Cleaning a deer in the field

[Nutterbuster]

That Thing Runs Like an Evinrude and will Grind about anything. You'll like it.

I've ground probably 80lbs of meat with mine this year. It's not the fastest, and it doesn't grind too pretty, but it also doesn't take up any counter space in a small kitchen.

Word of caution, be really careful if your kitchenaid has plastic gears. Old ones are metal, new ones are mostly plastic unless you buy the "pro"or "culinary" grade (expensive) ones.

 

[EricS]

I’ve ran probably a couple hundred pounds through mine. It would be considered a newer model. I think it’s an artisan. I’ve used it a lot more than my wife anyway. I double grind everything. You can either trim the tendons and silver skin out or pick it out if the grinder every few minutes. Never tighten the lock ring on the grinder plate. Just snug it down.

 

[Nutterbuster]

I’ve ran probably a couple hundred pounds through mine. It would be considered a newer model. I think it’s an artisan. I’ve used it a lot more than my wife anyway. I double grind everything. You can either trim the tendons and silver skin out or pick it out if the grinder every few minutes. Never tighten the lock ring on the grinder plate. Just snug it down.

Mine is plastic too. I just keep it geared low and dont try to jam too much in at one time.

My parents had an old, steel-geared one that dad got used to abusing. After 20+ years of hard service, they decided to get a new one for when the old one gave out. The new one didn't last a year before the gears crapped out.

At some point I'll buy a real grinder, but the little kitchenaid attachment is a gem.

 

[EricS]

I’ll buy one too but it’ll be after I get a good cuber and it’ll be a big one with a foot pedal. I have found it much easier to cut into strips instead of square chunks. The strips seem to self feed for the most part. It works well for me hunting mostly weekends. I can get home Monday, debone the front shoulders and cut into strips. I’ll throw them on a cookie sheet and pop in the deep freeze while I get supper ready and eat. Tuesday repeat with one jam. Wednesday do the other. Thursday clean up the back straps, tenderloins and vacuum seal. Take any remaining trimmings and grind them and the neck. Thursday as well. Then I’m ready for another weekend of hunting. I’ll. Usually put it all in the freezer that weekend. That gives any sausage seasoning I mixed with the ground time to soak in well. There no benefit to wet aging meat to grind. If you were dry aging maybe you’d have less bloody beat but in a cooler on ice not really.
If I were knocking them down like @Nutterbuster has the last week I would have to take them to a processor and would be making his mortgage payment.

 

[dalton916]

That’s what I get for trying to watch your video on the throne. Legs were going numb, conclusions were assumed.

 

[philsanchez76]

Just start doing every one that way. A small tyvek or sil-nylon tarp gives you a clean spot to lay the meat and act as a bag liner to keep your bag clean. I never hang one anymore unless I have running water. Without running water there’s really no benefit.

like that tyvek idea.

 

[dalton916]

I use a piece of tyvek too. I think it’s easier to clean up than silnylon.

 

[Pooh]

I take 2 pillow cases with me. One gets the front shoulders trim and back straps, the other gets the hinds. I also like to half skin them and use the hide as a place to put pieces as they come off the carcass.

 

[mtsrunner]

Just start doing every one that way. A small tyvek or sil-nylon tarp gives you a clean spot to lay the meat and act as a bag liner to keep your bag clean. I never hang one anymore unless I have running water. Without running water there’s really no benefit.

My 50 year old back would argue that hanging one is much more pleasant than wrestling with one on the ground. My deer also tend to die on the side of steep mountains. There is usually no flat ground to work on, but plenty of low limbs to hang a deer.

I did kill a small doe this year on the in-laws property close the driveway. I was able to get the Kubota UTV right next to her and completely bone her out in the back of the Kubota. The whole job was at waist height with no gravity issues. That almost makes me want to shoot little deer all the time.

 

[EricS]

My 50 year old back would argue that hanging one is much more pleasant than wrestling with one on the ground. My deer also tend to die on the side of steep mountains. There is usually no flat ground to work on, but plenty of low limbs to hang a deer.

I did kill a small doe this year on the in-laws property close the driveway. I was able to get the Kubota UTV right next to her and completely bone her out in the back of the Kubota. The whole job was at waist height with no gravity issues. That almost makes me want to shoot little deer all the time.

I’ve cleaned a pile on my tailgate. I started doing it that way when I hog hunted with dogs. We’d come home with a stack of hogs that had been field dressed and had one hoist for three guys cleaning.

 

[Wirrex]

I use a piece of tyvek too. I think it’s easier to clean up than silnylon.

I use a contractor garbage bag. It’s easier to just throw it away when you get back.

 

[mtsrunner]

Just start doing every one that way. A small tyvek or sil-nylon tarp gives you a clean spot to lay the meat and act as a bag liner to keep your bag clean. I never hang one anymore unless I have running water. Without running water there’s really no benefit.

My 50 year old back would argue that hanging one is much more pleasant than wrestling with one on the ground. My deer also tend to die on the side of steep mountains. There is usually no flat ground to work on, but plenty of low limbs to hang a deer.

I did kill a small doe this year on the in-laws property close the driveway. I was able to get the Kubota UTV right next to her and completely bone her out in the back of the Kubota. The whole job was at waist height with no gravity issues. That almost makes me want to shoot little deer all the time.

 

[Bowmanmike]

The wife got me a grinder attachment for the kitchen aid so I’m gonna break down the quarters I’ve had aging and put some through it. Thanks for the tips. This is only my 3rd deer ever so it’s still a learning process.

i have heard that the kitchen aid is not holding up well to grinding meat. Hearsay,but be careful.

 

[dalton916]

I use a contractor garbage bag. It’s easier to just throw it away when you get back.

True, but my piece of tyvek was trash that I reclaimed from a job site 5 years ago and rides in my pack. I use it for a lot of different things from sitting to cooking to changing clothes to keeping deer clean(er).