Perfect knife for 'no-gut' field dressing deer?

O

olddogrib

Joined
Apr 18, 2011
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Let me start by saying that I've dressed deer with more knives than I could begin to name, but I've always just removed the internal organs in the field and skinned/quartered/boned later when I could hang the animal. I firmaly believe that any single knife used is going to be a trade-off, but doing it this way I have a selection for the various jobs. I'm strictly a bowhunter and would like to try the "no-gut" field dressing method that been popular for several years when it's impractical to move the animal. This basically involves placing the animal on its side and subsequently skinning, quartering, removing loins from one side at a time without ever gutting. The only downside is getting to the inside loins. I have seen videos of guys that are very god at this "ringing" a rear leg shank, placing the back of the blade next to the meat and running it up the front of the leg, across the abdomen, and down a front leg in one motion. I'm more of a two-handed, pull/trim/tug type of skinner and the fact that they can skin a deer with this little effort and not slice into the meat is impressive. I'm assuming it's got to be a drop point, but guess the width (cutting edge to back, not thickness) may be equally critical. If sombody's done this, what's your blade of choice. I've attached a pic of an unknown-model (no markings), cheapo Gerber folder I bought new off a buddy which I intend to try. It's blade is 2.5" and OA length is 4", but I would consider something 1/2 to 1" larger. I prefer to keep it small, as it may due double duty as EDC. Some that I think may fit the bill are:
*Izula 2 (if the balde isn't too wide)
*Spydeco Native, Delica 2, or Manix 2 (if the 'hump' doesn't prevent the correct angle to get under the skin)
*Kershaw Blackout
*Benchmade Mini-Grip
I'm sure there are others. I'd like to hear from those who use this method.

Gerberfolder.jpg
 
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I would definatley try out the izula 2 if you like smaller knives, personally id go with a esee-3 or a dozier but thats just me, i cant imagine any of those other knives doing as dependable a job as the izula.
 
I just bought a Fallkniven F2 for this very purpose. The blade shape isn't a great skinner, but it's length and super sharp and narrow VG-10 blade should do the trick. It's much thicker than a flexible fillet blade, more of a boning knife. I think it's going to work great. I'm going on a hog hunt in a couple of weeks and hopefully get to try it out on one. I'll post results if it all works out.
 
razorsdescent said:
I would definatley try out the izula 2 if you like smaller knives, personally id go with a esee-3 or a dozier but thats just me, i cant imagine any of those other knives doing as dependable a job as the izula.
Click to expand...

I was just going to say Izula 1 with scales, but either Izzy would do a perfect job at that and you could easily remove the scales to clean. I like the Dozier, but the ESEE3 is just too long for some of the intricate cuts when trying not to nick the guts. That being said, I've never attempted to quarter in the field without gutting, so you might need some extra length for some of the areas.

I love the ability to remove the hardware and scales in order to clean the crud off of a knife and linen micarta is virtually perfect for cleaning up after nasty tasks.
 
Bark River Mini-Canadian would be one to look at. Are there any vids of this field dressing technique? I've seen some on other deer but not whitetail.
 
Kycolonel,
The ones that come to mind were dealing with elk, but the process is the same. I'm sure somebody's done deer on youtube and you wouldn't have to waste money on a dvd. I may not be all that impressed after I've tried it, but at least it's a skill that would provide incentive to hunt further off the "beaten path", if one so chooses!
 
I have done both methods for deer and elk for years . For deer my alltime fave is the KOA featherlight hunter in d2 and elk is spyderco millie in 90v. Let me also say it takes me about 3 minutes to gut a deer and barring a bad hit in the gut it makes it way easier and faster for me . With elk I end up alone or with a client that is little help most of the time and I usually gut first . On elk it takes me about one and a half hours to be completely boned out and off the carcass caped and skull plated ready to load on horse or 4 wheeler . With deer mabe 45 minites even with gutting them . The right knife either adds 15 or 20 minutes on elk or subtracts it . I always reprofile a knife to my freehand angle with a slight convex and touch up is a few seconds a few times .
 
I used this method on a Moose couple years back. I used a Buck vanguard. But that's not an edc either. sorry. worked well. I love that blade.
 
i've used this method on elk and moose for the past 15 years or so, but we also bone at the same time. i always have a 6" victorinox boning knife in my back pack. I've never found anything else that works as well. Most any knife can be used to skin but boning is much easier with a slightly longer/flexible blade.
 
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