Thread: Gutless butchery and skinning

Everyone has their way. This guy does it well. It's easy to criticise but I think he did good. He got those back hocks off better than I do sometimes and Ive done a few. Still miss the joint from time to time.

Im glad I didn't have to carry that thing out. I think most of us would have gone the next step and boned it out on the spot.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mxhCGJMKZ1o

Good Vid, yep shooting it is the fun part,then the real work starts.

Very similar to how I have done most of the animals I've shot. Normally legs off first with skin on, roll onto belly, peel skin off back and remove backsteaks. It's nice if a tree is handy to skin and bone the legs.

The hocks can be tricky alright, usually a bit lower than most people think.

Thanks @Tahr I’m always keen to see how others process an animal. The last one I did we pulled it up into a tree but it was a lot of effort. I like how he did it.

He recovers more meat than I typically do and like him usually I'm carrying my meat out on my back. But I'm older than that hunter so I will use that as an excuse.
I am used to taking legs with skin on. Might try skinning them first next time like he does.
I can understand why he goes to the trouble of taking all the meat he did. I've eaten Elk several times in the USA in different places. Damn, it's excellent fare. Would eat it again anytime. Still, my all time favourite is Moose. Unbeatable I reckon.

Good video thanks Tahr.

That was a big cow and lot of meat harvested.

70 per cent of deer meat in hind legs. Front legs for dog meat. Back legs and back steaks off . Gone.

That was a great watch, definitely learnt quite a lot from that vid thanks.

What do you gents usually do with pigs? Similar situation or gutting it and carrying the carcass out?

Originally Posted by Tahr

Everyone has their way. This guy does it well. It's easy to criticise but I think he did good. He got those back hocks off better than I do sometimes and Ive done a few. Still miss the joint from time to time.

Im glad I didn't have to carry that thing out. I think most of us would have gone the next step and boned it out on the spot.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mxhCGJMKZ1o

Good video, thank you Bruce.

It's a bit easier to see exactly where the hocks are when the skin is off, but every time I've got it wrong I've been too high up the leg.

Great video.the funny thing is that for last fourty years I have done it pretty much the same way but gutted animal first..... He shows the fiddly bits very well,took ages to suss them out by trial and error. Thanks for posting link,it's great.

Originally Posted by Micky Duck

Great video.the funny thing is that for last fourty years I have done it pretty much the same way but gutted animal first..... He shows the fiddly bits very well,took ages to suss them out by trial and error. Thanks for posting link,it's great.

Why do people gut animals just to cut all the meat off the outside? Stop doing that time wasting exercise now. Unless you think the animal may be diseased in some way and want to check liver etc.

Yeah yeah mate..now move over a bit so I can get to carcase to get some more meat off...don't chuck that heart away and don't forget I want the eye fillets too. What do you mean that bits too bruised?? Fussy Hua you lol

Originally Posted by Micky Duck

Yeah yeah mate..now move over a bit so I can get to carcase to get some more meat off...don't chuck that heart away and don't forget I want the eye fillets too. What do you mean that bits too bruised?? Fussy Hua you lol

I've tried hanging deer, gutting deer etc, and keep returning to the gutless method. Find it efficient and clean. Do one side at a time. Take the back steaks then all legs (skin on) off to hang in a nearby tree to cool down while processing. Bone out after. You can remove the eye fillets by feeling under the backbone and carefully working the blade AWAY from yourself against the underside of the backbone, using your fingers below to hold the gut at bay. It's a little tricky to learn, but once you've got it down, it's all good.

Originally Posted by Ross Nolan

Good video, thank you Bruce.

It's a bit easier to see exactly where the hocks are when the skin is off, but every time I've got it wrong I've been too high up the leg.

I never have a problem with sheep, but do with deer sometimes (err, quite often). Even after all Ive done.

Pigs are same....I get sheep n goats everytime.pigs I miss easy spot every so often...the mind thinks sheep hock lol