A Simple Approach to
Field Dressing Big Game

1. Lay the animal on its back or side with the head and backbode uphill. On steep slopes, it's a good idea to tie the animal's head and tail to nearby trees to keep the animal from sliding or rolling downhill, and also to help hold the animal in place when you remove the entrails.
2. With a sharp knife, make an incision just under the sternum, puncturing the inner abdominal wall. A foul odor will be released. This is normal.
3. Run your knife down the belly to the sex organ, being careful not to puncture and internal organs. Just "zip open" the hide. In states where proof of sex is required, leave the sex organ attached to one of the hind legs.
4. Cut around the sex organ down to the pelvic bone. Spread the legs open a wide as possible, as it will be easier to cut all the way down to the bone.
5. Using a small hatchet and hammer or a bone saw, cut through the pelvic bone.
6. Cut around the outside of the anus, pull it away from the body, and then carefully pull it through the gap you created in the pelvic bone. Take care not to tear it on sharp bone, as meat contamination could result from any spillage onto the meat.
7. Reach up as far as you can through the chest cavity up into the neck, and cut the windpipe.
8. Grab the windpipe, and put all the internal organs down towards the rear of the animal, cutting the connective tissues that hold the organs together (and to the rest of the carcass) as you go.
9. As you pull out the entrails, you should remove the heart and liver if you wish to save them.
10. As you approach the rear of the animal, remove all blood, hair, fur, and fecal matter from the meat, as it will ruin the taste. Once the entrails are removed, prop the body open with a stick and dry out the inside with a clean, dry cloth. Water, and even a damp cloth, may spread localized bacteria throughout the entire animal.
11. As soon as possible, hang the animal by the head, prop the body cavity open with sticks, and remove the hide. The hide is amazingly effective at insulating the animal - even with a proped-open, empty body cavity.
12. If you have a vehicle handy, here's a quick way to remove the hide:
    • make all the incisions around the ends of the legs, neck, and down the legs
    • take a baseball-sized rock, and slip it under the hide just below the neck incision
    • tie a strong rope around the hide and rock
    • tie the other end of the rope to your vehicle, and slowly pull
    • the hide should come right off
13. Chill the meat as quickly as possible. However, bear in mind that sub-zero temperatures may cause meat damage. About 38 degrees F is considered the optimum temperature. Hanging in a shady, breezy area works well.
14. Cover the meat in cheesecloth or gamebags to protect it from maurauding insects. Pepper is also effective at keeping opportunistic insects away.

I hope this write-up proves useful to you. Good hunting from the Spirit of '76 Hunting Page!!

Last updated : 09 September 1999