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Gutting a deer...

You guys should try to unwind some 7/64" Amsteel preferably from a daisy chain to keep weight down/dual purpose and use your speedy stitcher you should have already for field repairs to stitch up these cuts. :)

That sucks though, I always seem to cut myself once a year gutting or de-boning a deer. It's usually easier for me to do when my hands and fingers are numb from the cold though. I've slowed down a lot this year and we haven't experienced the usual bitter cold weather so no cuts this year!
 
I usually carry a Nalgene bottle for water and typically will wrap 2-3 wraps of duct tape around the bottom 3rd. It keeps it from slipping out of my water bottle pocket on my pack and it’s enough to mend a small rip in a tent or my face.
 
Last year, I shot a doe and used my brand new Halalon...the one with two blades. Anyway I opened up the bigger blade and as I was bending down to start the gutting process the knife just touched my thumb on the opposite hand. Just touched it...and it sliced through my thumb. I was wearing medical gloves and just looked at my now bleeding profusely thumb. It's getting dark and I need to gut this deer...so I grab some toilet paper and wrap it around my thumb...take another glove (that did not have a thumb slice) and put it on over the now soaked toilet paper. Before I put the glove over the thumb, I replaced the soaked paper with more toilet paper and put the glove on the hand. Got the job done and took the blood soaked paper and glove off...my thumb was still bleeding but it had slowed down. Got some paper towels from the landowner and some duct tape and wrapped my thumb till I got home. The thumb had stopped bleeding by the time I had gotten home 30 minutes later. It doesn't help that the super sharp razor that I had used to lacerate my thumb and that I'm on blood thinners. This year I made sure that my hand was away from that knife when I gutted my one and only deer this year.
 
I always heard sharp knives were safer. It sounds like these Havalons are dangerous.
 
bj139 said:
I always heard sharp knives were safer. It sounds like these Havalons are dangerous.
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Well... the dangers are different. You can't be dumb with them (I obviously made a mistake) but you don't have to fight it to cut anything.
 
Jwiggins762 said:
I think I'm gonna add a roll of electrical tape to my kill kit.
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I was real glad I had extra latex gloves so I could finish the job and then tie another on it.

Made me aware that having a back up plan should the unexpected happen is a good idea. Putting some tape in the bag and a first aid kit in the truck.


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bj139 said:
I always heard sharp knives were safer. It sounds like these Havalons are dangerous.
Click to expand...
If a sharp knife is important then a havalon is the ticket, imagine a surgeons scaple but longer, Which is it's only down in that it's thin bladed so no stiffness at all
 
Texar said:
I had killed a wild pig and my buddy came over to help get it parted out. It was hot and we were working on it at the same time. I was skinning around one of the front legs while he was holding the other and my knife slipped cutting that tough hide and heard a loud click as my buddy jerked his hand back. I thought he was joking around as he was holding his hand but when I asked him to see it he says “NO!!”
No first aide kit just water, blue shop towel and duct tape! He comes back over to help finish and I ask how bad and he says “ you heard it hit bone” so I feel bad and all but then I start saying ......
“Trichinosis, trichinosis, trichinosis!!”
The look on his face was priceless
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My buddy caught brucellosis cleaning a hog, it took 2 months going back and forth to the hospital until his wife did some research and gave the doctor the diagnosis
 
7mmremmag said:
No idea. Havalon blades are ridiculous and I never felt it. Probably when I was reaching up in for the heart, it was just a light cut.
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I watched a guy once cut the esophagus from the outside,(sliced the throat), and was able to reach up with one hand and pull it out without having to do knife work inside with two hands. I've never tried it myself because I pull the hide off with my car and I need to protect the integrity of the neck to withstand the pulling force(especially on frozen hides). I'd hate to pull the head off and have the animal go to the ground.
 
Carved up knuckles is the very best reason to leave the guts in the carcass. Aint nothing in there I need.
 
I've stitched myself up many times and have 3 suture packs in my first aid pouch. That being said I don't believe I have ever cut myself while field dressing. I pay attention to where my hands are at all times. Be SAFE everyone!
 
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