Deer Dressing Education

Hey guys, I have deer hunted for the pass few years and I have never cleaned a deer myself. Do you know of any places/school that I could go to learn how to clean a deer?

Youtube has a bunch of really good videos. There are several methods, but all generally the same. Saw a vid recently that a guy gutted and skinned with head and legs off in less than two minutes. Takes me longer, but I see you're in houston. Im just south of houston. Ive only done two deer but plenty of hog and its all about the same. I dont have a deer to show you on, but when the time comes id be happy to show you how. Pm me if you want my contact info

I can have one skinned and quartered in about 6 minutes. I'm slow around the back strap.

^ This. Youtube has many videos on the subject.

it's really easier than folks make it out to be.
you'll also figure out what knives are practical
for butchering and which are for fashion

Just keep the meat clean and cool.

There's hundreds of U-Tube's on it.

It's well worth doing yourself. I can't show you how to do it. But I can show the results of a 110 lb. doe.

Tenderloins & Loins


Roasts from two hind legs


Chunks from shoulders for stew and daube


Bone-in neck (great for roast or soup)


Ground scraps and trimmings for burgers or sausage


TOTAL: 31 lbs. 10 oz. boneless meat plus the neck.

nice pics

Best thing is go to a meat market or processor and get hands on experience

As for you school....YouTube...and it's pretty cheap...

In my experience of processing a large game animal 1- work area large enough 2- correct processing utensils 3- right equipment ( grinder, vacuum packer, sausage maker etc.) 4- how many do you plan on doing yourself - time, expenses, cost compared to a processor.
I do quarter mine, take the back straps from there it goes to a processor.

Wow you're a real badass....

I cheat a little. Only takes a few seconds to skin with my jeep and having an uncle who was a butcher show me where to put the knife is a bonus. Hogs take me way longer cause you can't yank the hide off of them like you can a deer.

be sure the rope hanging the deer out of the tree is stronger than the rope attached to vehicle ... only took once to learn that lesson

Where do you hunt/live? I'm sure someone would be willing to give you a hand if in your area.

Yep, and make sure to hang it around the neck vs. the antlers. My FIL was pretty sad to find out anlters can pop off.

This publication from the TPWD is a good starting point...

Now that you've killed it

The TPWD also created s series of videos on the subject. Here's the link to the first in the series...

Field Dressing a Deer

^ What Texas Dan said, the TPWD videos on YouTube are very good.

How is this helpful?

if you've at least helped a few times and seen someone do it you probably know enough to get started. nothing will solidify it in your mind like that first time or two where you're the one in charge doing it. after that it becomes second nature. you can learn some tricks from folks who really do a lot of butchering.