Last big buck I killed in 2015 in hill country just about killed me getting him out by myself.
Actually suffered a major tear to the facia muscle in the bottom of my left foot. Hobbled on it for 4 months and then ended up having to have surgery to repair. Not Fun...

Figuring on cutting the next one in half and sledding him out in 2 trips. (hoping there is a next one...)

Has anyone found a good bone saw that works well, holds up well, and is small enough to fit in a pack?

Wyoming Saw. You can Google it.

you don't need a saw you can work a knife in the ball joint in the pelvis , the shoulders need no saw.

we used to carry folding pruning saws it makes short work of bone and they are low cost light weigh

something like this https://www.amazon.com/Folding-Util...;qid=1555291235&s=gateway&sr=8-2


Patrice had a thread last fall about how she 1/4s the hole deer and puts it in large ice bags you might find her methods useful.

X2 knife on the sockets. Small hatchet for the spine, ribs, and head. A hatchet makes quick light work. That's how we've always done it.
The spine makes a great addition to soups and stews + the marrow is really great for you. Typically the only thing I leave behind is the guts.

A saw comes in handy for removing antlers. I've used mine for that many times.

we are actually not supposed to cut the spine at all in WI there is actually a ban against transporting spine and spin parts across county lines unless taking it to the processor or taxidermist.

I found the tread https://trapperman.com/forum/ubbthr...t-gourmet-deer-for-this-year#Post6352994


there are great videos on the gutless method

if I am saving the head I cut deep at the base of the head and a quick twist will snap it off. otherwise I just leave the head attached.

That stinks GCP. You still can get the ribs right?

I never leave the house without one.

^^^^^^this^^^^^^^
Just get the small size. I have both and the small always goes deer hunting with me. Bone and wood saw in it. Paint the small parts a bright color encase you drop a part in the leaves.

you can as long as they are separated from the spine

https://dnr.wi.gov/topic/wildlifehabitat/carcassmovement.html


sort of surprised Adam that you don't have the same rules there , we were told this is a multi state ban on moving deer spine NM is listed as a state than can not move the spine or head other than to a taxidermist into WI

I've taken the antlers and horns off a lot of animals in the field with mine over the years. I'm sure I've had this for thirty years and it's still going strong.

Another fan of the wyoming saw, has a meat blade and wood blade. Bone and antlers and fallen trees taken care of in a small light weight package.

Also had mine for over 30 years and never replaced the blades.dropped one of the parts once and called to get a replacement, sent one free.

Gerber Exchange-A-Blade Sport Saw, $20. Smoky Mountain Knife Works. Packed mine for 20yrs +/-, archery/gun deer, NWCO/fur trapping, and some yard work. Changed bone and prune blade once each.

Saw a friend cut a bull elk into with his Leatherman tool.

Bone it out. No need for a saw,

I have disjointed rear quarters on everything from deer to moose. You shouldn't need a saw for that. And the front quarters are on floating joints, so you only need a knife to cut them off.

Neck and rib meat, flanks, backstraps, tenderloins--all you need is a knife.

I only take a saw to cut the antlers off. And I prefer a chainsaw for that.

Jim

I think that would require anesthetic.


I agree with James. No need for a saw. Everything has joints. I've taken apart every moose I've ever shot with nothing but a knife. One was with a small pocket knife. That was a challenge but do-able.

They won't wear out if you don't use them !!

Same here. Don’t use a saw or axe on caribou or moose. Even the ribs are jointed at the spine. Too many kids in my family to use an axe and possibly end up with a bone chip in the soup etc. When I’m packing caribou on foot I will separate the front end from the back end at the ball joint like it was mentioned above. I then skin the hind quarters/rump, which we call the saddle, and stuff that into a meat bag. That can easily be carried on your shoulders like you would carry a kid on your shoulders. The front half I skin then butcher and it fits nicely onto a pack frame. If youre feeling your oats that day you can load the pack board on your back then put the saddle on your shoulders for a one load pack. Otherwise I would choose to relay the meat to where it needs to go in two loads.

You guys are right about not needing a saw to take a moose apart, I never used one for that, either. The saw comes in mighty handy when you don't feel like lugging a skull around.


I bought this in the early to mid eighties and those are the original blades. I've taken the horns/antlers off several moose, deer and sheep with it. Plenty of life left in those blades to do several more.

There's that Widgeon I was telling you about, White

Oh yeah !! Nice looking lake. I hope it is longer in the other direction

There was this one time when the air taxi service didn't want to take us in because the lakes were locking up. We talked them into it against their better judgment. My typical judgement. The lake wasn't too short but the open water was. Landing wasn't a problem but getting off the lake a week later was. I thought we were going to flip the plane (206) when we hit the ice. Got out on the floats with axes breaking the ice to get the plane turned around. Taxied back to shore where the pilot booted me, my buddy and the packs/bear hide out and told us to hike to a lake at a lower elevation that wasn't iced up quite so bad. He'd pick us up there if he could get the plane off the lake. He made it, barely. So did we.

Nelchina Basin @ around three thousand feet. Late September/early October.

Yep I've seen that same situation before. Shuttle gear and game to a longer sand bar or lake. Also saw one that chose badly. 206 on floats into the drink. Too heavy, too high, too short.

Yep.

If I could I would just bone it out.
In Mn, which is where I'm refering to, unless the law has changed and this was straight from the GW back in 2016, "must take all body parts along out with you, only entrails allowed to be left behind and at least one front quarter must remain attached to the head/ neck region".
Now this law may have changed...

In WI, and correct me if I'm wrong...
I believe it went from, if you wanted butcher in the field you to having to take everything along out with you other than the guts ( this was up till 2017 I believe ).
now, I believe, your NOT supposed to take any bones or hide or along out with you any more. Only the meat and head and cape are allowed if you're field butchering.

I never worry about it when I'm at home in WI. Always pretty close to home with lots of help it's really only when flying solo in MN. that it gets to be a problem.

Thanks to all for the reviews of the Wyoming saw. Looks like the real McCoy!