After harvesting a big game animal and filling out your harvest information on your tag, the first and most important step is to get the meat properly cooled. This is most often done by field dressing the animal and using air circulation to cool the meat. Use the resources linked here to learn about the different field dressing techniques you can use to do this.
- Post Harvest Processing – https://youtu.be/FrLFzqGJcp4 – This short video goes over the steps to consider after harvesting a big game animal.
- The Gutless Method – https://youtu.be/fQREyQFHZKM – This processing method allows a person to retrieve all four quarters, backstrap, neck meat and tenderloins without gutting the animal.
- Gutting: Removing an animal’s organs before moving it is a good way to begin cooling the meat especially if you would like to transport the animal whole. Use the resources below to learn more about this field dressing technique.
- Links to description of how-to, as well as video resources
- Skinning: Skin and fur acts as an insulation layer.By removing this layer you can help the meat cool. When skinning an animal keep as much of the hair off the meat as possible. Use the resources below to learn more about this field dressing technique.
- Links to description of how-to, as well as video resources
- How-to skin a big game animal – https://youtu.be/EO9D1DIOxu0 – This short video walks a new hunter step-by-step through the process of skinning a big game animal.
- Quartering: Quartering an animal is a field dressing technique that allows you to remove the edible portions of meat when it is impractical to transport the animal whole. It is not necessary to gut the animal when using this technique unless you are planning to take the edible organs. Use the resources below to learn more about this field dressing technique.
- Links to description of how-to, as well as video resources
- Deboning: Deboning is a popular technique used most often to lighten the load when packing an animal out after quartering. Essentially this is the process of removing the bones from the quarters that have been removed from the animal. Use the resources below to learn more about this field dressing technique
- Links to description of how-to, as well as video resources
- How-to debone a front shoulder – https://youtu.be/LyLR_F0U6LY – This short video walks through how to debone a front shoulder.
- Caping: Caping is done if you are considering having your harvest taxidermied when you get home. Here we share information on how to properly cape your animal before taking it to a licensed taxidermist.
- Link to caping instructions and information