Field dressing - break the pelvis or no?

[Hedgelj]

My brother and I were debating this.

When I field dress i use 3 knives. A normal knife for most of the work, a gut hook that uses razor blades and a bone saw for the ribs and pelvis.

Unless it's a buck with trophy plans I will saw the whole breast bone open to make it easy to get all the chest organs out.

I also saw through the pelvis. I feel it makes getting the last bits of the intestine out and for making a really clean field dressed deer. Yes it takes a little longer and yes i have to watch out not to puncture the bladder but the end result is worth it to me.

My brother doesn't do that and takes care of it at night when we're skinning them. He cuts out the asshole (not Dustin) and pulls it through.

He doesn't like the fact of if you cut the pelvis and have to drag any amount of distance the legs can flop and you're dragging some of your biggest cuts in the dirt. I carry a small roll of duct tape or zip ties to secure and also have them for my temporary tag so it's not any extra stuff imo.

Thoughts? preferences? ideas?

 

[Hedgelj]

My Dad taught us both how to field dress initially probably almost 30 years ago. He hasn't had to do one in at least 5-10 years because my brother and i are faster than he is.

He makes this joke about it.

Mine looks like a surgeon did it and it's nice and clean afterwards, your brother's looks like some back alley abortion clinic did it.

 

[giles]

I just get the weight out of them in the field. Sawzall does the rest.

 

[Jamie]

Split the pelvis. Pelvis saw is cheap, effective, and works just as well on the sternum.

 

[Sgt Fury]

I have a knife, a saw and a gut hook in my field dressing kit. After gutting, I’ll saw the rib cage to make it easier to get out the heart/lungs like you do…unless I’m getting it mounted. I don’t saw through the pelvis but do cut out the asshole (not Dustin) and pull it through. So basically I do everything that you do except sawing through the pelvis.

 

[jagermeister]

When done correctly, there’s no reason to split the pelvis when field dressing a deer. Same can be said for splitting the sternum. All you’re doing is creating a situation that invites more potential contamination of the carcass… ie catching debris. I have seen literally thousands of deer come through the doors at a deer processor. I can tell you with absolute certainty that the deer that are opened up as minimally as possible to get the job done are, overall, in the best condition when they arrive. IMO splitting the pelvic bone and the sternum is an old school method. My dad taught to me also. But it’s unnecessary and outdated.

Let’s say you did leave behind some unpleasant “tidbits” within the pelvic cavity. What would that hurt? You’re not scraping meat from inside the pelvis and throwing into your grind pile.

 

[Maxxis31]

Agreed, if done correctly no need to split pelvic or sternum, I carry one knife, ol reliable for 38 years is the Old Timer,

 

[Mike]

I'm a minimalist when it comes to field dressing. I agree with JB.

 

[giles]

I generally gut with my pocket knife. It is a tool I use every day and I am very comfortable using it. No need to carry a bunch of extras to the field. All the final things can get handled with a garden hose next to me at the house.

 

[jagermeister]

One thing I’ll add, as Dave eluded to, it IS important to open up the pelvis (or at least cut down to the bone) and spread the hind legs apart when you get the deer home… especially if you’re not processing right away and the weather is mild. The inside of the hind legs are the first area to spoil if you leave the legs closed.

 

[Smawgunner2]

I split it. I don’t use a saw on the sternum though, I just grip it and rip it with my knife. Probably doesn’t help keep it sharp but…

 

[Bowhunter57]

I don't split the pelvis and only split the rib cage, if I'm not getting it mounted. I have 2 knives. One for field dressing that has a gut hook and I do 98% of the work with it. The second knife is a 8" bladed fillet knife that I use to cut around the asshole (I don't know who Dustin is ) and then pull it through with the rest of the guts and out onto the ground.

My hunting buddy does it almost the same way, but uses one of those orange plastic "butt out" plugs, which seems to work well. After seeing it used, I had visions of using it on a supervisor, but never had the chance before he was fired.

 

[Shoot-straight]

Break the pelvis. Way cleaner. This is my combo that gets it done.

 

[Hedgelj]

If I'm dragging the deer very far i don't do much to the sternum. I'll also make the call about the pelvis but normally i can get a side by side almost anywhere on the farm with a minimal drag so i do because i prefer how clean it gets everything.

 

[Jamie]

When done correctly, there’s no reason to split the pelvis when field dressing a deer. Same can be said for splitting the sternum. All you’re doing is creating a situation that invites more potential contamination of the carcass… ie catching debris. I have seen literally thousands of deer come through the doors at a deer processor. I can tell you with absolute certainty that the deer that are opened up as minimally as possible to get the job done are, overall, in the best condition when they arrive. IMO splitting the pelvic bone and the sternum is an old school method. My dad taught to me also. But it’s unnecessary and outdated.

Let’s say you did leave behind some unpleasant “tidbits” within the pelvic cavity. What would that hurt? You’re not scraping meat from inside the pelvis and throwing into your grind pile.

How is it worse to collect some leaves, twigs, grass or dirt than leaving behind those “tidbits”? Like you said, we aren’t scraping food off of the inside of the carcass in either case. I’m removing ALL the guts, and especially the asshole before I move deer an inch. For me, splitting the pelvis and the sternum makes this easier and quicker and less messy. To each his own. Some people still hang a deer by its neck to skin and butcher, which I’ll never understand.

 

[5Cent]

I leave both bones intact until processing. The field dress process starts with the butt out tool, to unzipping, then removing diaphragm, reach up and grab windpipe as far in as possible and pull it all out. Keep it simple.

 

[Bowkills]

I dont split it just because i havnt bought a tool to do it. I open it up go 2 to 3inches up the ribs to get hands up in it a bit easier take the heart. cut the diapharm down on each side. Perform surgery around the pelvis . Once loose go up to the wind pipe and mane vein or whatever holds everything together cut it and it all falls out neck to pooper. I just use a pocket knife dull it up going into the ribs a bit but it works. Im slow and take my time but nothing gets popped. Splitting the bone would be much easier.

 

[RedCloud]

I don't break the pelvic bone. I cut through as little bone as possible. No need to add bone morrow into your cuts of meat. Makes for some funny tastes sometimes. I actually use a filet knife and cut around the bunghole and then take the knife up to cut it free of the pelvic area. Then when I pull the guts out everything comes out with it. I'll take my regular knife and just cut the ribs off the sternum just high enough to reach up and cut the trachea. Pull the trachea and cut the little things that hold it all in as you pull down.

Trachea, lungs, heart, liver, guts, and poop shoot all in one fell swoop and in one big pile.

 

[GoetsTalon]

Always take the ass out. Have a little saw just for the job. Why leave it in? Just because most have them in at the processor tells me that a lot of people don't know what the fuck they are doing. The reason it's at the processor in the first place.

 

[Mike]

Just to clarify, everything comes out including the butt. I just don't split the pelvis.