Best blade length, shape for deer?

[patrickjames]

My experience skinning deer is pretty limited here in California (not many around). I was wondering what is the preference of hunters in other parts of the country where there an abundance of white tail? What the best blade shape and length for gutting and skinning deer? I just bought a Dozier razorback neck knife with a 2 1/2 inch blade and was hoping this would be big enough if I'm lucky enough to get a deer again. I noticed in the last few years a lot of hunters are using smaller Loveless style skinning knives.

 

[Gossman Knives]

In my 25 years of deer hunting experience, I've found a drop point, spear point or semi-skinner work best for gutting and skinning. Upswept or trailing points tend to poke where they shouldn't poke. For blade length I like between 3 to 4 1/2 inch. Your Dozier should be fine for whitetails. As a matter of fact, I have a 2 1/2" blade knife I'm hoping to try out on deer this year. Good luck hunting. :thumbup:
Scott

 

[barrabas74]

I like a smaller drop point style blade with a bit of an upsweep up the front of it. I like a choil for my finger while working. I like that style for field dressing but for skinning i use a rat-3 or another upswept style blade like my buck kalinga. You dont need a big knife to field dress a deer, I have used a Kershaw DWO III in a pinch. Its really up to you I have done lots and lots of deer and other animals so I have developed a taste for what I like, go ahead and feel around and you'll know what you like.

My buck Kalinga looks like this

This is what I use for all my field dressing now, my Razorback in D2

 

[Slatts]

We gutted out about 10 deer in one weekend last season with my Spyderco Moran Featherweight. To me it's almost the perfect deer knife with it's very sharp flat ground VG-10 blade. I think we touched up the edge once during that weekend. Here's a pic from Ted's site:

 

[mmarkh]

A drop point fixed blade knife with a 3 to 4 in. blade length will work well for field dressing deer.Bark River makes some excellent knives for hunting.I am waiting for Brian Goode to make my Companion which will be my new deer knife.

 

[glockman99]

Through the years, I've found that the good ol' Buck "Skinner" is just about perfect for skinning & gutting deer...That, and a small hatchet.