A Deer Hunter's UDT Knife ??

P

phlatinum

Joined
Dec 8, 2001
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By "UDT", I mean "Under Da Tail".

I will apologize ahead of time in case some find this subject unfit for polite conversation. I expect that many here know what I'm getting at, though, and can relate.
It's a minor problem, to be sure, but one that has been bugging me for a long time, and could easily be eliminated. Maybe.

I think most of us hunters take some pride in doing a neat job of field dressing our deer, and other game, for that matter. In the past, I've only carried one knife at a time while deer hunting. In all cases, the knife carried has done a fine job, for the most part, exept for that "UDT" area. I nearly always find myself wishing that I had another special tool for this operation .... narrower, longer, and thinner, perhaps (?). On the other hand, I'm also always looking for ways to lighten my pack, since I am primarily a still hunter, and an aging one at that. Adding such luxuries as a bunghole dagger just goes against the grain, but still .... I'm tempted. Or should I be looking for a single "compromise" knife that is sorta kinda pretty decent all the way around? What do you folks do? (Or am I being too anal about the hole thing?) :o
Sorry about that.
 
I carry a 6" fillet knife (wal-mart special) in my day pack for that very purpose. Works great, only weighs a little, low cost.
 
A buddy of mine carries a CRKT Stiff KISS for that. Skeletonized handle, chisel ground blade. Easy clean-up, light, and cheap.

I carry 4 blades in with me when I got hunting. Probably the reason I haven't gotten a deer this year; I clank when I walk. :rolleyes: Thinking about it, though... long and thin, sharp... Sounds like a Griffith Sniper to me.
 
one2gofst,

I don't have a strong preference (fixed or folder), as long as it is:

1) Great lookin'.
2) Well suited to the task/tasks.
3) Of good quality construction (safe & durable).
4) Of a design that affords good control even with wet, cold hands.
5) of not more than moderate weight.
6) Of moderate cost.

I will admit that I have a special fondness for fixed blades and natural materials, though neither is an absolute "must have", by any means.

And .... I'm just as interested to find out if this is even an issue with other hunters, and if so, how they've dealt with it. Thanks.
 
Holy **** !! Gotta learn to type with more than 2 fingers .... gettin' way behind here. Thanks a ton for the responses. I will be researching your recommendations & will get back to you all. Cheers!
 
i have been using the talonite Talon for that very purpose...
pefect blade length to "get right in there" and do a nice clean job...i too was looking for a blade to do just that, and i think i found IMHO one of the best field dressing,skinning knives out there...just wont quit!:) gotta love that Talonite
 
a neilblackwood small game works perfect for delicate work.after my sons tried this little knife on the last deer of season both told me I had lost this knife because it worked so well.it not only dressed the deer I used it to bone out the shoulders and hams and sliced the tenderloin and it was still going strong. gailt
 
Given the use, I'm not sure I'd vote for a folder. You want it to be really easy to very thoroughly clean. That would rule out a folder IMO.

Then again, I second the suggestion for a cheapo Wally-World special fillet knife for this kind of thing, so what do I know.

-- PG
 
Your looking for a traditional Bird and Trout knife. I had one made up custom because I didn't like what's out there. The KaBar Lil Finn fits the pattern perfectly, but I didn't like the fit and finish on it
 
Dozier Slim Outdoorsman jig bone handle and D-2 Steel, works for me. I bought mine from knifeart.com, but AG Russell also has them. Bob Dozier hisself also might have them in stock. This is also a great knife for small game. The only thing I cop out on though is I use a super light gerber folding saw I have with me anyway, to cut the breast bone in half. I see no reason to drive my knife through it, but the knife could handle it. I have the saw for trimming brush from near my stand anyway. Cheapest option would be the Walmart Folding Fillet knife. They cant weigh that much either.
 
Know what you mean brother!That is the one area I always had the most trouble with.I now use a case trapper,long thin and sharp.keep it sharp take your time,and you and your butcher will be happy.:D
 
Originally posted by rockspyder
I carry 4 blades in with me when I go hunting. Probably the reason I haven't gotten a deer this year; I clank when I walk.
Click to expand...
:D :D :D I think you have the right attitude, rockspyder. My new goal is to load up on great knives and clank around the woods with a big grin on my face! If the deer don't cooperate, I'll whittle.

