Big Game Tips
Printed From: The BaitShop
Category: Hunting
Forum Name: Big Game
Forum Description: Deer, elk, antelope, and all other big game on all continents.
URL: http://www.baitshopboyz.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=10066
Printed Date: 26 March 2026 at 21:45
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 11.10 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Big Game Tips
Posted By: Muleskinner
Subject: Big Game Tips
Date Posted: 29 October 2005 at 01:33
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Tracking a faint blood trail - Get down on all fours and look UNDER leaves, logs, etc. When a critter is running, the blood will fall laterally, thereby hitting stuff out of the line of vertical sight. ------------- Mule |
Replies:
Posted By: Jon_E
Date Posted: 14 April 2006 at 05:29
Carry a spray bottle of Hydrogen Peroxide in you pack... spray and the blood will foam up  ------------- Jon |
Posted By: Muleskinner
Date Posted: 05 May 2006 at 16:25
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Keep some god damned hard candy in yer poket so you don't get a dry throat and start coughin' at the wrong time. Hoarhound fer me. ------------- Mule |
Posted By: mtmiller
Date Posted: 23 June 2006 at 15:21
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Go where most won't. ------------- Havre, MT |
Posted By: Bushie-Bob
Date Posted: 24 June 2006 at 21:42
| Blood sign is not always on the ground. Sometimes it is smeared on the grass and brush the animal has pushed past. |
Posted By: Bushie-Bob
Date Posted: 01 July 2006 at 12:28
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Here is a good example of blood sign. This is from a full grown bull buffalo that was well hit in the vitals with a .375H&H. He took off at a gallop through the fringing bush of a dried up swamp. The ground was hard as concrete and covered in short dead grass and leaves. There was a vast amount of buffalo tracks preserved in the dry mud and lots of recent scuffed hoof prints as well. The area is home to a huge herd of buffalo. Visibility in the bush was about twenty yards. A well hit buff can cover up to a mile or more, although most times you find them within 50 to 100 yards. I took the lead armed with a double rifle, solids in both barrells, and my hunting buddy helped me track the path of bull. Buff have really thick hide that often prevents much blood escaping. If they are running along you can just get the occassional squirt as the hole in the hide moves over the wound. We were relying on finding specks of blood like in the photo. As it turned out we walked past the bull initially and followed the growing blood trail, as he slowed right down, back to the carcass. He was dead from an upper heart shot with a 300 grain Barnes TSX but had still travelled about 100 yards. Made it a bit of a chore getting the meat out too. BB  |
Posted By: Goose Hunter Jr
Date Posted: 20 July 2006 at 00:14
| Patience! |
Posted By: splinterhands
Date Posted: 08 January 2007 at 01:33
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On a faint blood trail, always mark at least the three previous blood drops with orange tape. Then you can cast ahead without worrying about losing what sign you have found. Don't give up. |
Posted By: Muleskinner
Date Posted: 23 February 2007 at 15:35
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Brushy, Was that bottom land or a waller? ------------- Mule |
Posted By: Muleskinner
Date Posted: 14 March 2007 at 10:20
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One ol' apache trick I learnt from a navajo livin' on the arapahoe reservation is to carry a fillet knife whist elk huntin'. Now the long, skinny knife ain't to make fillets, it's to loosen up the rectum so's it can be tied off an' yanked out with the guts. ------------- Mule |
Posted By: sst_us
Date Posted: 20 December 2007 at 16:50
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Hunt where the deer are! It may sound stupid simple, but it's everything. Nothing can replace good old fashioned preseason scouting. Locate an active trail between bedding and feeding plots, find a good place to sit or erect a stand that overlooks that trail, clear shooting lanes well in advance of hunting season, and find more than one good way to get to your stand, depending on the wind. Once you're set up, sit there during the off season as you would during deer season. If you don't see deer or recent evidence of deer, find another spot and do the same thing. ------------- Regards, Sam Taylor Life Member-NRA Life Member-NAHC SST's Rifle room http://angelfire.com/mo2/rifleroom - http://angelfire.com/mo2/rifleroom |
Posted By: gary murray
Date Posted: 26 December 2007 at 07:33
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Never give up on a spot. Some people will hunt an area once and then give up on it because they didn't see anything. You need to keep hunting the area time and time again because the deer are there even if you see only does and where there are does there will be bucks. The only time i give up on an area is when too many hunters start to show up on a regular basis. Gary ------------- If you can sue McDonalds for getting you fat then why can't you sue the alcohol companies for all the ugly people you ended up sleeping with? Penticton, B.C. Canada |
