Butchering
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Butchering
I was wanting to start butchering my own game this season. Any tricks or tips? What do you buy? What was a waste?
Disclaimer: Anything I state can not be applied to 100% of all situations. Sometimes it's ok to speak in general terms.
Re: Butchering
There are a lot of YouTube videos on it. I also do my own butchering and find it just as enjoyable as the hunt. For basics you will need a good knife and a pulley to lift any big game. You can buy butchering kits at most sporting goods stores. You can also get your own grinder, sausage stuffer, and dehydrator. I recommend buying a quality product as the plastic grinders usually don't last long and cannot process much meat at a time. The best advice I can give is after you debone the animal keep the meat cold. You don't want the whole carcass sitting at room temperature while you are grinding as this invites all kinds of things that can get you sick.
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Re: Butchering
Look at the Havalon knives.
They are surgically sharp with low cost replaceable blades.
They are surgically sharp with low cost replaceable blades.
Re: Butchering
I like having 4 different knives at my disposal while working. A 10 inch Cimeter, a flexible boning knife, a semi-stiff boning knife, and a 4 inch utility knife. I also keep a filet knife around.
All are kept as sharp as possible, which for me is hair popping sharp if the steel will allow that.
All are kept as sharp as possible, which for me is hair popping sharp if the steel will allow that.
Re: Butchering
Abraham wrote:Look at the Havalon knives.
They are surgically sharp with low cost replaceable blades.

Re: Butchering
TheDude wrote:Abraham wrote:Look at the Havalon knives.
They are surgically sharp with low cost replaceable blades.My father whipped one of those out last year after I harvested a small doe. Wow that thing was sharp! Replacing the blade is a super easy way to ensure you always have a sharp edge. Accidents happen with dull knives.

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- Charlies.Contingency
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Re: Butchering
Good thing is, you can usually eat your mistakes.
I am getting more into butchering, and am trying to conjure up the funds to build a butcher shop for my family to more efficiently butcher animals from chickens to steers. If you have never done butchering before, find somebody who has. Watching somebody at work with a knife is more valuable than anything else. I have a book that you might like, it is called "The Ultimate Guide to Home Butchering: How to Prepare Any Animal or Bird for the Table or Freezer." Though it may be fairly vague in some places, it is a great place to start. Look around for it, as most Tractor Supply stores carry it, as well as book stores. Or try online shopping if you're into that stuff. It goes around from tools, knifes, equipment, to preparing for butchering, and butchering, with coverage on different cuts and such.
I can't really make any suggestions to you, without knowing what it is you plan on doing, how often, your experience, etc. A good place to start though is a really good couple of knifes!

I am getting more into butchering, and am trying to conjure up the funds to build a butcher shop for my family to more efficiently butcher animals from chickens to steers. If you have never done butchering before, find somebody who has. Watching somebody at work with a knife is more valuable than anything else. I have a book that you might like, it is called "The Ultimate Guide to Home Butchering: How to Prepare Any Animal or Bird for the Table or Freezer." Though it may be fairly vague in some places, it is a great place to start. Look around for it, as most Tractor Supply stores carry it, as well as book stores. Or try online shopping if you're into that stuff. It goes around from tools, knifes, equipment, to preparing for butchering, and butchering, with coverage on different cuts and such.
I can't really make any suggestions to you, without knowing what it is you plan on doing, how often, your experience, etc. A good place to start though is a really good couple of knifes!

