Looking for a new Deer/Elk knife? Under $250

+1 for Arkansas Made Dozier. The standard models are right at your price point and worth every penny. The performance you get with a well made custom makes a significant difference and allows you to count on them when you really need it.

The hardest thing about Dozier's knives is availability, as the wait directly from the shop is over three years now. Good news is there are several great patterns available right now from several different sources, but if you want one don't hesitate.

After a lot of trial and error here's one I'd recommend, the K-2 General Purpose. It combines a practical length blade, D2 steel, bead blasted Micarta scales and Dozier's great horizontal Kydex sheath. The combination of the bead blasted finish and the single finger groove really provides a great purchase even when it gets bloody.

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At well under half your budget - Hess Hunter. 1095 blade from GEC.
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Even less - Grohmann Canadian Belt Knife. Stainless.
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Bark River Knifes has a lot that will fit your budget. I have never owned a dozier but everyone raves about them..
 
Spyderco Bill Moran, a classic blade from a classic knife maker. This is my hunting knife of choice because the ergonomics are excellent and I like the light weight and VG-10 drop point blade. Here a few videos that may be of interest to you.


I also like the Bradley Bowie.


You don't need a huge and heavy fixed blade to field dress elk, deer, etc.

 
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There are a huge number of choices available under $300 from good factory knives to semi custom/handmade to handmade knives. The question posed earlier is significant to the choices made.... do you want to burn your entire $250 budget or is that just the top limit? Do you want a more general purpose woods knife that can be used for hunting tasks or hunting specific uses?

I suspect the answer is that you want a better than average knife but would like to spend as little as possible.

In the $100 area, I like the Spyderco Moran for a hunting knife. It's in VG-10 and certainly not a top steel choice these days. But it works very well. It is a very functional knife and would easily last a typical day in the woods/afield without the need for sharpening. The Hess (Hunter and Whitetail models) mentioned earlier would do that as well and probably be a bit stronger. The Buck Vanguard 192 is a classic choice with the Cabela's Alaskan Guide series running a bit over $100 in S30V. These are all capable knives at half your budget.

I have sort of run the gambit on these kinds of knives as they tend to be one of my favorite sizes and blade shape. I just like knives.... Again, if I had it to do over again, I would simply get the Dozier if you want to be done with it. But I'm never done and I'd probably be looking at something else in a couple years regardless. You don't need a big knife for whitetails or elk chores or skinning. In fact, big knives get in the way although you can certainly do all of the needed tasks with a larger blade up to 6". It becomes a personal preference thing and what you intend to do with the knife beyond field dressing or kill site tasks on wild game. I generally want something smaller for hunting and larger for general woods duty.

All this said, I often handled whitetail hunting chores with a traditional knife (slip joint) or the Schrade 250T (another folder). Even used my old Gerber Gator folder. I would be very comfortable with the Buck 110 type folder for elk chores. I lean toward a fixed blade with elk but I'm no elk hunter.
 
I've used a Buck 105 since I was a teenager. It's not the latest or coolest, but it has worked for years.
 
bobshoy said:
What are your thoughts on the bush vs. pack knife? 3.25" s35vn pack knife or the 3.6" s30v bush.

I myself have the Chris Reeve Nyala and I love it. It's awesome.
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Well, if you find you need the extra length, the Bush is essentially the same knife as the Pack, just larger. The Bush will be closer to the length of your Nyala, if that length suits you.

The Sendero Pack Knife is just the Bush scaled down 10%. Fisk found that his wife liked the Bush Knife, but thought it was a bit large for her. So he built one scaled back 10% and called it the Sendero Pack. White River Knives liked it so much they added it to the lineup.

Fisk liked it so much he decided to use the Pack for his main field knife. I thought that was a decent endorsement.

Myself, I don't need much more than three inches for my hunting knife.
 
I agree with the comments about the size of a decent hunting knife. You don't have to go Jim Bowie. If you have to completely quarter the game then bring a bone saw, don't use a knife.

 
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