Posted By: bcboy
Date Posted: 20 January 2008 at 19:05
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I used to carry a butt hole knife myself. It was given to me by some cranky old texan. It worked plus it was good for gettin the last of the mayo. from the bottom of the jar. ------------- open sights, open minds |
Muleskinner wrote:Posted By: gary murray
Date Posted: 26 January 2008 at 19:42
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I see HunterSpec has butt remover on the market. Gary ------------- If you can sue McDonalds for getting you fat then why can't you sue the alcohol companies for all the ugly people you ended up sleeping with? Penticton, B.C. Canada |
Posted By: RobertMT
Date Posted: 14 April 2008 at 07:01
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I always carry a couple of gallons water, to each gallon, I add one cup salt and one cup vinegar. The salt helps to keep from freezing as fast ( if it's real cold, I throw them in an extra ice chest) and the vinegar really cuts the blood. As soon as I get deer back to truck, I rinse it out real good, then let it drain out. I try to skin all my game within hour or two of killing it. I trim as much bloodshot off as possible. Then I wipe off all hair and blood with vinegar water, let air dry few minutes and then hang in good deer bag. I like either light cotton canvas or a cotton bed sheet sewn into a bag. Even if it is below freezing never hang game in sun, it will get strong flavor. I also try to keep it out of strong wind, it will dry out overnight in a strong wind. One deer sized piece of jerky After it ages, I bone it out ( I never leave any bone in, it gets strong and takes up too much room) then I cut off all of the dark rind and trim it up. This is where I have a different method, instead of steaking at this time, I break it down into prime cuts (top round, bottom round, chuck, loin, ect) and freeze them whole in packages of one or two meals. After I take them out of freezer, I'll do final trimming and steak them. I do this for three reasons. Number one, after you cut up twenty or so deer a year, you save time by doing this. Number two, less freezer burn, less surface area exposed, by not steaking them. Number three, I freeze all my trim and grind and make sausage in Jan or Feb. I know this is only one method of taking care of game and about half the people I know leave the hide on to age. Funny thing is when they try my deer they wonder why it doesn't taste like "DEER". RC ------------- Want to stop Drunk Drivers, from Killing Sober Drivers? Ban Sober Drivers from Driving. That's how Gun Control Works. NRA Benefactor Life, GOA Patriot, SAF |
Posted By: Rockydog
Date Posted: 14 April 2008 at 16:22
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Robert, I do my deer almost exactly like you do yours. Started about 10 years ago after we spent the previous year miserably trying to skin frozen deer in below zero weather. Now they are hung and skinned within an hour of harvest. Best venison you could ever eat. RD ------------- When the people fear their government, there is tyranny; when the government fears the people, there is liberty. Thomas Jefferson |
Posted By: Peterbh
Date Posted: 21 June 2008 at 17:37
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Live in the middle of a deer Wintering area like me. ------------- 
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Posted By: sgraves155
Date Posted: 06 October 2008 at 13:58
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Tramp thru some horse or cow dung before/while going to your stand. That'll overpower the human scent on the soles of your boots. ------------- Steve |
Posted By: 2point
Date Posted: 17 November 2008 at 15:42
| carry some plastic leaf bags and masking tape rolled up in your pack for instant waders in a pinch. 2point |
Posted By: TasunkaWitko
Date Posted: 04 December 2008 at 11:15
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when dragging a deer out by the legs, the hair can seem slippery and cause you to lose your grip more often than you care to have happen. we came across a good remedy for this during this season, and once we tried it, we had one of those slap-your-forehead-well, duh! moments!
take the same black electrician's tape that you probably used to strap the tag onto the antlers or back leg, and make a few wraps around the front legs. the grip is dramatically improved and you won't be dropping it every few yards, stopping to switch hands because your dragging hand is cramping up etc. even if you don't use tape for your tagging, it doesn't hurt to ahve a roll of this stuff in your pocket ~ many uses! ------------- TasunkaWitko - Chinook, Montana  Helfen, Wehren, Heilen Die Wahrheit wird euch frei machen |
Posted By: TasunkaWitko
Date Posted: 05 December 2008 at 05:23
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i can't imagine anything easier than this:
simply drill a hole:
screw in a hook:
hoist her up:
and hook her on....
