I have noticed one huge hole in the things I have learned and that is my ability to clean deer, squirrel, rabbit and so on. I have seen it done by my uncles a couple times when I was a kid but I have never done it myself hands on. Does anyone know anywhere to learn and actually see in person how to clean an animal for food gathering and the proper way to save items like the skin/fur or other useful items? Any info is appreciated.
best coyote call there is.
That is my experience as well... I don't squirrel hunt anymore. Too much work cleaning one for so little meat.
Rabbits are a lot of work too, but not terrible if you just take the back-straps and the hind quarters. That way all you have to do is peel the skin off from the front quarters back.
IMHO, larger game is a lot easier to dress/butcher because it's not a small/delicate operation. You can pull the skin a lot harder without tearing it, and the meat cuts are a lot bigger.
Post a location and I'm sure you'll find somebody with an offer to help out. I think I'm pretty far south of you. But I would offer it up next time I butcher. Unfortunately that will probably be next fall/winter.
Very interested in the turtles. As I recall from my grandfather, after you kill them, you should remove the head and hang them for several days until the heart stops beating? I think he once told me that this is because the blood in the turtle was what made it taste so horrible? Any other info or corrections you can offer to this would really be appreciated.I have the Foxfire books 1 through 6, great books. Squirrels are a little easier to skin the sooner you do it after they die. I carry freeer baggies with me and skin them as soon as possible.
I was fortunate to have grown up with two great grandfathers that taught me alot. One was a butcher by trade and with him I learned how to butcher cows and pigs. My other grandfather was the outdoorsman and loved to eat anything wild. He taught me how to clean fish, rabbits, squirrels and other game. He had a fondness for turtle meat so I was able to help him butcher a few turtles. If it walks, crawls, swims, or flys I can get the meat out of it. If you live up in Northern Indian and are unable to take E5RANGER375 up on his offer I would also be willing to go out hunting with you.
The contamination issue is why I always keep wire twist ties in my pack They work great to close off the intestines and urethra before cutting....I rememeber seeing my uncles skin squirrels and rabbits from when I was around 8 or 9yrs old. Also, I seen it by a buddies day when I was a teenager but really don't know the proper way. From what I can tell the big thing is to avoid cutting into the stomach or intestines so not to contaminate the meat. Youtube has some pretty good videos on dressing a deer and I already learned some things I would have never noticed.
More than that I want to learn how the Europeans turn gutpiles into edible (huge assumption here) dishes. Seriously, I read about what parts the Europeans eat and it's all the stuff we leave behind.
The contamination issue is why I always keep wire twist ties in my pack They work great to close off the intestines and urethra before cutting....
When making the "gut cut" approach the "hole" area slowly, tie it off, then cut around it and remove. I've always been a fan of cleaning small game as soon as I retrieve it, just like big game. This is known as "field dressing", whereas the actual processing/butchering is left for later with big game and usually not required of small game. You really should remove the innards as soon as possible with anything you intend to eat. Avoid getting urine and feces (or stomach contents for that matter) on ANY part of the animal at all cost.So you tie off the line instead of just cutting and pulling. Also, what kind of timeline do you have on rabbit and squirrel to get them gutted compared to a deer or other large animals?
Didn't check message in reply.. again .Good humor...Are your cleaning or dressing out for butchering if cleaning harts dog shampoo works wonders, if dressing and butchering three is a verity of books out there, I have the firefox books 1 though 3 , they show how to butcher a hog in them and most animals have the same parts, although the hide comes off with different Resistance, A rabbit will fall out of its skin a sqirrel will need to be pried from its skin
So you tie off the line instead of just cutting and pulling. Also, what kind of timeline do you have on rabbit and squirrel to get them gutted compared to a deer or other large animals?
When making the "gut cut" approach the "hole" area slowly, tie it off, then cut around it and remove. I've always been a fan of cleaning small game as soon as I retrieve it, just like big game. This is known as "field dressing", whereas the actual processing/butchering is left for later with big game and usually not required of small game. You really should remove the innards as soon as possible with anything you intend to eat. Avoid getting urine and feces (or stomach contents for that matter) on ANY part of the animal at all cost.
i just pinch it with my fingers. you only have to pinch the back end (top if its hanging upside down)
Appreciate the info! I only remember seeing an animal skinned and that was squirrels and rabbits. Also, I remember seeing deer right after skinning but I really don't know the critical part of cleaning the guts out before in contaminates everything. So what most of you are getting at is you dress the smaller game immediately and for others like deer you dress them as soon as possible but can wait until you get out of the field?
I do appreciate all the infor and I should have gotten practice on this a long time ago but I am trying to add some needed skills not only for me but so I can pass on to my son when he gets older.
I have not hunted deer yet so take what I say with a grain of salt but I know a lot of deer hunters and from what I hear they gut it/yank the intestenal track out int he feild then cut it up at home.... this way they can just leave the stuff they don't want (guts) in the feild for other critters to eat.