Gralloch

[RichardAllen]

Following this thread, after having gralloched and butchered probably more than 30 odd deer, I learned a very useful nugget from watching Jason Doyle again.
I have always been very careful, too careful with my knife around the anus (whether in the field or the larder) because I did not want to damage the haunches, one of which I give to the landowner each time. Jason reminded me that the anus and alimentary canal pass through the pelvis, thus the haunches are protected by the pelvic bone. So I can have a good root around to get anus, alimentary and bladder out without any danger of cutting into the haunch.
Why I did not tumble to this years ago, I have no idea

 

[woody]

Hardest thing I had to do was do a full gralloch and an inspection on a chest shot muntjac under the watchful eye of Chris Howard in Hampshire as part of my level 2, I had obviously been spoilt before doing roe and fallow, so I did the muntjac like a rabbit ( never seen 1 or shot) before that point, he gave me such a grilling over that gralloch and inspection. I struggled to identify much but that was a long time ago, if you can do it on a muntjac every other deer species is EASY!!

 

[Alantoo]

I found this one by John of Yorkshire Roe Stalking very helpful.




Alan

 

[RM100]

I found this one by John of Yorkshire Roe Stalking very helpful.




Alan

Nice video, I enjoyed it.

 

[Roestalker39]

Check out david dunne on Facebook some great videos.

+1 for that David is a pal of mine and a very knowledgeable bloke

 

[Roestalker39]

Following this thread, after having gralloched and butchered probably more than 30 odd deer, I learned a very useful nugget from watching Jason Doyle again.
I have always been very careful, too careful with my knife around the anus (whether in the field or the larder) because I did not want to damage the haunches, one of which I give to the landowner each time. Jason reminded me that the anus and alimentary canal pass through the pelvis, thus the haunches are protected by the pelvic bone. So I can have a good root around to get anus, alimentary and bladder out without any danger of cutting into the haunch.
Why I did not tumble to this years ago, I have no idea

I hear he’s calling himself a “ professional deer manager now “

 

[Jason Doyle]

I hear he’s calling himself a “ professional deer manager now “

Nope never have. Professional guide yes, deer manager no.

 

[Leupsak]

@Fishcake @Jimbob39
Im down the road in Northants, if either of you ever want to set a date and come and sit for a Munty then spend an hour being walked through a gralloch etc I would be happy to facilitate. I spent many years as a slaughter man and am currently a professional deer stalker, I would be happy to help, we were all there once!

 

[baguio]

Sorry tim, I agree with most of your posts but not this one.
i have never checked nodes in rabbits, I’ve never cut the ring out, I’ve never opened the neck, apart from the green and the lights, I think they are a lot different.

I agree. I had shot and 'gralloched' lots of rabbits before I shot my first deer. Gralloching a deer was nothing like gralloching a rabbit. I was so glad that I had someone experienced to talk me through it. I had only ever used a scalpel blade for doing rabbits.

 

[Jimbob39]

@Fishcake @Jimbob39
Im down the road in Northants, if either of you ever want to set a date and come and sit for a Munty then spend an hour being walked through a gralloch etc I would be happy to facilitate. I spent many years as a slaughter man and am currently a professional deer stalker, I would be happy to help, we were all there once!

What an amazing offer! I will definitely take you up on this! Thank you!

 

[Leupsak]

What an amazing offer! I will definitely take you up on this! Thank you!

No problem fella just drop me a line

 

[Fishcake]

@Fishcake @Jimbob39
Im down the road in Northants, if either of you ever want to set a date and come and sit for a Munty then spend an hour being walked through a gralloch etc I would be happy to facilitate. I spent many years as a slaughter man and am currently a professional deer stalker, I would be happy to help, we were all there once!

Sounds ace. Would love to book something when out of lockdown. Have my own rifle. Let me know cost etc. If ifs ok message me direct. Cheers Scott Charles

 

[Leupsak]

Scott
No worries mate, just PM me when your in a position to come over.
You may wish to delete your phone number off the thread incase you get prank calls from the anti-hunting brigade!

 

[Fishcake]

Thanks for advice, will pm when restrictions etc allow.

 

[Tim.243]

I agree. I had shot and 'gralloched' lots of rabbits before I shot my first deer. Gralloching a deer was nothing like gralloching a rabbit. I was so glad that I had someone experienced to talk me through it. I had only ever used a scalpel blade for doing rabbits.

Did you learn to recognize spotted liver, the worm sack which can be on the rump or shoulder, a rabbit thin and poor from mixi, did you ever nick the paunch or break the bladder, also cut out the h bone of a buck rabbit before cooking as it can taint the flavour?

So once you have opened up the gut with the liver coved in yellow spots then noted a large parasite sack what decision do you make...chuck it in the ditch or feed it to the dog/ferrets or give it to your Nan?

Back in the day the rabbit trade was far bigger than this explosion of experts who reach a mid life crisis then have to walk around a bit of ground with a guide and estate rifle who never ever seen or considered to catch and clean out a rabbit.

The facts are people by-pass the basic knowledge of cleaning out rabbits hares pigeons ducks etc, repeat this process many times and you will improve also with this background skills then move up to a deer...

 

[Stalker62]

Back in the day the rabbit trade was far bigger than this explosion of experts who reach a mid life crisis then have to walk around a bit of ground with a guide and estate rifle who never ever seen or considered to catch and clean out a rabbit.

Had a brother, who, "back in the day" was a bit of a handful.

He was the "scrapper" in the village - never picked a fight in his life, but never walked away from one. He was a big, powerful hard man with something of a reputation.

He could not "paunch" a rabbit without retching. I was out with him once when we shot half a dozen or so. He "paunched" them all by the headlamps of his truck, retching, dry-heaving and as close to fainting as I have seen any man.

Fair play to him, he did the lot though.

Yeah, some hard man...

 

[Tim.243]

Had a brother, who, "back in the day" was a bit of a handful.

He was the "scrapper" in the village - never picked a fight in his life, but never walked away from one. He was a big, powerful hard man with something of a reputation.

He could not "paunch" a rabbit without retching. I was out with him once when we shot half a dozen or so. He "paunched" them all by the headlamps of his truck, retching, dry-heaving and as close to fainting as I have seen any man.

Fair play to him, he did the lot though.

Yeah, some hard man...

Did he use a pocket knife or a scalpel as baguio did lol...

A pocket knife with a bit of string was a prized item... these days you need a > £250 > £400 knife to make a autopsy

 

[Stalker62]

Did he use a pocket knife...

Pocket knife.

Zip, flick, retch and repeat...

 

[sh1kar]

Pugh, Pugh, Barney McGrew, Cuthbert, Dibble, Grubb