Skinning Muntjac

Merlyn

Well-Known Member
I shoot more munties than other deer. What is your view or tips on skinning the little rascals?
Should you do it straight away? The next day? After a period in the chiller?
Is it better/easier shoulders up or shoulders down?
I have tried everyway that I can think of but it never seems to be easy compared to the other species.
If they didn't taste so fantastically good I would not bother.
 
They are a pita, Saturdays one took forever to skin after a few days in chiller… like the skin is superglued on, especially on rear legs. Watching with interest
 
I think you have to accept the fact that the little rascals are more fiddly and difficult to skin than larger species. Embrace this while focusing on their deliciousness (and the fact that they are a doddle to extract from the field). It's all swings are roundabouts. It doesn't sound as though you are doing anything wrong - or missing a trick that would speed up the process. I skin mine head down after hanging and only skin when I am ready to butcher. They will be easier to skin while warm but only marginally and I always prefer to hang my deer in their jackets to avoid drying them out... And the smaller the deer the more relevant this is. But each to his own.
 
If you skin them before putting in the chiller it is much easier. I prefer skinning them in the field if I have enough time so don’t take ticks with me.
 
Skin them hot and hang them from the front legs and I use a electric winch and just except a bit of tearing and just shoot more. I shoot them in the head as well
 
I shoot more munties than other deer. What is your view or tips on skinning the little rascals?
Should you do it straight away? The next day? After a period in the chiller?
Is it better/easier shoulders up or shoulders down?
I have tried everyway that I can think of but it never seems to be easy compared to the other species.
If they didn't taste so fantastically good I would not bother.
I come up the inside of the FL and keep going and across to abt inline with the kidneys. cut it back and the strip pull down all the way to the neck as it deals with the armpit part which is a pain. I have for a while stopped below the gambrel and cut through the joint below once skinned as the hock is not needed. makes them shorter for the freezer by a few inches.
 
Two to do tonight if I’m doing for myself i skin head down back legs 1st and rip off won’t leave tiger stripes or skirt but done in a few minutes
 
Remember seeing a video of how they do it with the crocodile by pumping in compressed air in between the skin and meat. Wondering if its something that could be tried on the munties unless of course they explode and goes from carcass to minced meat skipping the stages in the middle.
 
As above don't worry about the tiger stripes and take your time where the shoulders meet the chest, they're not easy to butcher still warm and don't hang well skinned, imo.
 
I try to make time to skin them in the field when warm.

Hind legs off on the ground, make flaps in the hind leg skin first so it's free of the gambrel, suspended gralloch, head down. Check all around for dog walkers or ramblers and start skinning and a cussin'.

Then into one of these, head off: Alaska Game Bags for the trip home to the chiller. (Shop around, often nearly half that price on evil-bay)
 
 
i’ve trialed a couple on a cradle back down and it does seem a lot more of a pleasure rather than cut and tug :)
 
Back
Top