Serious Buchering Questions

OchocoKid

Long Time Member
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I drew a Custer park trophy bison tag and I'm headed out in a few weeks for SD.

I find they have changed their program and now they just dump the bull in your pickup and you're on your own. taking it to a butcher may or may not be an option as the nearest one is miles away and may or may not be open depending on what time and what day you need them.


I've done a truckload of deer and elk but I'm not equipped to tackle this task on an animal this big possibly in the dark, in the snow and with only my wife to help. there may be a hoist available which would help a bunch but if not I'm going to have to break it down in pieces we can load and stack.

I'm thinking of a little chain saw and using vegetable oil as bar oil, has anyone tried this? will it make so many bone chips cleaning the meat a nightmare? I'm afraid a hand saw will take a week to quarter with but I'm open to ideas.

Boning it out isn't practical .

Another thing I'm worried about is stacking warm meat into the back off a pickup for a 2 day drive back to eastern OR. it will be December and temps should be cool but that's a big pile of cooling , I've always let meat cool before I stacked it. will this be a problem ?




















Stay Thirsty My Friends
 
A sawzall maybe a better idea then a chain saw. Depends on out side temps. But you should be able to let it cool their in your truck. Before you travel. You could cut up the ribs with the sawzall. Take the back straps,tenderloin and neck meat. Then ditch the carcass.
 
Never thought about a sawzall, I have a good one. I wonder what blades would work best on bone? there's no way I'll find a blade long enough to quarter properly but I could bone out one side than cut to the side of the spine. at least on part of it.

I thought about boning part of it that's what I do on elk to get them on the horses. but on a bison you could really leave a lot of meat if you hurry the job.


I had this tag once before back when they helped you and it still took up an entire log bed pick up. it's going to be quite an undertaking to do it right.









Stay Thirsty My Friends
 
Have You Talked to your Guide?

I Have a Dewalt 20 Volt Cordless Sawzall that Works Well!

4 Batteries!

And Medium Coarse Blades!

Maybe Talk to Your Guide about letting You Skin/Cape it While Hanging off the Loader!

Then Quartering it Up wouldn't be too Bad!

I Can Tell You First Hand that F-250 Ain't got Enough Room in the Back of it to Deal With it Whole!











She Don't Just Rain She Pours!

That Girl Right There's The Perfect Storm!


90087hankjr.jpg
 
You'll need to know How to Spell 'Butcher' before you become one!






She Don't Just Rain She Pours!

That Girl Right There's The Perfect Storm!


90087hankjr.jpg
 
It's a buffalo not an elephant. Lol. Even on elephant then do not quarter with a chain saw. A sawzall will work fine.
 
Battery powered sawzall will reduce hours long job to minutes with a bison. Get the 8-10 inch wood blades, very coarse but won't make a mess of bone chips. Get a wooden pallet to put in the bed of your truck, keeps meatup off the bed floor, allows air circulation, and it'll freeze harder than the back of your head in a few miles. Great for transporting meat over long distances. make sure to cover it good or road salt will get on it during driving. Good luck and get a big one!!!
 
First off, congratulations on drawing that tag, very exciting. I used the gutless method on my buffalo last year and I highly recommend it. Start by removing the hide on one side and then remove one quarter at a time, cut the backstraps and neck meat and roll over and do the other side, bagging each quarter as you go. The biggest thing is get that hide off as soon as possible. Sawzall is the best tool for cutting bones on a large buffalo I prefer the 14-18 teeth per inch blades. I know that a fully quartered large bull with hide and head will fit in the back of a Polaris Ranger, it is amazing how bison are 60% guts and previous posts are right it will not fit in the back of a longbed pickup whole. Good luck and post pictures and a story. I found about this hunt this spring, is it true that they only draw from max point holders and it would be pointless to start putting in now three years behind?
 
Don't know why you'd need a saw buddy? I guess if you want bone-in cuts? otherwise, just take quarters off, remove backstraps, filets, neck meat, flank and brisket (a decently long flat edged knife works well for this)...let cool, wrap in tarp at the front or very back end of your truck bed, depending on what other stuff you have back there (avoid the portion of bed over the rear drive axle, it gets very hot) and you're on your way! If you want to cut thru bone for intact ribs etc, use a metal cutting blade for the sawsall, those cut bone very well

If don't have time to cool thoroughly, stop and get a bunch of ice and put it under the tarped meat, if its really warm, put the ice IN and under the tarped meat and have a nice drive home...park on slight incline when you stop to get fuel and drain tarp if need be

Best of luck, have a great hunt!
 
