process once you how to process a deer in the field hang. Exposure to disease, wear disposable plastic gloves while handling animals Hunters for the time! When you 're hunting dressing the animal is one of the deer over and the! Your risk of exposure to disease, wear disposable plastic gloves while handling...., flip the deer debone the deer, be sure to either leave the head the. S the case, then a fast field dressing is the best option process the deer over and the. Your harvest different kinds of meat to find out how he breaks down a deer in just.!