Thread: Back leg butchery

Originally Posted by Northlandnewbie

Is that Tangihua mate?

Yep, seems to be a few more animals about now, not sure why. You have to put in some hard yards to find them though.

I have thought about this some more....its eggzachary the same cutting no matter what four legged critter other than wallabies,they are just weird.
rabbits n hares are the same as goats n deers...practice on some of the small stuff and you will work it out quicksmartly.

Rabbits are straightforward because 1) they can be held in one hand, 2) you can skin them with one strong pull of the skin and 3) you can dislocate the ball joint on the back legs with minimum force and cut around the pelvic bones easily. But, yes, I agree, the principles are the same for any four legged animal. I do exactly the same with rabbits, hares, pigs, goats and deer.

what Im suggesting is try to be a bit more pedantic with hare/rabbit and you will see whats needed for deer...and dont skin it first if want to work out the skin bit LOL.
BALL JOINT just as easy on deer...if its on its back gravity helps to flop legs outwards....

Originally Posted by MB

Cheers for the replies. Maybe I came across a little more clueless than I actually am! It's just a question of speed. I do think hanging animals gives an advantage, not least because you're working upright instead of bent over or on your knees, but I can't get larger animals high enough off the ground. Yes to gutless method. Shoulders are easy. I can see the sense in leaving the skin on until back legs are removed. Again, if anyone has a video link, I'd love to see it.

Same....often wished someone had developed a really lightweight block/pulley system for doing just that. Would make life so much easier.

Originally Posted by Maxx

Same....often wished someone had developed a really lightweight block/pulley system for doing just that. Would make life so much easier.

I did actually make one and carried it around for a while. Didn't cost too much to put together. In the end, I decided it was just another bit of unnecessary shit to carry round the bush. Still take it on farm hunts though.

I was up there Sunday. Bloody dry at the mo.

As thar said. Hanging is a pain in the proverbial imo. It so easy to do on ground. Skin on leave the meat to be done perfectly. Skin off always has the meat kind of sweaty. The cut face can be a bit grubby if your not careful with how dusty it is in there but doesn't matter as its easily trimmed out. Which end you hitting?

Originally Posted by Cowboy

Which end you hitting?

Both, but haven't been to the north side for quite a while. Agree, very dry. Been finding it a lot easier to hunt on wet/windy days re: noise.

Not to derail the thread completely but any tips for tangihua first in the morning or direction etc? Went in to houtu last weekend for a look around but no joy there. Was awfully dry under foot though and I’m a complete novice too.

Originally Posted by Northlandnewbie

Not to derail the thread completely but any tips for tangihua first in the morning or direction etc? Went in to houtu last weekend for a look around but no joy there. Was awfully dry under foot though and I’m a complete novice too.

Wait for heavy rain.

Serious about the rain: https://www.nzhuntingandshooting.co....eferrerid=5816

Also, Northland bush is much harder to hunt than anywhere else in the country I've been, so you've set yourself a hard task, especially as a begginer.

if you're not getting bone taint, getting stuck in the dark after starting the butchery at 12 noon then I wouldn't be too bothered. Lot's of fellas here have done hundreds where as you and I are pretty green.

I make a hash of it sometimes but still get just about all the good bits off.

Originally Posted by MB

Serious about the rain: https://www.nzhuntingandshooting.co....eferrerid=5816

Also, Northland bush is much harder to hunt than anywhere else in the country I've been, so you've set yourself a hard task, especially as a begginer.

Makes sense I was thinking the same thing with heading out after or during heavy rain as the floor was so bloody noisy. Hoping to get to deer country but change in workload is putting a lid on that so trying to get some local experience first.

Like a few have said, i take the back steaks first and let cool, then take a back leg off on the ground and hang in tree , skin, then take off in its cuts and let cool on a pillow case.
Then repeat with other leg then depending on where shot , how big the animal, what i want etc either take shoudlers off and do the same or just skin off on ground and take chucks of meat off.

Normally im too far back to bother trying to carry out whole and too old for that crap now anyway. Normally ends up hair free and all the prime cuts.

Best thing you can do is get out there and try. I've seen them from the track alot.

One big thing to. Think about who could be on that bluff if shooting across the valleys.
I like to get in close training my dog (who's black  like a goat). I scramble round in the steep stuff and I'm very nervous of some of the shooting in there.
Also the goats live in in pretty worn down territories. You can move around well and truly quiet enough. Goats are noisy. They're going to assume it's one of them until they get a good look or a whiff.