Prep in the garage.

[TringSaint]

Why would you need to release one leg?
I can understand with pigs, where you split the carcass down the spine and then lift one half off to butcher - a gambrel tilts and dumps the other half on the floor - but I can't think of a scenario where you'd want to release one leg of a deer during skinning or breaking down.

Done it a few times.
Usually when I have forgotten to skin the hock before hanging up and other times then splitting the carcass.
I also find that the carcass doesn’t spin which is great when doing primary breakdown whilst hanging

 

[Mike L]

Electric winch fitted in the loft with the hook coming through a small hole in the ceiling keeps it very neat and clean with maximum height. I know you didn't ask but after skinning to many deer I've come to the conclusion it's easier and a cleaner carcass to skin from front legs to the back legs.

Why’s it ‘cleaner’?

 

[devon deer stalker]

It's such a simple job, hoist up, then skin, job done

 

[aquarius11]

I use the apple tree and garden table with plastic bag over it

 

[Pete6.5]

Why’s it ‘cleaner’?

Less cuts so less cut hair because you pull the skin off the rear legs like a pair of trousers

 

[nic531]

Electric hoists from Lidl or Aldi perfect to lift if you're on you own, although I'm not shooting anything bigger than Fallow. I expect Reds a whole different ball game.

wait until you get a bit older or knacker a shoulder up

 

[nun_hunter]

Does anyone know if you can attach these cheap electric winces to a rail so they slide along?

I skin and process deer in my shed and it would be handy to be able to hoist them up and be able to move them along a rail to the fridge if needed.

 

[Mickeydredd]

Does anyone know if you can attach these cheap electric winces to a rail so they slide along?

I skin and process deer in my shed and it would be handy to be able to hoist them up and be able to move them along a rail to the fridge if needed.

My one has "brackets" on that I slide a bit of metal through to hang between joists, so I'm sure you could rig up a rail of suitable diameter for your purpose. You could of course change the brackets for a bigger size if you wanted to use a wider rail e.g. scaffolding.

 

[CNN]

Fixed Lidl hoist at end of a rail that means I can load/unload my chiller with the heaviest of fallow in a corner of my garage set aside for skinning. The hoist allows be to raise/lower to skin without crucifying my back

View attachment 328716View attachment 328717View attachment 328718

Thanks for the photos, would you mind sharing the make/model of chiller that you have there please? I'm looking around for one so its interesting to know what people use. Thanks in advance

 

[wytonpjs]

Thanks for the photos, would you mind sharing the make/model of chiller that you have there please? I'm looking around for one so its interesting to know what people use. Thanks in advance

Its an old Pepsi drinks chiller obtained FOC from a SD member - right time, right place. Not the most efficient and economical to run but it works well for me.

 

[mike243]

Hi all.

What do you to hang the deer on whilst skinning at home? Or do you skin it on a table?

I was thinking of getting a boxing bag bracket to hang off the wall then it might make skinning easier.

I dont have much room in my garage for a table.

I had to skin the spiker I shot last week at home, in the end we hatched a plan to lay an aluminium ladder on the garage flat roof with one rung projecting over the edge, weighted the other end with 4 paving slabs, attached the hoist and hauled it up, it worked a treat, I did put some folded up dust sheets under each end of the ladder to protect the roof covering

 

[Kjf]

My chiller and prep area .lol A doe taken this year at the end of doe season . No fancy kit required