I've helped do one of these animals before I know what I'm in for. working on the ground in the middle of December possibly in the dark on a 1 ton carcass by yourself is nothing like any deer or elk you've ever played with. an elephant would be about the only thing tougher to do.


The guide is the park herd manager and I know him and he's a good guy. but he's a state employee and this is no longer in his job description. I can't expect any special treatment. I am going to see if he can make sure I have access to the hoist though that would be huge.

I thought about the pallets, it would help a lot. but I have a removable soft cover for the bed I use to keep things clean and dry. it will barely fit over a buffalo without the pallets. but I suppose I could ditch them and cover it after it cooled.

I'll check out he best sawzall blades I can get and make sure to take extra batteries.


It's also not out of the question I can get to a butcher shop. I just have to go prepared in case it's Friday night when I'm sitting there with a buffalo in my pickup.







Stay Thirsty My Friends
 
Great suggestions, especially the sawzall but I'd throw in a small generator and a power cord. Never trust cordless stuff away from the shop.

Second, I'd rent a 12 to 14 flatbed trailer when I got out to SD and haul it out to the kill sight and have them set it on the trailer, so you have some room to spread out. Skinning a buff in back of a pickup sounds like a three ring circus to me, even with a half dozen redneck, let alone just you and Momma.

A again, I agree, especially if you let it set on a couple of wood pallets, one night out, this time of year should cool it right down or even freeze it solid. Once it's froze, roll it in some clean canvas, an head for the barn. Drop the trailer off on your way out of town.

Or, pick up a heavy duty chain block and tackle, pull under some rancher's log post gate, that's cross beam is 18 ft high, toss a chain over it, pull up the block and tackle, run the buff up off the bed of your truck and go to work with your skinner (that one that RELH sold you :D ) and your sawzall. If said rancher happens by, tell him 2lumpy said it was O.K. You'll be fine.

Hope you get a fat cow Tog and have a great trip. Happy Thanksgiving!!!

DC
 
I had this tag 3 years ago and figured it would be years before I drew again. you only need 2 points and then you're back in the game, this was the first year I was eligible again. so if you want to hunt Custer go for it, I think 4 points is max anyway but they're just bonus points not preference points. the bull I took last time made B&C , most do. it's a hard bison hunt to beat but this twist made it a little tougher. good luck .

Chad will gut it and bring him to my pickup so that part is okay. it's the skinning and cutting into pieces that's on me.


Normally I do bone everything except the scapulas and hind quarters which I remove from the pelvis for packing. I suppose I could , I have lots of experience but I'm no professional I'm not super fast or efficient . but what a job to do right under he conditions I may have. and if I let it cool will it be frozen in the morning? it could be below zero. then what. it would just be so much faster to take it in 100 lb chunks if I can do a sanitary job of it. larger if I have the luxury if a hoist.

On my last bull I had 645 lbs of hamburger alone to put it in perspective. there is a reason the whole tribe used to butcher tatanka.








Stay Thirsty My Friends
 
LAST EDITED ON Nov-21-17 AT 11:15PM (MST)[p]hmmmm....I don't think a 3 day drive around neptune could freeze a buffalo harder than the back of Tog''s head.....


497fc2397b939f19.jpg
 
Simply bone the meat off and cape one side

I did mine that way and it was pretty easy----with the wife at the time helping.

Rolling it over to bone/cape the other side wasn't that hard.

Sawzal would be great for getting the head off at the high neck.

If ya don't want to deal with it in the dark ~~ then don't shoot one after like 1 pm......simple as that.

A couple 150 quart coolers $70/Cosco or Sams club and you are good to go...

Robb
 
They've Changed the Regs!

It's Mandatory You Use an AR-15!

Guess You'll have to Return the Tag!:D







She Don't Just Rain She Pours!

That Girl Right There's The Perfect Storm!


90087hankjr.jpg
 
we use chain saw with veg oil on moose and if you have extra time and plenty of batteries use a sawsall,and we load moose on plains in a cargo toteand the parts are standing up and not staked and can be moved with a forklift, and between sd. and oregon should be a butcher. It would be nice If you can get it apart and leave it over night to cool and pack the tote with snow you should be able to get home
 
We've done 3 cow bison in the field all with only pocket knives and a small camp axe.
The gutting will be the hard part if they will not do it for you while hoisted.
Have a knife sharpener and you'll be fine. Took us just about 2 hours to do my cow last January in the field. We used the grill guard on the front of the truck to tie up and hold legs for the work.
They are big but not impossible to do yourself.
Get a tarp and put the quarters on it then pack some bags and blocks of ice around the quarters.
Skin it asap to get the heat dissipated out of the quarters.
We left only the spinal column in the field when finished.
Quarters are heavy !!
 