...repeat for other leg. ------------- TasunkaWitko - Chinook, Montana Helfen, Wehren, Heilen Die Wahrheit wird euch frei machen |
Posted By: Montana Maddnes
Date Posted: 05 December 2008 at 10:55
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After hanging skinning and cleaning your carcase. I find that a small propain torch worked over the carcase lightly and rapidly so as not to scorch the meat. Works very well at removeing those last stuburn hairs. I also try to get the hind off as soon as posible. This is very crittical on lopes. The faster you get a prong horn cooled off the better the meat will be. I knew a guy that accualy took huge coolers in his truck. As soon as a lope was down he was hinded put in a cooler and covered in ice. Sure made for good lope meat. MM ------------- Montana Maddness God Bless The U.S.A. On the Highways for Jesus! |
Posted By: 24mod12
Date Posted: 20 December 2008 at 02:24
| My friend in Pennsylvania saw a man about to throw away a lot of pumpkins instead he asked for them , loaded his p/u with them and took them home.He scattered them on a hillside field alongside of his new mtn home.We watched the whitetails coming into the area to feed on the pumpkins,one deer started to feed on a pumpkin was butted it away then it retaliated getting the pumpkin back. When you kill a deer save the rumen ,wash & dry the contents then check to see what the deer had been feeding on.Locating those plant sources will put one in touch with deer faster.! let my friends read all of the tech manuals that I gathered ,while earning my degree in wildlife mgt, on game food habits prior to their hunts in the Kaibab of Arizona.It helped them locate the feeding areas in fact when one friend stepped on a twig in a ceanothus patch a whole bunch of deer heads popped up. |
Posted By: Rockydog
Date Posted: 20 December 2008 at 03:19
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MM, Got to agree with you on the antelope. Every body told me that it was just awful eating. Being non resident on our first antelope hunt this year we skinned and boned the on the prairie and iced at the truck. This meat is excellent. I've never tasted it any other way but i's far better than we expected. RD ------------- When the people fear their government, there is tyranny; when the government fears the people, there is liberty. Thomas Jefferson |
Posted By: Muleskinner
Date Posted: 10 January 2009 at 12:48
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24, Are you a Lumberjack? ------------- Mule |
Posted By: Geedubya
Date Posted: 14 February 2009 at 14:52
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Earlier someone referenced the "Butt Out" tool. When I first saw this in the Cabela's catalogue I didn't think much of it. After using it all last season (owned by someone else), I went and bought two. One to keep at each lease. Makes taking the ailimentery canal a snap. Best thing I've used in a long time. Just poke it in till it won't go any more, give it a half twist and pull everything out. Much easier than using a knife.  Also, For a city boy, I get to do a fair amount of skinning. I go to my lease monthly at least. There I have the opportunity to hunt varmints which include ravens, bobcats, coons, fox, coyotes, badgers, ringtail cats, aramdillos javelina, and hogs. Hunt turkey in the spring and fall and dove in the fall. Not counting that, our deer season lasts about 2 months and one week I usually am able to hunt about 30 days during that period. In Texas we can take 5 whitetail deer per tag and unlimited exotics such as audad and other type of sheep, axis, fallow and sika deer. I also hunt with nine other guys on one lease and four other on the second. Conseqently, as I said, I have the opportunity to do a fair amount of skinning. Here are some of the tools I use.  Startin at bottom left, RMEF Buck Skinner. This knife has more depth than I normally like. I hesitated to use it, but once I did, wow. Gerber take off the Wyoming knife. I like this because it doesn't have the second blade on the backside that I always nick myself with on a wyoming knife. Makes easy work of opening up hides in a jif. Victoronix/Forschner boning knife. Great for opening up the hide on front legs. Works pretty good as a skinner. Flexible and sharp as hell. Knifes of alaska "yukon belt knife" This is a take off of the old canadian belt knife. This one is in d-2 steel which is one of my favorite knife steels. The shape is perfect for skinning and caping. Until I started using the buck skinner, this was my favorite skinner for several years. Cold steel outdoorsman. This is an excellent heavier knife for reaching down inside the chest cavity and cutting out the lungs and connecting tissue. It also works well at splitting brisket as you can get two hands on it. Top is the knives of alaska bone saw. Works great for splitting brisket and cutting ribs off backbone, and splitting pelvis. However, if you are in a hurry, a battery operated sawzall works pretty darn good too. GWB |
Posted By: gary murray
Date Posted: 15 February 2009 at 05:40
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I seen those Butt out tools advertised and thought it was just a gimmick but other guys seem to swear buy it. One problem i have when gutting is trying to remove the piss bag but they say if you remove the anal then the bladder should just come right out because as hunters we all know how the meat will get tainted if urine gets on it. Gary ------------- If you can sue McDonalds for getting you fat then why can't you sue the alcohol companies for all the ugly people you ended up sleeping with? Penticton, B.C. Canada |
Posted By: 24mod12
Date Posted: 25 August 2009 at 01:49
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Posted By: Muleskinner
Date Posted: 27 December 2009 at 06:50
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Well, I'm a proud NAU Lumberjack, with a dose of UK Wildcat thrown in for good basketball. ------------- Mule |
Posted By: Guests
Date Posted: 27 December 2009 at 07:04
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http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.azroundup.com/images/sports/NAU%2520Lumberjacks.gif&imgrefurl=http://www.azroundup.com/sports/lumberjack%2520football.htm&h=164&w=215&sz=24&tbnid=KIORY_X_EStcNM:&tbnh=81&tbnw=106&prev=/images%3Fq%3DNAU%2BLumberjack&hl=en&usg=__PcCm3Jbmkpa2hlfMKd6pr9s0jvs=&ei=l_c3S6qKIsqvlAfq3s2RBw&sa=X&oi=image_result&resnum=5&ct=image&ved=0CB4Q9QEwBA"> New avatar???
