My uncle and I got into a discussion on what is the best way to hang a deer. I say hang it by the hind legs, allowing everything to drain down through the neck and not affecting the hind quarters. He obviously says the opposite. What do you guys do and why??
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H2OFowl'er
i hang mine from the hind legs for the same reason.i also notice when i stop by any butcher shop they also have the deer hanging by the hind legs.
I hang my deer by the antlers or head, because that is the way my father taught me, forty years ago. Also, I think a deer just looks better with its head high and for me it imparts more respect for this beautiful animal. Like not cutting the head off a beautiful Brook Trout, which is a fishermans way of showing respect for this sporting fish.
I process all my own meat and I am convinced that the idea about blood draining into the hind quarters is a lot of balogne. Besides hanging head lets you wash down the inside of the deer with cold water, once it is hung, and the water drains out the hole let by removal of the anus.
As far as skinning, I have never skinned a deer head down, so I do not know if it is better or not. But I do know that the most hair will get on the meat at the location that you start you cut and by skinning down toward the hind quarters, I get no excess hair on the bulk of the meat.
By the way don't forget to remove the tender loins, ASAP after hanging it (regardless of which way), so they do not dry out. The best way is to use your fingers to work the tender loin away from the back bone starting from the top (hung heads up) and only use a knife to cut this choice meat free at the bottom.
I process all my own meat and I am convinced that the idea about blood draining into the hind quarters is a lot of balogne. Besides hanging head lets you wash down the inside of the deer with cold water, once it is hung, and the water drains out the hole let by removal of the anus.
As far as skinning, I have never skinned a deer head down, so I do not know if it is better or not. But I do know that the most hair will get on the meat at the location that you start you cut and by skinning down toward the hind quarters, I get no excess hair on the bulk of the meat.
By the way don't forget to remove the tender loins, ASAP after hanging it (regardless of which way), so they do not dry out. The best way is to use your fingers to work the tender loin away from the back bone starting from the top (hung heads up) and only use a knife to cut this choice meat free at the bottom.
I have done it both ways over the years. There is no difference in the taste of the meat. There is no difference in hair on the meat. As far as showing respect for the animal - you have alredy done that and now it is take to reap the rewards of a sucsessful hunt.
I would have to say the processing with the legs up seems to be a bit easier for me. I place the hind end of the deer at just below eye level and work down to the neck.
I would say do what ever you feel comfortable with.
I would have to say the processing with the legs up seems to be a bit easier for me. I place the hind end of the deer at just below eye level and work down to the neck.
I would say do what ever you feel comfortable with.
Hind hanging for me. Easier to skin and blood drainage. Also recommended to hang vs. lay on side for same reason. Blood will pool on down side and make the meat mushy. Skin, quarter, cut, wrap. What do you guys do with the hides and carcasses?
TIP OF THE WEEK:
Try a blow torch to remove the final hair before quartering...
TIP OF THE WEEK:
Try a blow torch to remove the final hair before quartering...
I hang deer by the neck. Probably because that is the way I always did it. A big advantage is I slit the hide from the field dress slit to the neck, then around the neck and I'm done. No hair on the meat because the hide turns itself inside out as I pull it off.
After I gut the deer I bring it up to the house and use the "Ten Minute Deer Skinner" to remove the hide. This leaves the carcass virtually hair free. I then hang the deer by the hind legs on a gambrel. I can then bone out the deer as it hangs.
To Steinfishski: I used to sell the hides but the price is so low now I just hang it in the woods for the birds to clean. Same with the carcass hang it in a tree and its clean as can be by spring.
To Steinfishski: I used to sell the hides but the price is so low now I just hang it in the woods for the birds to clean. Same with the carcass hang it in a tree and its clean as can be by spring.
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