Gut hook or Outdoor Edge

ChubbyTuna · Feb 14, 2011

Which works better for opening up the hide. Especially on thick skin late season elk. Is it easier to push with the OE or pull with the gut hook and which offers the better control.

mmwb · Feb 14, 2011

I've never used a gut hook. A sharp blade will push along fine.

beavis14 · Feb 16, 2011

a sharp knife works best. but the outdoor edge is better than the gut hook as it will get loaded up with hair

ChubbyTuna · Feb 16, 2011

Exactly the info I was looking for. Thank you.

Garion33 · Feb 16, 2011

Tuna, I have used knives & gut hooks on most animals. I personally prefer using a good, sharp knife. I use Cutco. I find when using a gut hook, it is easily clogged with hair, especially on the larger animal like Moose & Elk. Now, I just run the knife along the back, just watching out for my fingers, and don't stop until I get to the tail. I suppose if you still gut them and work from underneath, the clogged hair might not be as bad, since it is finer hair.

I hope this helps.

Good luck.
Garion33

ChubbyTuna · Feb 17, 2011

For deer sized game, I just use my knife. Last year I took my first elk and had to break it down all by myself. In many instances I was having to do it one handed while holding the legs, guts, whatever out of the way with the other hand. I'm sure my technique will improve the more elk I do.

beavis14 · Feb 17, 2011

take rope or twine to spread the elk open helps a ton !

Garion33 · Feb 17, 2011

Tuna, on larger animals, there is no need to "gut" the animal. I stopped gutting them about 10/12 years ago. I peel the hide on one side, take both quarters off, then go after the backstrap, neck, and rib meat. I then roll the animal over and repeat. Lastly, with a few cuts, you can get at the tenderloins. Have a tarp close at hand to lay your peices out, then bag.

Take care,
Garion

ChubbyTuna · Feb 18, 2011

All good advice and I did use my rope to tie him open. Problem was, he died between 2 logs and I had to gut him just to remove enough weight to move him. Yes, it was HIlarious to watch but I finally got her done. I will be attempting the gutless method my next go around.

Wiszard · Mar 29, 2011

I've never needed to field dress an animal larger than a mule deer. I've always used the same knife throughout the entire field dressing process. I never understood why multiple knives are needed in order to field dress. Seems like two fingers properly placed between the blade of the knife and creep up the gut cavity has always worked for me. I use a 3" blade so it is small enough to get up far enough in the animals base of the neck area to cut the esophogus out. We don't let our animals hang for more than a day or two so no worries about the esophogus rotting...as I hear they do rather quickly. I always wondered about a gut hook but after reading this post it seems they will get filled with hair anyway. Maybe more of a hassle than a help. Just my two cents.

Steve
Derkha derkha Muhammed jihad hakha sherpha sherpha abakhala- Gary of Team America World Police

SLIVER · Mar 31, 2011

Whenever I gut an animal, which is not often these days, I use the Wyoming Knife. It opens them like a zipper. I have had the clogging with hair problem, however you simply remove the knife and unclog, re-insert and finish opening him up. With the Wyoming Knife I could open up a large cow elk in 10 seconds or less if someone is holding the legs. The gut hook does not replace a good sharp knife for other tasks, however it is a tool in my backpack everytime.

}}-SLIVER-->