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Conference vmsnet::hunting$note:hunting

Title:The Hunting Notesfile
Notice:Registry #7, For Sale #15, Success #270
Moderator:SALEM::PAPPALARDO
Created:Wed Sep 02 1987
Last Modified:Tue Jun 03 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:1561
Total number of notes:17784

292.0. "To Hang or not to Hang" by CSG001::MCCONNELL (I'm the NRA) Tue Nov 29 1988 15:20

      I am new to this file and hunting in general and have a questions
    about deer hunting.  If you get a deer, do you have to hang it for
    a few days??  I read the note on cleaning game but it didn't say
    anything.....
    
    
    					Thanks for you help
    
    							Steve M.
    
T.RTitleUserPersonal
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292.1cool it quicklyTWOBOS::LAFOSSETue Nov 29 1988 15:4312
    It's a good idea for a couple of reasons, one is to let it cool and
    bleed out, and the other is to give it time to "age" the meat. This
    is only if the weather is cold, if the weather cooperates 4-5 days
    is a good hanging time.  If its warm, get it to the butcher immediately.
    
    One other thing when gutting them out/hanging them is to cool the body
    cavity down quickly, a couple of sticks propping open the body cavity
    is a good practice, others are snow (if available) or water from
    streams, others use leaves... personally I stay away from the leaves, 
    dosn't look to sanitary.
    
    Fra                                                                  
292.2watch the tempsCARLSN::STUARTI'm the NRATue Nov 29 1988 15:5016
    that depends upon several things...
    
    1. do you cut up your own animal, if not there isn't any reason
    to hang it because the meat cutter will hang it awhile until the
    meat sets up to the point where he can cut it up.
            
    2. if you do cut your own then you can hang it for the above reason
    but be wary if the ambient temps are warm, the meat will start to
    deterioate.
    
    I used to cut all my own except when the temps were too warm and
    then I let a butcher with a meat locker have it but now that I've
    done several deer myself I figure the $20 is worth the cost espically
    when you figure in the pork added to the ground meat and that it's
    wrapped and frozen.
               
292.3What to do when your deer is down (CW song &^D)MEIS::GARCEAUI'm the NRATue Nov 29 1988 15:5355
292.4In the same vein....BTO::RIVERS_DWilbur E.Tue Nov 29 1988 16:4612
    Does it make a difference whether you hang it head first or (hind)
    feet first?
    
    Some people tell me that you should always hang it from the feet
    so the blood drains out the mouth.  The taxidermist said to always
    hang it from the head, especially when you are going to mount it.
    He said that hanging it upside-down would cause the hair to stand
    straight out and he has problems laying it back down.
    
    What's the diff?
    
    Dave
292.5KRAPPA::KEYWORTHTue Nov 29 1988 16:578
    While I'm always carefull to clean the body cavity out and cool
    the animal off as soon as posible, I have always cut mine up and
    frozen it within a day or two at the most. I've always had good
    tasting venison. I think the freezing process helps to break down
    the fiber too. You'll hear many different opinions. I think it was
    my grandfather who told me that they used to bury it for a week
    of two and then dig it up, scrap off the mold and the meat that
    was left was very tender. I think I'll stay with my method.
292.6hangmanTWOBOS::LAFOSSETue Nov 29 1988 17:1116
    I would tend to think that hanging it by the head/antlers is the
    best method for letting it "bleed".  after all, you have an opening
    now (after field dressing) that is 10 times the size of the mouth,
    therefore causing a much faster/more efficient bleed out.
    
    one thing.... don't do what one guy i know did; shot a nice 9
    pointer, slit the throat for bleedout, then hung it from the neck
    to hang, not only does the slit cause problems with the mount but
    hanging it by the neck after didn't help bleedout, and as it hung
    the hide started to tear around the throat.  Mainly what i'm saying
    is don't read those field dressing manuals in the kits that kmart
    sells.... you know the ones with the gloves and netting ;^)  this is 
    what he did, and i'm sure he would kick himself now after his visit
    to the taxidermist.
    
    Fra
292.7BPOV04::J_AMBERSONTue Nov 29 1988 17:2017
    Some points on field dressing and hanging deer.
    
