Removal of head and feet prior to skinning - is it really a requirement

[Ratcatcher]

I always leave everything on if it's a roe, easier to drag and hang, plus I have a long list of people in the local who want the feet for their dogs, roe and red! Our hunting dog? (a shih Tzu) loves them and eats the lot hooves and all

 

[weblyish]

I've never been anywhere where the hard gralloch can be left in the field

So if you need to take that with you it might as well be attached to the deer rather than cut the legs off and try to bring them back without risking any contamination of the rest of the deer

Ditto the head. If you take that off in the field then it's a lump to drag back with you so leave it attached

 

[uneducated_outdoorsman]

We typically skin while still hot. Leave head and legs on until thr jacket is off, I find it gives you areas to hold onto and move the carcass without getting dirt and hair onto the fat/meat. Once skinned and ready to hang we’ll take the legs off, if space allows head will stay on for a day or two to stretch the neck.

No right or wrong way, just however you’re trained.

 

[User00056]

what are the thoughts on leaving the hooves and head on

If you're happy enough to carry it then crack on

 

[jcampbellsmith]

We typically skin while still hot. Leave head and legs on until the jacket is off, I find it gives you areas to hold onto and move the carcass without getting dirt and hair onto the fat/meat. Once skinned and ready to hang we’ll take the legs off, if space allows head will stay on for a day or two to stretch the neck.

No right or wrong way, just however you’re trained.

This is how the man I watch does it. He won't let guests touch a carcass that he is skinning. He works to high standards.

Regards

JCS

 

[muddy42]

What do you mean by requirement? Game dealers want both heads and legs off before collection or accepting them. The reasoning is that feet could be dirty.

But if you are butchering yourself and are able to hang the deer separately I don't think it makes much difference. Its a bit more awkward to hang deer with back feet on and the heads make them longer. BUT you get a straighter neck if you leave the head on.

Personally I take feet off when I get back to the larder, open up the chest and I leave the head on until skinning.