LET US GO AFIELD 



In cleaning a deer many or perhaps most men rip 

 it full length from neck to tail. That is not the best 

 way, for it allows dirt to get into the cavity and 

 makes the carcass harder to handle well. The cor- 

 rect way is to cut entirely free round the vent, so 

 that the rectal tract is entirely freed from all at- 

 tachment. Leave it then, and do not split down 

 between the hind legs at all. Go into the abdomen 

 well ahead of the hind legs, and open the body for- 

 ward only to the edge of the ribs. Now you have all 

 the viscera freed at each end, since you already have 

 cut off the windpipe ; and with a little cutting at the 

 liver and tearing at the heart and lights which will 

 bloody your arms above the elbows, very likely 

 you can bring out all the viscera at once and still 

 leave the body of the deer clean, not mussed up, 

 and not very much disfigured. Be careful not to 

 cut your hands with your knife while feeling round 

 inside. 



To get a big deer out of the woods is a hard job 

 for two strong men. If you are coming for your 

 deer soon you do not need even to hang it up, but 

 it is best to do so. The common way is to pierce 

 the gambrels with a crosspiece and swing it up by 

 the hind legs ; but a deer will keep better and drain 

 better and shed the weather better if hung up by 

 the nose or neck. If you have to drag your deer 



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