    - Gut them ASAP
    
    - I hang them upside down untill it is time to skin them.  Then
      hang them by there head for skinning and butchering.  
    
    - If you are having the head mounted, don't slit the skin up the
      throat.  SLit up the back of the neck.
    
    - I have hung deer from 0 days up untill a full week.  Depends on
      the weather.  Never ruined any meat.
    
    -There is no need to slit a deers throat.  If you have gutted him,
     he will bleed fine.
     
    Jeff
292.8What ever works.BPOV04::J_AMBERSONTue Nov 29 1988 17:477
    I always thought it was easier to skin a deer from the head back.
    That way the hide comes off with the lay of the ribs.  When skinning
    one for a mount, I do it in two sections.  The back end first, then
    the shoulders and head.  You do have to work "back-assword" when
    skining for a mount.
       
    Jeff
292.9BLEEDING OUT??????BTO::SILKTue Nov 29 1988 19:1210
    
    
     I've never heard of such a thing "Hanging too bleed Out"???? Usually
    the deer I've shot,pretty much "bleed out" as soon as the inner
    diaphragm is broke to pull out the lungs ,heart ect.I think you'd
    have to do alot of muscle masaging to work that blood out of the
    viens while hanging. Always thought hanging was for cooling and
    aging????????????
    
                                                 Kevin
292.10Kev's right!MEIS::GARCEAUI'm the NRAWed Nov 30 1988 10:129
            
            Re: < Note 292.9 by BTO::SILK >  -< BLEEDING OUT?????? >-
   
            I have  to  agree with Kevin here.   Now  that I think of it,
         nothing much more comes out by the time I get it home anyway.  A
         heart/lung  shot  definately does a good job of bleeding  before
         you release the diaphram.

            Brian
292.11TSE::LEFEBVRENothing personalWed Nov 30 1988 10:5814
    One word of advice if you're hunting from a wilderness camp...
    
    If you're hunting for an extended period of time and you tag one
    early in the week, make sure you hang the deer upside down.  Ever
    seen the damage that a coyote or other critter will due to a deer
    that is hanging from a pole?  I'd rather have the head and neck
    damaged than tenderloins...
    
    It would be enough to ruin your week.
    
    Better yet, make sure the deer is hanging HIGH enough so that critters
    can't reach it.
    
    Mark.
292.12SUN IS BAD NEWSWOODRO::GPELLETIERWed Nov 30 1988 15:348
    One thing I did not see mentioned is if at all posible DO NOT hang
    your game where the sun will get to it. I had one ( my first) i
    let hang and the sun got to it. Never again. I let my game hang
    for a day or two out of the sun (in a meat locker if posible) and
    then cut it up. The one I got this year hung for a day and a half.
    I shot it on a thursday at 2:00pm and cut it up on friday evening.
    Had a steak the other night. It was great.
    
292.13HANG FOR AGINGMUTT::HAMRICKWed Nov 30 1988 18:3811
    Hang for aging not bleeding.
    
    In  my experience most of the bleeding is done during field dressing,
    very little is done while hanging, although some is. Hanging is
    done to age the meat. A butcher friend of mine says beef aging is
    done in 55-60 degree locker for 4 days. I always hang mine for 3
    days minimum(weather permitting), and I have not had any bad venison
    in about 25 yrs. Just my thoughts.
    
    Harvey
    
292.14BOOTES::KEYESWed Nov 30 1988 19:1624
    I recently read an article that a deer should be hung by the head
    and not the hind legs. some of the reasons around this are,
    
    o If there is any other bleeding to do it has a bigger opening from
      the rear to escape.
    
    o If you happen to damage the glands on the legs as you are draging
      it out, by hanging it from the head down helps to inusure that 
      there will be no possible leakage from it. If you happen to damage
      a gland on the leg, by hanging it from the hind legs, the leakage
      would have a better chance of getting into the meat.
    
    o Along with the above, its possible that you might have ruptured
      the urine sack as you gut the deer without really knowing this
      and if this occurs, its best to hang the deer where this would 
      spread over less meat and this would be the head, since the urine
      sack is closet to the rear end.
    