Gee, you are actually better looking than KP said. |
Posted By: Woodywoodduck
Date Posted: 21 March 2011 at 12:17
Tas,
These work a Whole Lot Better Deer Drag Single Harnesshttp://www.swillingtonshootingsupplies.co.uk/store/product/1436/Deer-Drag-Single-Harness/ - http://www.swillingtonshootingsupplies.co.uk/store/product/1 436/Deer-Drag-Single-Harness/
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Posted By: Guests
Date Posted: 22 March 2011 at 01:42
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For years those were made in Western Pa 35 years ago by a guy that invented it. Only problem is the drag portion of the rope is too short, so you are standing on your heels trying to pull. I added a longer rope to mine and my sons. they work great at distribuitng the weight across your back and chest. They are now selling some knock offs, including a double strap model, it just doesn't work...too small in all diemensions, and the drag rope is still to short. |
Posted By: mule_tail
Date Posted: 13 September 2011 at 09:17
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when draging deer dont have people with the attention span of a goldfish helping you it takes two hours longer than it should. ill admit i have the attention span of a goldfish thats how i ended up caving in the left fender of my moms car(beer wasnt involved thats what makes it worse) but im serious and get a different attention span when im hunting....i upgrade to a squirrel m_t ------------- mike Chinook, Montana im not a hunter, im a wildlife population control specialist. |
Posted By: Guests
Date Posted: 14 September 2011 at 03:12
| Used the Butt Out on field dressing my bear, worked good especially in thick vegetation. |
Posted By: jsgbearpaws1
Date Posted: 03 March 2013 at 14:14
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I dress and chill as quick as possible all game animals....especially birds. I discovered the freezing of whole quarters maybe 20 years ago. Just fire up the bandsaw and set the fence for the thickness you want, perfect steaks every time! I've never had meat last for more then a few months in my freezers so freezer burn has never been an issue.....come to think of it, I only have a few birds left and only a handful of steaks now. ------------- ...oh yeah! thats gonna hurt! |
Posted By: Boarkiller
Date Posted: 22 September 2017 at 22:56
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Hunt good areas for decades ( hit them during all four seasons ) It'll be like walking in your backyard You will notice so much |
Posted By: Goatlocker
Date Posted: 06 March 2019 at 18:39
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Has it really been a year and half since anyone posted a tip here? Well here’s a few things I do that work well for me: 1. Usually bring along a small fanny pack of odds & ends that include at a minimum...1. a hickory stick with a 6 foot section of para cord attached to center and rolled up. Slip knott on other end of cord is looped around deer head and held by hickory stick handle makes an easy method to drag deer. 2. Rubber gloves for when I field dress. 3. Basic compass which is very handy at taking a fix on where I last saw animal before the shot. Walk the reciprocal track. 4. Requisite knife(s), and headlamp (red lense to preserve nite vision and low key). 5. Some red pkastic surveye’s tape, and some thumb tacs with reflector heads. 6. Partial roll of tp in a zip lock. 7. Piece of nylon string to tie the deer anus closed when field dressing. Have picked up one of those but- plug gadgets so that’s going in there too. 8. Anything else I might want on a particular hunt can be added or removed as desired. An old indian told me that for scent control, he recommends standing in wood smoke. Seems to work pretty good but not too convenient to build a fire just before every hunt. Have tried a slight mouth gargle and rinse with hydrogen peroxide too. That seems helpful for an hour or so. ------------- Goatlocker Give me a fast boat for I intend to go in harm's way. |
Posted By: Irish Bird Dog
Date Posted: 07 March 2019 at 01:27
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Best to bone out your venison vs saw cutting with bone in...no bone residue (or tallow) gets wiped on the meat from a saw blade either this way..better tasting meat....get meat partially cooled so it is stiff vs frozen solid and then easy to cut steaks any way you like. ------------- Irish Bird Dog NRA Life/Endowment 2nd Amendment Supporter |
Posted By: jsgbearpaws1
Date Posted: 07 March 2019 at 02:49
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You know I forgot to mention cleaning the steaks after cutting them that way. Just figured that was a given. My bad, should try to be more thorough. Good catch IBD! ------------- ...oh yeah! thats gonna hurt! |