Deer Cleaning Tools

For sanitary reasons, it's important to clean and dress your deer properly. But furthermore, the way you clean your deer greatly affects the way the venison tastes when you cook it. Using the proper techniques and tools is of utmost importance to how well you will enjoy eating the deer you've killed. Gather the right tools you'll need to clean and field dress a deer once you've killed it.

Types

The tools used to clean a deer include laytex gloves, hand sanitizer, a sharp hunting knife, a gut hook knife, rope and a plastic lock bag. These tools cover the basics for cleaning the deer, providing the most sanitary and efficient approach.

Function

Use Laytex gloves so you don't have to handle the deer with your bare hands. In the same vein, always apply hand sanitizer before and after cleaning the deer and anytime you take your gloves off. The gut hook knife is used to pierce the skin of the deer to take the organs out, and a sharp knife is used for a variety of cutting of tissue and bone throughout the process. The rope is used to hang the deer to cool once the organs are out and the deer is cleaned.

Benefits

The benefits of each item in the deer cleaning process ensure the deer-cleaning project will be a success. For instance, if you don't wear gloves and use hand sanitizer, you face the risk of ingesting or contracting bacteria from the deer. If you don't have a sharp enough knife or a gut hook knife, you won't be able to cut through bone and the deer's skin, causing the deer to spoil before you can field dress and clean it. Every tool required in the process is essential and must be used.

Considerations

Taking a sanitary approach to cleaning your deer with the proper tools can prevent you from becoming sick, ingesting bacteria, and wasting time. Taking the time to properly clean and dress your deer will result in many sanitary, delicious meals in the coming months. Take the proper care now so you can enjoy your deer later.

Expert Insight

Once you have all of the tools, you need to find a compact way to carry them during the hunt. A plastic baggie will keep your deer cleaning kit minimal so it can fit in your bag. It's important to pack light because you have to carry whatever you bring along on the hunt. A medium-sized plastic bag will fit everything you need -- rope, knife, gut hook knife, latex gloves and hand sanitizer -- and it will keep your set-up light.

References

• Afro Articles
• Whitetail Deer Management

Resources

• Cabela's