How long? (gutless method)

iccyman001

New member
Apr 30, 2014
5,489
How long goes it take you to complete your version of the gutless method?


If you don\'t mind, please explain what you take...(because I think everyone is different)
and how long it takes you from start to finish?



My go to this year is still taking all of the meat, but I would love to have this as a backup and I\'d love to know your average times.



Thank you
 
It takes me about an hour by myself give or take. I take all the meat, no liver, heart, oysters or brain.
 
Same for me - About an hour by myself

Here is half done, ready to roll over



Here is a pic on how I get the gut steaks out, my least favorite part of the process

 
Same for me, about an hour, and I take all the meat except internal organs. Might take longer if he dies in an awful spot, wrapped around a tree on a slope, etc.. If it\'s cool and shady I take my time and enjoy the process.

Aron Snyder can do a whole elk, including boning in the field, in about 45 minutes. But he\'s a beast.
 
This is good to know!

I had no idea that the process could be done that fast, while getting all of the meat. :upthumb:
 
How do you flip over an elk solo? For all the videos I have watched, I have never seen a solo hunter turn over an elk to do the other side. With 2 people, it doesn\'t look bad.

I have some ideas using a lightweight pulley and cord. Gravity is either your friend or foe. There is deadfall everywhere which makes it difficult. My legs are strong. My arms are so-so, better than average for a woman my age. I can be clever with moving things, especially if I can use my legs. With trees available, leverage using trees is part of my game plan. For my next scouting trip, I plan to try my method on some deadfall to see if I can move it using my pulley system.

Plan B, Is to call a friend who I already spoke with to help me if I get into a bind with tracking or anything else.
 
Patricia

You can do a couple things to make it easier to roll over.
Position the head lower toward the front legs, then grab the front left and use it as a lever.
Once you start the roll, DONT STOP!

Look at the pic above and you will the head and the front leg for example.
But in essence, yes, it does suck.
I would recommend taking a break from one side before attempting, then give it the ol\' heave ho!
and hope for the best :)
 
Mtmutt, also take both quarters off one side first. It will practically roll itself after that.

Lou, I bet I can break 45 min. :) My buddy and I once raced to debone hind quarters and I finished mine in less than 90 seconds. Since we\'re talking \"beasts\"
 
That\'s with Aron taking a nap midway through! :)

I might be able to if it was panic mode for some reason, but even with wearing a fillet glove on my left hand (ALWAYS in my pack) I still don\'t like to hurry things with sharp instruments involved, especially alone.

As far as rolling them, what Will said. With one side removed gravity is your friend. If on a weird angle I sometimes use paracord and a tree as an assist tool.
 
Gravity can be bad also if you are on a steep slope when you role them over by yourself. :eek:
 
FM, no doubt - and that\'s what the paracord is for....

Seems like my elk never die in a flat, shady spot. Only a few, but not many.
 
Thanks everyone.

I don\'t know if there are level spots in my unit. I don\'t seem to find one when backpacking in there.

Even with deboning the quarters while attached, I figured it was a good idea to remove the quarters\' bones from carcass before flipping. Thanks for confirming. That part looks easy for both front and rear. I also know how to detach the head.

Deboning looks easier while the quarter is attached to the carcass, plus cools it down faster.

It will likely take me longer than 1 hour because I don\'t have too much experience with knives. I have only practiced on beef and chicken at home.

This is what I got...
Skin, remove backstrap, more skinning, debone each quarter and leave evidence of sex, remove tenderloin, optionally more skinning, remove brisket & neck meat. Remove quarters. Position cow/calf head or optionally remove head. For bulls, remove head or antlers. Flip, repeat skinning and deboning. Don\'t forget the ivories.
 
Patricia
Its a lot less messy if you start the skinning from the hind quarters and work your way up to the neck, following the backbone.
You will be going against the hair and it will part real nice without getting hair everywhere.




Then, you can skin each way and have a nice clean surface to work on




But, we have also not skinned the elk and left the hair on the quarters.
Its a \'game time\' decision for me

 
<!-- m --><a class=\"postlink\" href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IGCAY5Amvn4\" onclick=\"window.open(this.href);return false;\">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IGCAY5Amvn4</a><!-- m -->

Can\'t get much easier or faster than this. I\'m not as fast as Fred. But I can get it done pretty dank quick!
 
\">>>---WW---->\" said:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IGCAY5Amvn4

Can\'t get much easier or faster than this. I\'m not as fast as Fred. But I can get it done pretty dank quick!
The only thing I do different is, I like to take the backstrap out first. In order to do this, I make my first cut from the rear all the way up the back of the neck to the base of the skull. Then I peel out the backstrap all the way up the neck. There isn\'t much neck meat left after you pull it out this way. You end up with about a 5-6 ft. long backstrap. Then remove the quarters (either hair on or off), take your brisket and rib meat if you wish, and you are done on one side. Roll it over and do the same on the other site. OOPS! almost forgot the tenderloin LOL! I can usually do each side in about 20 minutes.
 
took me about 2 hours, but, i had never done anything like it before, i was by myself, and i was trying to soak up every part of the whole experience and not rush through it. i got all the meat but cut thru some of the roast parts the wrong way. overall wasnt pretty but worked. i would do it again.
 
Thanks for the photos.

Fred\'s video is one I watch a lot. His video does a better job of explaining as he goes along than the others I have seen.

Why do a lot of videos show skinning starting from the neck? They do this even when not caping.
 
I may have to do it again, but like bnsafe, it takes me the better part of two hours.
 
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