A good question from another thread prompted me to start this one around the topic of deer forensics. More specifically, what items do you or others in your camp check when cleaning a deer?

Honestly, I'm not near the forensic specialist that I know others are, nor am I like some of the guys who first taught me how to hunt. Heck, some of those guys would be all over any deer that was hanging on the meat pole as if it were an alien from outer space. They wanted to check the entry and exit holes, as well as any indication of the damage that was created between the two. And in cases where the bullet was found, I suspect they would have looked at it under a microscope if they had one. The stomach contents were always checked so they could learn what the deer had been eating. This would let them know the deer's preferred browse at the time, this being long before the days of feeders and food plots. They wanted to check the general condition of the deer and if it had much fat on it. And they wanted a good look at the teeth to get some idea of its age. It was their standard procedure for every deer that ended up on the meat pole.

So then, how much of a deer forensic specialist are you, and how far do you go when checking one on the meat pole?

Mine ends at damage, bullet related.

Back where I grew up, forensics were non-existent. Questions were more along the lines of:

- where were you when you shot him (cause i’ll hunt there next)
- whaddaya think he weighs
- can I have some meat
- didja have to drag him far
- ya got any coffee

Nobody asked about the bullet used or the BC, and there were only about 4 calibers (270, 06, 30-30, 308). Real men didn’t use a 243.

At my lease we weigh every buck and doe at camp before processing. We log weight, longest tine, base measurement and total points. A guesstimate on age is logged too. We send the front teeth to a lab to get age on most of our bucks. That’s not required just something most of us do. While cleaning a deer usually a recap of the hunt is given. Entry and exit holes might be pointed out. Things like fat or body size are noticed. Like most hunters we take a lot of pictures. We send a picture of ever buck to the owner too.

For years all anyone wanted to know was how far he/she was, what was your hunt story? Finally, a friend and I took over the 'lease management' and you got a younger crowd filling the spaces. Questions were more forensically oriented - tissue destruction, bullet, distance etc. Another question was (we field dressed in the field)- mind if I hunt pigs over the gut pile?
We didn't start aging and weighing until my friend got off the lease and I was saddled with the management. We started with a game count and feedback from the biologist for that area on what to take. We started weighing bucks of 8 points or more and all does and aging every buck and doe we took, unless the hunter was going to have it mounted.

I'm decent at forensics, I can almost always tell when they are dead!

Just Weight and age.

Weight, age, general body condition, if the doe are lactating or not. Sometimes I check stomach content but not always. And which pasture they were harvested in...

I just make sure they're dead before I clean them...then off to the processor. Not too much forensics for me. I watch CSI for that.

Yea did it drop? What does it weigh. Why did you cut its throat? How wide is it? We going to cook some back strap?

This sums it up for our lease.

Small but healthy herds. Recording of harvest Not needed or required in my area. We have plenty of winter oats and wheat. But we note the weight/ lower jaw bone and inside spread/points.