What knife do you prefer for field dressing a deer?

[bstewrat3]

The only knife I have used for deer is a Wyoming knife. It uses replaceable blades that have a curved exposed edge a little over an inch long and a straight edge that is in a gut hook portion. I can normally get 5 deer out of a blade. I used to just toss them after that, but have started just touching them up with my broadhead sharpener.

 

[Cpt Caveman]

I just use a cheap winchester with a gut hook and a butt out tool. I don't cut the sternum or the pelvis. Sharpen it after each deer.

Butt out tool???Turn-in-your-man-card!!

 

[oldpink]

Butt out tool???Turn-in-your-man-card!!

Yeah, the jokes pretty much write themselves, but it works really well to prevent intestinal contents contaminating the venison.
Laugh if you must.

 

[dm1986]

I forgot a long bladed knife today. My Wyoming knife and a hatchet worked great. I may forget my other knives next time, too.

 

[gregr]

I have a Cutco, hunter orange handle drop point knife that works great. I also have a set of the Buck Knife Pac Lite knives, that are extremely sharp, and work great. No butt-out tool here. I just use my hunting knife and ream the anus of the deer, which frees the muscle from the outside. Make a shallow cut off the sternum, split to the pelvis, cut through the ribs and up the throat. Cut the windpipe, cut out the diaphragm, cut the connective tissue holding the internal organs in place, do a little cutting from the inside to finish freeing the muscle from the inside, and everything pulls out without ever needing to split the pelvic bone.

 

[BuckCreek]

I have a Cutco, hunter orange handle drop point knife that works great. I also have a set of the Buck Knife Pac Lite knives, that are extremely sharp, and work great. No butt-out tool here. I just use my hunting knife and ream the anus of the deer, which frees the muscle from the outside. Make a shallow cut off the sternum, split to the pelvis, cut through the ribs and up the throat. Cut the windpipe, cut out the diaphragm, cut the connective tissue holding the internal organs in place, do a little cutting from the inside to finish freeing the muscle from the inside, and everything pulls out without ever needing to split the pelvic bone.

I use about the same method when field dressing, and it is the way my father-in-law showed me. I use a Case hunting knife ( http://www.wrcase.com/knives/images/17911.jpg ), and the long narrow blade works well for this method.

 

[gregr]

I carry a fillet knife that I occasionally use for the ream job, but not always.

 

[Expatriated]

Randall Model 25 for everything (gutting, skinning and butchering) but splitting the pelvis bone. I use a hatchet for that.

 

[paperboy]

Yeah, the jokes pretty much write themselves, but it works really well to prevent intestinal contents contaminating the venison.
Laugh if you must.

I use that tool as well, no need to split the pelvis. I don't even cut the hide in that area until it's time to skin.

 

[oldpink]

I use that tool as well, no need to split the pelvis. I don't even cut the hide in that area until it's time to skin.

Exactly
No need for a bone saw or hatchet and no going through all the trouble and risk.

 

[Captianbullseye]

I used a Mora Companion HD last year and it worked great!

 

[Farm1]

Ive got a small thin knife made out of a old sawmill blade.. it holds an edge and is the perfect size to dress and skin a deer..

 

[Mark 1911]

I'm not an expert on knives, but when it comes to dressing a deer, I know this much, the sharper the better.

 

[Dtrap]

I always just use my old case trapper pocket knife. Small and sharp. The key is always keeping your knife sharp. It just makes everything so much easier.

 

[oldpink]

I'm not an expert on knives, but when it comes to dressing a deer, I know this much, the sharper the better.

Yep
It reminds me of when I was a kid and I met another kid down the road who had just received his first ever pocket knife, a cheap Barlow, as I recall.
His dad had deliberately dulled up the blade because he believed that his boy would be less likely to hurt himself with it.
At the time, my dad just told me that was nonsense, because you're far more likely to cut yourself with a dull knife while using it for its intended purpose than with a sharp one.
The reason for that should be obvious.

 

[ars]

I have had and used all sorts of knives for field dressing deer. I find the classic folding buck knife to be the best all around for this task based on size and performance.

 

[Flinttim]

Many years ago a fellow I worked with who was not all that bright brings to work this big 7" folder. Hands it to me and tells me I can have it . "It's a cheap knife " he says , "the old lady gave it to me for Christmas, hell I never even heard of it ". I opened it and he had sharpened it on a bench grinder. But the first thing I saw on a blade was "Tree Brand". My first thought was that he did not deserve anything this nice and and I said "Thank You". I spent and hour shaping it back up and then sharpened it . The thing has sterling silver bolsters and genuine red stag slabs. At that time Boker still listed it on their website for $80. I've dressed a lot of deer with that knife. It's the one thing I always double check to make sure it's in my bag.

 

[clfergus]

I have always had good luck with this buck ranger skinner....washes up nicely

View attachment 51467

 

[gregr]

I have always had good luck with this buck ranger skinner....washes up nicely

View attachment 51467

I like nearly anything "Buck". They`re great quality knives.

 

[Woobie]

Many years ago a fellow I worked with who was not all that bright brings to work this big 7" folder. Hands it to me and tells me I can have it . "It's a cheap knife " he says , "the old lady gave it to me for Christmas, hell I never even heard of it ". I opened it and he had sharpened it on a bench grinder. But the first thing I saw on a blade was "Tree Brand". My first thought was that he did not deserve anything this nice and and I said "Thank You". I spent and hour shaping it back up and then sharpened it . The thing has sterling silver bolsters and genuine red stag slabs. At that time Boker still listed it on their website for $80. I've dressed a lot of deer with that knife. It's the one thing I always double check to make sure it's in my bag.

Youre right, he didn't deserve that knife. Or probably the woman thoughtful enough to give it to him.