ok, i'm not new to hunting or even hunting deer.. it's just been a long time since i've done deer hunting.. i'm 26 now, so it's been about 15 years.. i've always been a squirrel hunter.. what i need to get at is this, i shoot a deer, now what? i remember field dressing deer, but being young i wasn't paying too much attention.. i've done some reading online about field dressing.. am i wrong, or is it basically like cleaning a squirrel.. skin it, gut it, clean it, then pack it away? or should i take it somewhere to have the meat done properly? i'm basically wanting detailed information on this subject.. please bare with me, i want to make sure i get everything right when i finally do get a deer.. i'm not sure if i'll try to get one this season, but i will be looking.. i don't even have a good deer rifle yet.. i have access to one, but want to get my own.. i have a few shot guns and .22's.. few pistols.. thanks in advance for any help.. oh yeah, i was looking into getting a new rifle for deer and was looking at a remington 700.. any gun suggestions are appreciated as well..

Gutting an animial is pretty simple, and from my experience it's close to the same. At least for big game, deer, pig, elk, etc. Rabbit, squirrl, birds is a little diffrent. I start with cutting the butthole out then if a buck cut around his "tools" and toss them. Slice a small cut near his belly then slice up to the lower part of the rib cage. Then head south and slice the pelvis, and cut/dig/pull out the lower guts. Once out the take my knife and split the rib cage and cut out the heart, lungs etc, cut windpipe and yank them out. Then wash out with water.

This should get you close. As far as a rifle, check the for sale section, plenty of good guns for sale right now. Find a local guy and see if you can just come out and watch, help him or her out for a few days then try to find a day lease or public land and get yourself some meat.

A-10warthog said it best on the field dressing.

As far as a rifle I'd go with a remington in 25-06, 270, 243. Doesn't kick that bad and highly effective on deer

here's useful link although its always nice to learn from someone first hand.

http://www.uwex.edu/ces/ag/issues/fmd/So_you_got_a_deer-G1598.PDF

as far as guns go, a .270 or 30.06 are very popular picks. a couple of benefits of these calibers is ammo is sold everywhere and is reasonably inexpensive compare to other calibers. the 25.06 and .243 are also excellent choices.

Once you gut one you'll figure out the tricks for the next time. I always break the pelvic cradle to make the arse plumbing easier to remove. Remember if you plan to shoulder mount, stop cutting the chest cavity about midway up the breast plate. From there you just have to get bloody unless you know how to skin/cape the neck and shoulders.

ok thanks for all the quick responces.. i will definitely check the for sale section.. i just recently bought 8 uncleared acres of land.. i've seen many a deer tracks, many a hog tracks, i saw first hand a big bobcat.. i've had a good time out there squirrel hunting.. i walked up on a nice doe the other day.. of course i wasn't prepared to shoot it nor was i expecting it.. i was just trying to find the back side of my property.. the 8 acres sits right next to over 300 acres of raw land.. i've been told baylor university owns it and has owned it for a looong time.. they use it occassionally for school stuff.. thanks again for all the help..