Thanks to all for your suggestions and advice. I've gone places on the web that I've never been before, checking out all these knives, and it was fun. Everyone has their own preferences in these matters, and my conclusions from this little exercise may be in error, but I will be better equipped next season (knife-wise) than ever before.

I believe that several of the knives mentioned here would be better all-around deer knives than any that I've been carrying, if I were to continue to carry just one knife into the woods. I'm thinking here of the A.G. Russell Deer Knife, the Fallkniven F2, the talonite Talon, the Dosiers and the Blackwoods. (Remind me to call Mr. Blackwood, soon!) :cool:

It's obvious to me now that I should be carrying TWO knives. I will keep my regulation-sized deer knife, (or ... preferably a new Neil Blackwood version) but will add a skinny, longish, lightweight "U.D.T." knife to my pack. I haven't seen the U.D.T. of my dreams yet, but I'm sure that a 4.5 or 5 inch fixed blade fillet knife with a nice "grippy" handle would do quite well. Like a couple of you said ... they only weigh 2 or 3 ounces! I should be able to make up for the added weight in the pack by skipping just a few doughnuts between now and the season opener.

Btw, I rejected the Griffith Sniper for lack of reach. Same for the Stiff Kiss, plus for it's c-c-c-c-c-cold metal handle. The Case slip joint looks too short and slippery, and would make me a little nervous while pokin' around in there, frustrated as I sometimes get during that part of the job. They are available in a nice bright yellow, though, and thus less likely to be left there in the snow! (I've done that, and some other unbelievably dumb things.) Of course, your mileage may vary. Thanks for the help.
 
I always check around any gut pile I see for left behind equipment,knives, watches ect.:) Found 2 knives over the years,both returned to the owners(know most guys who hunt this farm).
 
Lone Hunter ... I hunt on public land, but have also developed the same habit of checking around the piles. Once, I left a watch hanging in a tree ... luckily it was still there when I went hunting for it the next morning. I'm guessing that, collectively, dummies like me leave a ton of stuff in the woods every year. Of course, I've never FOUND anything at a gutpile. (Nothing that I'd put in my pocket, anyway!) :D
 
I just got one of these and did four squirrels with it this morning. I have not tried it on deer yet but would seem to work very well for the uhhhh . . . "rectal exam" part of the field dressing. Would not split the ribcage but has a small, thin, sharp blade and just the right amount of handle. $20 for the knife and the leather hip pocket sheath . . . great deal IMHO
 
Originally posted by Mike990
Dozier Slim Outdoorsman jig bone handle and D-2 Steel, works for me.
Click to expand...

That was the first knife that crossed my mind also (K-7, Slim Outdoorsman)

Dozier has a number of knives that would fit the bill however... see all of these:

www.dozierknives.com
K-7 Slim Outdoorsman
K-1 General Utility
K-4 Straight Hunter
K-8 semi-skinner

The K-7 and K-8 are the slimmest, which fits my idea of what you were asking for there around the old cloaca. Bob could make either 1/4" or 3/8" longer if you thought that would fit the bill.

The K-8 semi-skinner is a nifty little knife, and is slim, but a bit short perhaps for your request. I own the K-8, but also asked Bob to build me a knife on that pattern but 3-3/4" long (vs. 3" for the standard K-8), the same blade height (same slim-ness). It is pretty much a do-it-all game knife for anything up to whitetail and muley, since it has enough point for most things, enough belly for skinning, and is indeed slim enough for the butt work. Best candidate for "carry one knife" I can think of. If you are weight conscious, ask him to drill a couple holes in the full tang before he does the heat treat and handle slabs. Sorry, but my knife habit is so bad I just haven't saved enough pennies to get a digital camera. That's gotta change soon.

Dozier would charge you about an extra $20 to take the K-8 longer by 1/2" to 3/4". And the wait is a couple to maybe 4 months, ballpark.
 
Yeah, Neil Blackwood. Good idea. I own a medium hunter in Talonite, very nice knife. Blade is 3-3/4" to 4" depending on how you measure it. Very comfortable, sculpted handle. The "medium" is a little bigger than what you want for your request I think.

Neil's small probably fits the bill. Also the small game (no real belly on that one though).

http://www.blackwoodknives.com/knives.htm

3.5" on the small hunter is about right. Maybe ask him to knock an 1/8" or 3/16" off overall height of that knife.

Sketch out what you want and ask him for a quote to build it in S30V at Rc61. Good idea. That'll take you past $200, but would be worth it IMHO vs. D2.
 
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