Field dressing deer

D

dhunter

Joined
Jun 24, 2004
Messages
19
Hello all!

Ya'll don't know me, I'm mostly a lurker here. Got interested in HI on recommendation from Federico, who is a fellow Eskrima student. I've been trying to get in on the buying action that's been going on since Uncle Bill's passing, but I've been too slow! I'd like to grab a Kumar Karda, Sarge or something similar, or maybe a penknife if I feel particalarly well-to-do that given day.

Have any of you guys used a HI blade to field dress a deer? If so, what model and size would you recommend? I'm not what you would call an avid hunter (despite my name :cool: ), but I do on occasion like to go out and help thin the herd.
 
I've done some deer, but not yet with an HI blade. In my opinion the Kumar Karda, JKM-1 or Sarge would be very appropriate. Not sure about the Pen Knife. I like a bit of a point on my deer hunting knives and the Pen Knife doesn't have much of a point , but I bet I could get it done with that blade too. Coring the anus would be a bit more problematic with a Pen (use karda?). For that matter, any of the 12 inch khuks. would probably work. But, seek out any of the first three blades mentioned and you will likely be very happy. Regards,

Jeff
 
It's been a while since I field dressed a deer, and I never did it with a khukuri.

If I was reaching inside a body cavity cutting stuff I'd want something a little smaller than a khukuri. This I think is where a good karda would come into its own.

A 6" or 7" karda I think would do great for the interior work and the fine cutting.

(added in edit) Oh, I see you were asking about some of the smaller knives and not necessarrily khukuris. I think any of the smaller knives would do. I might take a boning knife with a thin blade if I knew I was boing to be dressing and/or butchering a deer. Of course, some people hammer their knives through breastbone and pelvis. A HI should stand up to that.
 
Thanks for the link Kismet. Sconny has got to be the whitetail capital of the world!

Thanks for the reply, Jeff. When I mentioned the penknife, I wasn't thinking of it in terms of dressing a deer, although I guess my post made it sound that way. I've been interested in a penknife as a camping implement. If you're familiar with Minnesota's Boundary Waters area, that's where I'd take it.

The smaller, less expensive blades got my eye recently, mostly because a) I'd like to make a purchase, in light of recent happenings, and b) they fit my budget right now. The deer dressing thing came to mind when I tried to envision a use for one them.

Dave
 
In a light deer camp...I'd be happy with both a Sarge (for deer and general small knife use) and a Pen for light chopping and other such use.

I think you have it covered...

.
 
I'd think the 12" AK or Sirupate excellent choices. The bend would be neat come skinning time.
I'd think the Pen a little deep in the belly, no pun intended, to zip open the cavity as well, though of course it can do the job easily enough. That Pen is so wide and fat, there are other things it might do better. Scraping is a simple task but most knives can't because they were made to cut, not wedge or scrape. Hmmm. Bet the Pen would help prepare the hide, for those who save them.



munk
 
Hey Deerhunter,

Welcome...sorry if things are bit slow in responding around here, but the forum just lost two of its cornerstones, and the place is a little shakey.

Any knife can be used for dressing a deer; generally, smaller knives work better, i.e. Sarge, JKM, Kumar Karda---hell anything, really. For all our preferences, a pocketknife has probably dressed out more deer than any "hunting" blade. :-)

For camp use, I like a 12in AK, others prefer the PenKnife, some like a 15in blade for such...mostly it is you who decides what works.

There is almost a geometric progression in the size of the blades, so a 15in is a MUCH bigger, more effective chopper; an 18 in even more so.

At the top of the forum screen you will see Frequently asked Questions FAQ, look for Pendentive's (Dan Koster's) cad-cam comparison of the blade shapes and types. This can be a start for you.

Don't be reluctant to ask, folks will chime in as they can. As it happens, we have a fair number of folks with opinions.

I hope you find what you seek.
 
I generally use a puuko for a dressing knife. It'll do a good job of most of it. I don't split the breast or tail bone's so a heavy knife isn't required. I have done it with a 12 inch Sirupti, but I don't recommend it, hard to manuever for a clean dressing, at least in my opinion.
 
I don't know what kind of dressing "field dressing "is , it doesn't sound too much like french or ranch dresing, the ingredience just don't sound too apetizing , (cored anus?) , just can't be that good..... no matter what else you blend in with it.... :rolleyes:
 
I agree with Thomas. (as often is the case) If the event later in the evening is formal, it will not make a spectacle, and of course for most daily endeavors it is quite suited. A Kilt would be even better, with the correct pattern for the family's history.



munk
 
Cliff:

Good description of the skinning, I believe I've seen that or a similar method before. A few years ago, I won the big buck contest at Hackensack, and got a free mount. We took the deer to the taxidermist, and he did the most remarkable job of removing the head and cape, and skinning. Clean and quick as can be.

I hunt on public land between Walker and Hackensack, but only very occasionally. My bud that lives in Walker is a real busy guy, and when he gets out to hunt it's usually a last minute thing. I trust him completely, and won't hunt with anybody else. Frankly, I'm not the most experienced fella in the woods, he knows this, and we work together really well.
 
The most important and necessary tool used for sectioning and separating
deer and pig and goat carcasses was a pair of lopping shears.

After skinning the carcass and removing the guts the lopping shears made the remaining work a real piece of cake.

There's a bunch of various shaped skinning and deboning knives available but the lopping shears cut through bones like a knife through butter. :)

http://www.forestry-suppliers.com/drilldown_pages/view_category.asp?ID=211
 
Had a friend who went up to a deer camp one year. They tried the car-pulling-of-the-hide technique.

Decapitated the deer.

He said: "Not pretty."

One presumes they did it incorrectly.
 
cliff355 said:
You are up in the rifle zone then. /QUOTE]

That changes everything. I'd go with neon orange. :cool:

(Sorry, Munk. I know that will shock your innate sense of good taste, but we gotta be practical in this thread.)
Click to expand...
 
Other than private land, is there anyplace you don't wear Orange while hunting?



munk
 
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