Going phesant hunting in the fall, what knife do you clean birds with?

I

I_Breathe_Steel

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I am going on a phesant hunting trip in the fall. I'm looking forward to it. I don't want to bloody up any of the knives I own though, soooo I will have to get a new knife. I really have no Idea what to get. I'm kind of asking for a recommendation but I'm also asking what you use and what your comfortable with.

Also, I've heard of people using folders for hunting? I don't understand why when you can easily clean a fixed blade where as I'm sure blood and guts into the lock, the pivot etc. I've been looking at getting a buck ranger folder, that short 110 with the finger grooves. So, those who use folders, is cleaning a big deal? I've heard of people just soaking it in hot soapy water after that drying and it's good as new. Is this how it is, or will I have to get the q-tips and tooth picks out and get to work afterwards? Thanks, IBS.
 
Bird and trout fixed blade, but most of it is done by hand. Chop off the head, outer wings, feet, and then reach in under the breast bone and pull out the giblets. De feather, wash and you are good to go. I think I would rather have a fixed blade that easily washed to do this. However, knives are tools, and they can be cleaned with soap and water. Afterwards, rinse thoroughly, blow out with air compressor, and then oil up. Good luck pheasant hunting and remember to watch for the dog, don't shoot the dog on a low flying bird. Better to miss the shot.
 
Hi,

Good slip-joint is all you need. I like my old Schrade 34OT. But I've used everything from a scalpel to an Old Hickory butcher's knife. It takes no great amount of knife to dress a bird.

Carry what you like. But small and light is what you want. There is often a lot of walking involved in hunting ditch chickens. So light gear and a minimal amount of it is the way to go. It all might seem light in the morning, but after 6 or so hours of following the dogs, everything weighs 4x's more than when you started.

dalee
 
the slim single blade trappers by queen or gec will cut the weight a little. folders have skinny blades that work well for birds, squirells & rabbits.small game doe'snt need a robust blade.dennis
 
we rarely use knives cleaning small birds like doves and pheasants. you can use your thumbs to split the breast skin open, dig in and rip out. if a knife is needed, just take a small one.
 
An upcoming hunting trip is an excellent pretext for buying a new knife: "But Honey, I needed this. You wanted me to hunt safely, didn't you?!"

Try to deliver this line with a straight face.:)
 
like already stated, you really dont need a knife to clean small birds. But I still take my schrade folder with me just in case
 
A gerber scissors. Cut off 1 leg, leaving one leg to identify the spur which indicates that it is a male. Cut off the wings, and head. Then cut up under the skin to over the breast. Peel off the skin, then gut. (If there are no spurs, and it has a blue head, leave the head attached to the body) The game wardens in Nebraska, are looking for females hard this year. I was told that they need to generate more income through fines this fall so game check points will be numerous state wide.
 
last season I used a swiss army knife.. or a mora.. for all my small game needs... they both worked great.. you only need the first few mm.s of the blade to clean a critter (as already stated) so gumming up a joint is a non issue.. and even so nothing a tooth brush and some elbow grease won;t get rid of.
 
CCU and RescueRiley, this post from early August got revived today for whatever reason and the OP has since been banned.
 
Seriously, I have used in previous seasons:

-Tomahawk
-Sebenza
-various SAK's
-Mora
-An old Ka-Bar
-Pareing knives
-Schrade Trapper

My fav was the small Sebenza.
 
I've got a Boker with a long thin clip point blade and a small hook for gutting purposes. Case sells a knife with a birdhook as they call it.

But I've been told again by my birdhunting friends to just step on the wings and pull.

Just be sure to adhere to your local game laws so you have what you need to proove species and gender to the GW.
 
Yeah there's not much in the way of knives that are really needed for fowl even turkeys.
 
Just about any pocket knife will work. If you get blood or tissue in the joint, wipe it off or clean it with water, dry it, and oil the joints. oh! and have fun hunting.
 
Posters 9 through 16 with the exception of Me, can you not read. The post is from early August got revived by someone else who can't read and the OP HAS BEEN BANNED BY MODERATORS. THAT MEANS HE IS NO LONGER PARTICIPATING OR READING, HE HAS BEEN BANNED.
 
Banned he be, BUT the information in this thread is still of interest to anyone who might be pheasant hunting (or other gamebirds also). I use game shears on birds to lop off the wings, then push my thumb into the body beneath the breasts and rip out the breast portion of the body. This method works great on smaller birds such as doves, but might not work too well on large birds such as pheasants.
 
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