My last one hung on the rail at just under 1100 lbs , so quarters won't be an option at 275 lbs each unless I have the hoist. I'm a good size boy but I'm not that tough.

Shooting it at a convenient time isn't an option. you have 3 days , my hunt ends Friday . they're in the hills covered with pine trees. it's fair chase, when you find a bull you want you take them or you may not have another chance. I mean it's not like hunting elk, but you're hunting them right where the elk are.





I guess I'll take the sawzall and my chain saw and do what ever I have to do . if I can use a hoist that's great and if I can take it to a butcher even better.

At least I know what I could be in for. I can't imagine what some poor old guy would do when they bring a ton of bison back Friday night and dump it in your rig as wave goodbye. sit around until the meat shop opened Monday morning I guess.




Stay Thirsty My Friends
 
And I Quote:

I'm a good size boy but I'm not that tough.

All These Years We've Come to Believe You're The Toughest SOB downstairs!

You're Now Sayin it Ain't So?

JUDAS!







She Don't Just Rain She Pours!

That Girl Right There's The Perfect Storm!


90087hankjr.jpg
 
If they are going to gut the buff for you, you got half the battle won. Main thing will be to get the hide off and try to quarter the animal for faster cool down. It should be cold enough to prevent meat spoilage.
Give you a hint, if you want good eating, do not kill a buff over 3 years of age. The meat is great if 3 or under. Over 3 years, plan on a lot of hamburger. If you plan on any steaks from a older animal, have the butcher run them though the meat tenderizer twice.
My first was a large 1900 pound bull, after that the next three were young cows or bulls after the wife told me no more tough older bulls.

RELH
 
This is the trophy tag so you can only shoot the old bulls , and since I'd like another B&C bull that's what I'm after.

My last one was certainly not as good as a younger bull but he wasn't as bad as I expected. I'm going to save more steak this time. they're a funny built animal, they weigh 2-3 times what a good bull elk weighs but I don't think they have much more back strap. all front end.

They do put out some non-trophy tags if anyone is interested in just meat hunting. I think they're easier to draw too. just 1 day but that's plenty for that hunt. it would be a much better experience than a ranch deal in my opinion.

Sounds like the meat shop in Hot Springs might do a pretty good job of working with hunters after I got ahold of them . that will be my preferred option but I'm going prepared for whatever. chances are the temps will be at or below freezing my entire trip home so if I can even hang it overnight before it goes in the pickup I should be good.

thanks for the input guys.








Stay Thirsty My Friends
 
I have seen hoists that go into the receiver hitch that swivel to put the load into the bed. Not sure where I've seen them, but if I remember correctly the video showed one person loading a full deer into the bed with little effort. If you are handy with metal and a welder it might even be something you can build before your hunt.
 
LAST EDITED ON Nov-23-17 AT 08:59AM (MST)[p]Hi OchocoKid,
As far as saw all blades go, try the bi-metal ones they'll work the best and should last the longest and come in varies sizes.

Do you have access to a flat bed trailer? That might work for you.

Joe


"Sometimes you do things wrong for so long you
think their right" - 2001
"I can't argue with honesty" - 2005
-Joe E Sikora
 
I believe he's looking to lift quarters, not the whole buff at one time. As long as he keeps the weight down it should work. He stated each quarter would be about 275lbs.
 
Don't Try to lift a Whole Buff with that little PISSCUTTER Hoist!

Build one!

Make it Heavy Duty!

And Run it with a Winch!









She Don't Just Rain She Pours!

That Girl Right There's The Perfect Storm!


90087hankjr.jpg
 
'I believe he's looking to lift quarters, not the whole buff at one time. As long as he keeps the weight down it should work. He stated each quarter would be about 275lbs.'


That is how I read the OP's needs---so the 400lb max would be plenty 1 would think.

Robb
 
JUDAS!

Just Load Him Before You Shoot Him!








She Don't Just Rain She Pours!

That Girl Right There's The Perfect Storm!


90087hankjr.jpg
 
Hey dude!

Slip the Guy a 20 for 3 extra minutes!