Sent from Iphone: Please IGNORE any grammatical or spelling errors.
ALL of my statements are to be considered opinionated and not factual.
ALL of my statements are to be considered opinionated and not factual.
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- Senior Member
- Posts: 1109
- Joined: Mon May 18, 2015 7:45 pm
- Location: DFW Denton County
Re: Butchering
Thank you, we have a tractor supply near us I'll go take a lookCharlies.Contingency wrote:Good thing is, you can usually eat your mistakes.![]()
I am getting more into butchering, and am trying to conjure up the funds to build a butcher shop for my family to more efficiently butcher animals from chickens to steers. If you have never done butchering before, find somebody who has. Watching somebody at work with a knife is more valuable than anything else. I have a book that you might like, it is called "The Ultimate Guide to Home Butchering: How to Prepare Any Animal or Bird for the Table or Freezer." Though it may be fairly vague in some places, it is a great place to start. Look around for it, as most Tractor Supply stores carry it, as well as book stores. Or try online shopping if you're into that stuff. It goes around from tools, knifes, equipment, to preparing for butchering, and butchering, with coverage on different cuts and such.
I can't really make any suggestions to you, without knowing what it is you plan on doing, how often, your experience, etc. A good place to start though is a really good couple of knifes!
Disclaimer: Anything I state can not be applied to 100% of all situations. Sometimes it's ok to speak in general terms.
Re: Butchering
If you ever get a chance to come to the Houston area make a stop at Allied Kenco. They are loaded with items for butchering game. I hate going in there because I always want to buy more stuff.
http://www.alliedkenco.com/
http://www.alliedkenco.com/
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- Charlies.Contingency
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- Joined: Mon Oct 27, 2014 4:58 pm
- Location: South Central Texas
Re: Butchering
The best part of it all, is the feeling you get from providing for your own with your own two hands. I re-read your post and noted that you mentioned only "game," though I took it as general butchering. Learn more about it, as there is ALWAYS something to learn. You can go a long way with a knife, but you can go even farther with that knife with the proper knowledge.Richbirdhunter wrote:Thank you, we have a tractor supply near us I'll go take a lookCharlies.Contingency wrote:Good thing is, you can usually eat your mistakes.![]()
I am getting more into butchering, and am trying to conjure up the funds to build a butcher shop for my family to more efficiently butcher animals from chickens to steers. If you have never done butchering before, find somebody who has. Watching somebody at work with a knife is more valuable than anything else. I have a book that you might like, it is called "The Ultimate Guide to Home Butchering: How to Prepare Any Animal or Bird for the Table or Freezer." Though it may be fairly vague in some places, it is a great place to start. Look around for it, as most Tractor Supply stores carry it, as well as book stores. Or try online shopping if you're into that stuff. It goes around from tools, knifes, equipment, to preparing for butchering, and butchering, with coverage on different cuts and such.
I can't really make any suggestions to you, without knowing what it is you plan on doing, how often, your experience, etc. A good place to start though is a really good couple of knifes!

Let me know you your journey's go! I don't post here on the forum about my game, nor do I document the process start to finish. I do take great pride in my work, but I do not believe in trophy hunting or bragging, I only show my works to my wife and God.
Sent from Iphone: Please IGNORE any grammatical or spelling errors.
ALL of my statements are to be considered opinionated and not factual.
ALL of my statements are to be considered opinionated and not factual.
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- Senior Member
- Posts: 1109
- Joined: Mon May 18, 2015 7:45 pm
- Location: DFW Denton County
Re: Butchering
I agree Charles, I'll shoot a doe before a buck they taste better. The best tasting animal I harvested was a yearling elk it was like eating veal.Charlies.Contingency wrote:The best part of it all, is the feeling you get from providing for your own with your own two hands. I re-read your post and noted that you mentioned only "game," though I took it as general butchering. Learn more about it, as there is ALWAYS something to learn. You can go a long way with a knife, but you can go even farther with that knife with the proper knowledge.Richbirdhunter wrote:Thank you, we have a tractor supply near us I'll go take a lookCharlies.Contingency wrote:Good thing is, you can usually eat your mistakes.![]()
I am getting more into butchering, and am trying to conjure up the funds to build a butcher shop for my family to more efficiently butcher animals from chickens to steers. If you have never done butchering before, find somebody who has. Watching somebody at work with a knife is more valuable than anything else. I have a book that you might like, it is called "The Ultimate Guide to Home Butchering: How to Prepare Any Animal or Bird for the Table or Freezer." Though it may be fairly vague in some places, it is a great place to start. Look around for it, as most Tractor Supply stores carry it, as well as book stores. Or try online shopping if you're into that stuff. It goes around from tools, knifes, equipment, to preparing for butchering, and butchering, with coverage on different cuts and such.
I can't really make any suggestions to you, without knowing what it is you plan on doing, how often, your experience, etc. A good place to start though is a really good couple of knifes!![]()
Let me know you your journey's go! I don't post here on the forum about my game, nor do I document the process start to finish. I do take great pride in my work, but I do not believe in trophy hunting or bragging, I only show my works to my wife and God.
Disclaimer: Anything I state can not be applied to 100% of all situations. Sometimes it's ok to speak in general terms.