Carcass and butchery logistics: how do you do it?

[Pine Marten]

Thanks a lot everyone for all your tips! It seems that it boils down to two options for me then: doing the quartering and packing out in the field, which has to be a morning activity because I doubt that doing it at night is a simple matter unless you're carrying a serious torch, or finding a friendly butcher.

I will have a word with Malcolm before the stalk and work this out in advance. All the while making sure that this is not going to cause any domestic strife. Also, I'm going to stick with my intention of staying away from the larger species of deer for now.

 

[geoshot]

Best of luck for April Pine Marten!
Malc will work his tail off for you, he tries like crazy to get you a deer or two.
I hope that you have had as good a time as I've enjoyed there with Malc, here's a taster;
http://www.thestalkingdirectory.co.uk/showthread.php/24957-A-weekend-at-Malc-s?p=226108#post226108

Once you get the hang of skinning etc you'll manage even in the dark mate, don't worry, all you need is practice, a good knife and a head torch.

 

[Pine Marten]

I'm sure I'll have a great time, I've read a lot of good things about Malcolm. I have no doubt that I can butcher a roe perfectly well. Watching a few videos of YouTube has reassured me that a deer's just like a big rabbit or hare. They're made of all the same bits!

 

[geoshot]

You're right mate, sorry, forgot that you had said about rabitting and such
In truth, a lot of the smaller game is actually more difficult or fiddly to work with than a deer, a deer just takes longer

 

[Tackleberry270]

A few folk have said they leave their jointed deer in the fridge for a week before freezing it. I've never found any need to hang roe or muntjac. If it is an old animal then it goes to the gamedealer. If you do hang a deer then it should probably be in the fur as you will find the meat will dry out otherwise.

 

[fraserd]

Upstairs London flat... With a garage maybe???
Or access to one for a day or two occasionally????
Really it is a problem and whilst stalking is a terrific way to spend sporting time its not without its costs.. but to factor in a divorce may mean that you weren't planning on spending QUITE that much for the sake of your sport.
maybe go down the muntjac route in the first instance ( minus head, legs and pluck) skinned for preference and then maybe you'll get it all on the draining board on a butchers block to gradually introduce the benefits of fat free (almost) high quality (definitely) and inexpensive top quality meat!
Gently Gently Catchee monkey!!