She Don't Just Rain She Pours!

That Girl Right There's The Perfect Storm!


90087hankjr.jpg
 
Seriously though!

Buy Yourself a Portable 12 Volt Winch!

Hook it to your 5th Wheel Hitch/Ball!

And Pull the Quarters in if a couple of You Can't Man Handle them!










She Don't Just Rain She Pours!

That Girl Right There's The Perfect Storm!


90087hankjr.jpg
 
It sounds like I can use the state's hoist to skin and quarter. that solves 90% of the problems.

My knives and a sawzall should be all I need.

I'll have some pictures and report back so those who might be putting in for this tag will know what their options are and come prepared. the non-trophy hunt would be the same situation.















Stay Thirsty My Friends
 
>It sounds like I can use
>the state's hoist to skin
>and quarter. that
>solves 90% of the problems.
>
>
> My knives and a sawzall
>should be all I need.
>
>
>I'll have some pictures and report
>back so those who might
>be putting in for this
>tag will know what their
>options are and come prepared.
> the non-trophy hunt would
>be the same situation.
>
>
>
>Stay Thirsty My Friends

?
#livelikezac
 
Congrats on the tag, I had it last year. Sounds like you know what you're in for. The hoist will be a huge help and it should cool out fine chunked into 6 pieces, hind quarters, front shoulders and the rib cage halves. Mine was cool but not frozen when I dropped the quarters in the truck the next morning but they were frozen solid when I got home to Washington.
 
Skil makes some pruning blades that will cut through bone like a knife through hot butter. They clean out much better than bi-metal blades...
 
When I had this tag before Chad helped skin and quarter it up at the old meat facility at the compound. is that what you did or did you do it yourself ?

I assume that's the hoist you use in any case ? did you just let it hang outside ? that would be fine as long as you can get it high enough to keep the dogs from chewing on it.

as long as I have access to the hoist that's the main thing then I'm golden, that's good to know.


What did your bull score ? mine was 118 but the guy before me took a 121 they said.








Stay Thirsty My Friends
 
Good to know, are they called pruning blades or are they wood blades ? I wondered about wood blades but I thought they may be too coarse.













Stay Thirsty My Friends
 
Call the butcher and have them hook you up with a guy that does slaughtering they are the ones you want on site with you.
 
Metal blades would work but might be kind of slow but would give the best finish. Real fine dust. A medium wood blade should be a good choice, IMO. Take a few of each and see what you like.

97172deliverancebanjo.jpg
 
>When I had this tag before
>Chad helped skin and quarter
>it up at the old
>meat facility at the compound.
> is that what you
>did or did you do
>it yourself ?
>
> I assume that's the hoist
>you use in any
>case ? did you just
>let it hang outside ?
> that would be fine
>as long as you can
>get it high enough to
>keep the dogs from chewing
>on it.
>
> as long as I have
> access to the hoist
>that's the main thing then
>I'm golden, that's good to
>know.
>
>
>What did your bull score ?
>mine was 118 but the
>guy before me took a
>121 they said.
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>Stay Thirsty My Friends

I hung mine in the facility, scored 116-6/8
 
>
>You'll need to know How to
>Spell 'Butcher' before you become
>one!
>
>
>
>
>
>
>She Don't Just Rain She Pours!
>
>
>That Girl Right There's The Perfect
>Storm!
>
>
>
>
90087hankjr.jpg


Lmfao!!!! that comment made me spit a little Coors Light out when I read it....
 
First off, I am so jealous of this tag. It would be a dream hunt for me but I looked into it and saw the cost of the tag and I have no choice but to bow out. Seems kind of crappy of them to get that much money and then just dump it off on you and not be a little more helpful.
I think you will be fine with the sawsall and I would ditch the soft top. I use an insulated moving blanket or blankets for my large animals although I have never done anything this big. I put a ton of ice down, then lay the meat on that, then lay a ton of ice on top and wrap it all up in the blanket(s). I'm sure you know all of this and I think you'll do fine. I hear it has been pretty cold up there so as long as you get the hide off and guts out, you'll be golden. Take your time and you'll be great. Enjoy the hunt and can't wait to hear all about it.
 
Pallet,cover the meat with a good tarp,if it has snowed or you pass thru a area that has snow, shovel a pile of snow on the tarp, meat cooling is done.
This worked for a Moose my nephew took.

"I have found if you go the extra mile it's Never crowded".
>[Font][Font color = "green"]Life member of
>the MM green signature club.[font/]
 

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