If you’re a backcountry DIY hunter, you’re going to want to quickly break an animal down into manageable pieces and get it cooled down. The best way to do that is called the gutless method.

Gutless Method – Best Way to Field Dress Big Game

If you’re a backcountry DIY hunter, you’re going to want to quickly break an animal down into manageable pieces and get it cooled down. The best way to do that is called the gutless method.

  • It’s fast, and also keeps your meat cleaner.
  • Be sure to check regulations to make sure it’s legal in your unit.
  • When it comes to the skin, you have two different options: You can leave the skin on the quarters, which is the cleanest route, but if you’re needing to pack it out, you’ll need to eliminate as much weight as possible.

Gutless Field Dressing Method

Havalon Knives

Now simply flip the skin back down over the carcass, roll your animal over and repeat the process on the other side.

When you process a moose in Alaska, you have to take ALL of the meat. And in some units you have to take the bones too. Our bull was clean as a whistle when we were done. We used the gutless method.
When you’re done, all that should be left is bones and guts.

That’s all there is to the gutless method of field dressing. Easy right?

  • Don’t forget to get the rib meat, brisket and neck meat. Waste as little as possible.
  • If you’re packing your animal out on your back you’ll usually need to “bone” the meat to save weight.
  • With a little practice you can bone a hindquarter in less than a minute.
  • The front shoulder takes a little more work. Just remove the muscle groups from the scapula and bone out the lower legs and throw in the trimming pile.
  • Boning is also the quickest way to get the body heat out of the meat.

Gutless Method How-to Video

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Whether it’s hunting, fishing, wingshooting, or outdoor adventure travel, our goal for you is a safe, worry free, successful trip from start to finish. Our continued success depends on giving you good advice.

Obviously, there is more than one way to “skin a cat” but this is a quick, clean, and efficient method for getting your animal cooled down and into your freezer in the best possible condition. By the way, you should also check out these backcountry hunting tips.

Photos by Bowhunter

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