    
    Believe it or not, I also read an article that stated that the
    quality of the meat also has alot to do with where the deer was
    hit. Some people believe the the wild tast and how strong it is
    has alot to do with how much blood is remaining in the meat.
    I for one happen to agree with this.
292.15MY 2 CENTSBTO::STEVENS_JStill Making Table CandlesWed Nov 30 1988 21:4410
      I recently shot a fine deer and when i brought it to the taxidermist
    he asked me how i hanged it. I told him hoofs up. He informed me
     this is the proper way to hang it. He did tell me trophy deer 
    should be cared for this way. I checked it out with another guy
    and he said almost the same thing.
    
            
    
     jeff
    
292.16HPSTEK::EMERRILLNature is a MotherThu Dec 01 1988 10:329
    re:292.15
    
     >    I told him hoofs up. He informed me
     >    this is the proper way to hang it. He did tell me trophy deer 
     >    should be cared for this way.
    
    What do you mean????  Did you hang it from the ceiling by it's feet??
    I've shot many deer and have never heard of hanging one with the
    hoofs up. Please explain.
292.17EXPLANATIONBTO::STEVENS_JStill Making Table CandlesThu Dec 01 1988 18:1211
    RE:15
    
              ...Rear hoofs up is what i meant. Sorry if everyone
    misunderstood me. He explained to me that if you hang it by the
     head or rack that the neck stretches a few inches.
    
    
        Hope this clears up any questions(-:
    
    
        jeff
292.18BTO::RIVERS_DWilbur E.Fri Dec 02 1988 09:519
    >>>  if you hang it from the head or rack that the neck stretches
    >>>  a few inches.
    
      Is this really a problem?  Would it stretch enough to tear the
      skin?  Once the taxidermist capes the head and the skin is away
      from the skin, it should contract (shrink), no?
    
    
    Dave
292.19Rubber necking????????HPSTEK::EMERRILLNature is a MotherFri Dec 02 1988 11:0419
>    < Note 292.18 by BTO::RIVERS_D "Wilbur E." >
re: 292.18

>   >>>  if you hang it from the head or rack that the neck stretches
>   >>>  a few inches.
    
>      Is this really a problem?  Would it stretch enough to tear the
>      skin?  Once the taxidermist capes the head and the skin is away
>      from the skin, it should contract (shrink), no?
 
    
    I have to agree with Dave. Hanging from the neck does not tear the
    skin. After the taxidermist capes the head and processes the cape,
    it is fitted over a form. That form is not the exact same shape
    as that of the original deer. How can minor stretching be the problem?
    Could it be that caping out the deer hanging from the head, would
    require making an additional cut in the neck/shoulder area???
    
    
292.20how 'bout our feathered friends?CLUSTA::STORMFri Dec 02 1988 13:2812
    How 'bout hanging birds?  How many of you do this and for how long?
    Does it really help the taste?
    
    I've been hanging my pheasants, ducks, and grouse.  With the weather
    we've had this fall, I've only felt comfortable hanging them for
    a day or two.  I can't honestly say that I've compared enough to
    notice a difference.
    
    Comments?
    
    Mark,
    
292.21Small game flavor.HPSTEK::EMERRILLNature is a MotherFri Dec 02 1988 13:379
>        How 'bout hanging birds?  How many of you do this and for how long?
>    Does it really help the taste?
 
    I don't hang birds or other small game. If you dress small game
    right away, there is no problem with the flavor. Dressing game
    while they are still warm is easier and faster. The flavor is much
    more affected by the way it is prepared for the table.
    
    Ellis
292.22BOMBE::BONINFri Dec 02 1988 15:2110

         Like .20 I haven't made any comparisons, but I do believe
         that a little aging improves the flavor of game birds. The
         best way is to leave your birds in the refrigerator for three
         of four days before cooking or freezing. This has the same
         effect on the flavor as hanging and it's more convenient
         and sanitary.

         Doug
292.23one day is plentySALEM::MACGREGORWed Dec 07 1988 15:418
    The first couple of deer I have taken I let hang for about 5 days
    but after talking to a friend of mine who is a butcher in Billings
    Montana he told me you only have to hang it for one day in order
    for the enzymes in the muscles to die. From what he said to me they
    tend to live on for 24 hours after the animal has died. I have tried
    it both ways and it didn't seem to matter as far as taste went.
    He had told me that one day is plenty. 
    							bret