BigGameHunt.net Hunting Forums

Don Fischer · Joined: 24 Mar 2005 Posts: 2041 Location: Antelope, Ore

I noticed someone mentioned slitting the throat on another thred. I don't do that unless it'll be some time befor I get home. Yet I've seen guy's do it that just slice it sideways, I'm not sure why? If I'm not getting home for awhile, I want the wind pipe out of the neck. So I hand the deer and skin it. Then I slit the throat from where it meets the chest to the base of the head. This exposes the wind pipe and it come's out easily.

When I was a kid, we thought that the throat was slit to bleed it out. Never saw where much blood came out that way. Once the heart stops beating, any blood in the vein's probally run's to the lowest point and most I find in the chest cavity.

Anybody else know where this slitting crossway's idea came from?

denverd0n · Joined: 09 Nov 2005 Posts: 166 Location: Colorado

I think it's just a hold-over from the old days. Your great-grandfather did it that way, so your grandfather did it that way, so your father did it that way, so you do it that way. Way back when a lot of guys would slit the deer's throat and then drag it home whole--not removing the guts until many hours later.

Nowadays we know that it's better to dress it out on the spot and get the meat cooling quickly. If you do that then slitting the throat is pointless. If you don't do that then a lot of meat is going to turn gamey regardless of whether you slit the throat or not.

hunter777 · Joined: 28 Oct 2003 Posts: 1466

The guide in Argentina did it. It was the first time I saw anyone do that but after seeing why....it made some sense (I still don't do it) but, instead of reaching as far into the chest cavity and cutting the windpipe as far up as he could (thats the way I do it) he slit the throat just under the chin and pulled the whole length of the windpipe out.

h_talbot · Joined: 28 Feb 2006 Posts: 155 Location: Idaho

My dad had to get 8 stiches from trying to reach up into the neck to cut the wind pipe of an elk. Cutting the throat is the best way to get the windpipe out unless of course you are going to cape your beast. As for bleeding them out, dead animals don't bleed. Gravity will drain the carcass.

Hammer1 · Joined: 03 Dec 2005 Posts: 1519

No need what so ever to cut the throat. If time permits, once you field dress the animal, place the animal cavity down,perferable with hind quarters raised to assist bleeding out.

I seen many, many pics of deer hanging by the neck, allowing blod to "cool" in the hind quarters.Totally wrong. Your objective is to drain blood from the animal but you hang tem in a manner that defeats the purpose. Doesn't make sense..

Just look at the way it is done in slaughter houses.

Don Fischer · Joined: 24 Mar 2005 Posts: 2041 Location: Antelope, Ore

I always hang animals upside down. Easier to skin! Never though about blood running to the hind quarters. But been in a lot of slaughter houses and your right, always upside down.

rambo · Joined: 16 Oct 2005 Posts: 101 Location: Swan River, MB

lol since i was likely the person who mentioned it, I usualy do it because my uncle shot a deer, then ran back to the farm to get the other guys, came back and it was gone. Also i hang it upside down while i skin it, when i slit the throat gravity like you said drains the blood. then i skin and let it drain/ cool for a while. I guess everyones got diffrent ways of doing things. what ever gets the meat good lol

ncbuckhuntr B.K. · Posted: Wed May 10, 2006 7:00 pm Post subject:

I only slit one deers throat ,It came to life when I walked up to it and I held it on the ground and about cut its head off. Amazing what adrenalin will do. You see movies about blood pumping out, well when they are lively it will spray just like a waterhose. But when they are dead it does no good.

WesternHunter · Joined: 05 May 2006 Posts: 685 Location: Western USA

I've always thought the best way to bleed an animal is to make sure your bullet or arrow hits it in the heart or lungs area and it will bleed out internally into it's chest cavity. Have no idea where some old habits or traditions come from ::-k

gcpd35 · Joined: 09 Jul 2005 Posts: 60 Location: Illinois

Are we talking about animals? What, what who said that? Are you talking to me? :laugh: :laugh:

I'm just kidding, no seriously I am! What?

hunter777 · Joined: 28 Oct 2003 Posts: 1466

:roll:

thenail · Joined: 03 May 2006 Posts: 563 Location: novascotia

I have seen in outdoor life books that American hunters mostly always hang the deer by the head .So I decided to start hanging my deer by the head and found that it actually made the meat tast a little better .Could this be the reason they hang them by the head or is it just my own way of thinking

atomikall · Joined: 27 Aug 2004 Posts: 1935

we always hang ours head up we just cut the throat like most people to get the widepipe out.

Whelland · Joined: 16 Jan 2007 Posts: 485 Location: Kingston, MI

It doesn't matter whether you hang them by the head or the legs. The meat won't taste any different. I've done both, and I can't tell the difference. I hang them by the legs in a gambrel simply because it's easier (both hanging and skinning.) It's just a matter of preference.

It doesn't make a bit of difference cutting the throat or removing the windpipe either. I've done both and can't tell the difference. It's just a lot easier to do it during the butchering process. It does however, make a difference to your taxidermist. Don't cut the throat if you plan on getting the animal mounted.

I can't believe how many people take an animal to a taxidermist with a big gaping cut through the throat. Don't do that!

atomikall · Joined: 27 Aug 2004 Posts: 1935

lol Nah not for mounts but its also helps with the blood flow when thier throats arent there plus I find the throat holds alot of blood if you dont cut it and take it out sometimes it rots out before you have your animals skinned I dont know about your camp but we butcher all of our deer in the same day usually at the end of the hunt if its cold enough outside if not we do it the day we make the kill.