Heads Up?

[klewisd]

So, do you hang your deer on the buck pole with the head up or the head down? And why?

[maddog]

Because I like to wash them out REAL good. When I start cutting them up I flip them over and start at the hind legs, being the top. Works for me anyway........Matt

[POLARBEAR]

does by the neck. but bucks that i might want to mount i hang from the hind quarters. ropes and such around the ears and kinking the hair on the forhead. rope burns etc. these things make it tougher on the taxidermist. also when i am handling a buck by myself i hang it from the rear and tie off the antlers so if i drop it i wont drop it on its rack. i have a friend that is a taxidermist. just some tips i follow.

[Chuck]

I was always tought to hang them by the back legs. This is the way the butcher does it too. The idea is to drain the blood from the best meat, that being the hind quarters and back straps.

[flyrod4steelhead]

There should be a option for depend's, lol. I usually hang them by there hind leg's, when I have some help. If not, then I will hang by there head, except for Buck's. My 8pt that I shot last year, everyone asked if I was getting it mounted? I said "Yes, why?" Then one of my freinds, said "If your gonna mount it, you better hang it by it's hind leg's, because if you hang it by the head, you will strecth the neck out, and you will ruin the hair on the neck." Sounded lgical enough. We dropped it back down, cut some slit's by the tendon's in the hind leg's, then hoisted the beast back into the tree.

For washing the meat wise. I think it's easier to hang it from the head, and wash it that way.

[jdt]

easer to hang and process head down.

[klewisd]

One more plus for hanging head down; they photograph better. When you stand next to it the rack is next to you and much easier to see.

[Thunderhead]

Heads up. Mainly because it's easier to hang.
I wash'em out good, and spread the rib cage with a board. Cools them down fast, and is easier to skin.

[Danatodd99]

I hang mine twice, head up to wash, then hind up for the long haul. I too like the blood to drain out of the choice cuts.

I have always done it this way, I have never had a problem with the meat or the taxidermist.

[SKUNK]

When hanging them outside I hang them heads up and when hanging inside heads down.

[nymph]

Have always hung my deer head-up. That's just the way my dad taught me. He said that by removing the pelvic bone and hanging the deer head-up, it allowed the blood to drain better. The blood wouldn't pool in the neck area like it does when you hang them head-down. Made sense to me and I've never had a problem hanging them this way.

Just my .02


nymph

[gooseweiser]

I hang mine with the head down now that we have cwd so close i read an article and it said you should hang head down because of the fluid in the brain might leak out and it gets the blood out of the hind quarters where all the meat is at





:D good luck everybody

[Airoh]

Head up. Easier to skin,and less hair on the meat.

[Stalker]

Great starter question. I have hung deer both ways and never really gave it much thought. After reading the post I will most likely hang them head down when I can.

[dongiese]

Head Down A@# up thats the way I hang my Buck.

[hangoo]

the first deer gets the nice leg spreader and the "come-along" head down

the second dead deer gets the ol rope n' neck treat ment (or rope n' rack) if its a buck

this pic is from last weekend

-ryan

http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/photopost/data/553/2297ryanericdeer-med.jpg

[StumpJumper]

Head down.