How to Quarter and Pack Game out of the Backcountry - Conservation Field Notes with Steven Rinella

The Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership & Bass Pro Shops have teamed up with Steven Rinella, host of the show MeatEater on the Sportsman Channel, to serve you up a weekly helping of conservation: www.trcp.org/community/conserv...
Many folks feel overwhelmed when they are hunting on public lands and they get a deer or elk down on the ground in a place that is a mile or more from the nearest road. At this distance, dragging an animal out is too much work and game carts are often impractical.
If, like most folks, you don't have the luxury of owning livestock, you need to pack the animal out on your back. To do so, you must understand how to quarter an animal into manageable, packable pieces.
Watch and learn as Steven Rinella outlines the basic steps for getting the job done.
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Sign up to become a TRCP partner - it's free: bit.ly/yk52YI
I urge anyone who loves MeatEater--or, for that matter, anyone who loves hunting and fishing and eating wild game--to hurry over and check out the first of our Conservation Field Notes videos. We are making these videos in conjunction with the non-profit Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership, which received vital sponsorship backing from Bass Pro Shops. The reason that the MeatEater team chose to work with TRCP is summed up nicely by that organization's rallying cry: Guaranteeing You a Place to Hunt and Fish. We love them for it, and because they wage a nonstop battle for wild lands conservation, day-in and day-out. What's more, they're not afraid to take unpopular stances when they know it's the right thing to do for hunters and anglers. The aim of these Conservation Field Notes is simple: to alert you about specific issues that are imminent threats to our hunting and fishing lands, and to tell you how to join in the battle. So please, get your little butts over to www.trcp.org/community/conserv.... You owe it to yourself and to your kids. --Steven Rinella
The knife used here is a Havalon Piranta: bit.ly/YRwaMe

[@1Willum1]

I'd like it if he re-did this video with more detail. This felt so rushed. Camera angles were so closely zoomed in that it was hard to even tell what parts of the deer he was cutting...

[@Kevineitor199]

basically after gutting the deer just make insitions from the heels to the cut you used to remove the guts, finish cutting open the neck and cut the head off

[@h2olove]

Agreed. This video is pretty dated. I think he uses a different field dressing technique in his more recent video's. However; there are a bunch of videos on it out there.

[@joe2870]

It's pretty easy I would recommend doing it in a comfortable environment before you do it in the field

[@mxamiss5]

Listen

[@rob94rob94]

Me and my dad shot a 51 1/2” bull moose this past October. It ran down a hillside about 50ft. The angle of the hillside was like 45 degrees with cliff faces. It was to hard to go up. To sketchy to get a quad on the hill to pull down. So we tried cutting it in half. And dragging it down with ropes and the quad on the bottom of the hill. Worked but to time consuming and after the rope snapping numerous times and with nightfall quickly approaching. We decided to head back to camp and grab the sawzall that was in my truck. Headed back and quartered the moose in the dark. Shot the bull at 2pm. Got back to camp at 430am in a snow storm. We started the next day with a sauna and a lake bath. Prob best hunting memory I will ever have with my dad. Usually we have a party of hunters but this year things didn’t work out and we went out solo hunting a new area that I was beginning to explore and get framiliar with. Best hunting experience of my life, beats my first moose, and even beats the time I got my passion for hunting when I heard a bull moose do the challenge call. Just thought I’d share that story

[@timo8032]

that literally put tears in my eyes for some reason , never been hunting in my life , but i would. For some reason this whole story seems packed with adventure and it jsut made me tear up. Beautifull.

[@mr.stevenlee1739]

Steven you are like one of my hero bro because I like the way you teach and cook everytime you hunt like I am learning so much from watching your videos. Thank you so much and I really wish I can get a chance to hunt with you.

[@whitetailpoet4243]

Great video!!... last year was my first hunt in the big public backcountry tracks solo hunting, where I grew up in northern Minnesota. I had mostly party hunted closer into the main logging trails, and roads up to that point, but I'm taking my hunting to the next level, and getting away from the hunting pressure. So after a shoot, drag, and cuss adventure, pulling out a nice buck I was able to take still-hunting, I am really looking at this style of packing out my animal... thanks again for the great video. Peace from northern Minnesota, DB.

[@theleo9355]

More of these videos please. I love seeing how it’s done.

[@lewispeart2344]

Here in NZ, we're blessed to have hunting (DOC) huts throughout all of our public hunting areas, because of this, we typically set up base there, hunt out in the day without a pack, and if we take an animal, gut it, bind the legs together and make it into a backpack, then we slug it on our backs back to the hut where we can process and pack it ! Definitely a unique way of getting an animal out. That being said, most of our deer (Sika) are small enough that its not that much of an issue.

[@macr88]

Steve is an amazing asset to the hunting community and just an all around awesome guy. Thank you for all you do 👍

[@derekjp6043]

Agreed.

[@johnhansen8272]

There are times when gutting should be your last act, particularly in grizzly country, but Steve is the master. Always keep wind direction in mind and have a plan!

[@joe1071]

I agree, especially in Grizzly country. Gotta be efficient. Natural resources has done research on grizzlies and collected data of grizzlies following hunters by smell keeping a few miles distance between them, and close the distance to scavenge the kill when the hunter is successful. The grizzlies are interested in scavenging the animal, not the hunter, but still spooky

[@sk8legendz]

just curious why that is? doees it attract them?

[@jimforgrave6365]

If anyone hasnt tried those mesh game bags, they really are great. Ive never packed an animal out of the backcountry like this, but I just started using them for tempory storage while I work on my deer. Hell of a lot better than the garbage bags I use to use.

[@vincentc2466]

Where did you get yours? What are they called?

[@jimforgrave6365]

@@vincentc2466 Amazon. Just search for game bags. (think the brand was Alaska) I'd recommend the stretchy bags that roll up 😉

[@georgerosado5194]

thanks so much for all you helpfull videos out here in nyc we simply enjoy it

[@derekjp6043]

The Havalon Piranta!! - Thank God we have Steve to show us the way with regard to Knives, thank you God. Thank you Steve.

[@tacticaltv_us]

Excellent. Absolutely, we need to conserve these beautiful lands and help preserve these hunting techniques!

[@craignmz5264]

Thank you Steve. I never considered eating the heart until after watching your show. That is the kill nights dinner now!

[@nickcormode]

I wish that he has a whole video detailing the gutting along with the packing in a longer video. yes, i know that he has a video on field dressing a deer

[@andrewmolino5995]

It’s pretty self explanatory once you get in the situation. Just cut where you can feel the joints are and remove there. Skinning you just cut ut away, you’ll get better every time you do it. I’m 19 and I’ve pretty much taught myself how to do it and it’s not too difficult, just be patient with yourself and don’t get frustrated.

[@rediron44]

He does. Check out the "Meateater" page. There's a video of it somewhere

[@thirdgen377]

Thanks for your comment. I'll be 37 next season for whitetail and it'll be my first time. Could never afford it, now I'm looking to bow hunt and finally experience what hunters experience.

[@nbarca]

Good Job Steve Rinella! That was a great little vid and very informative. I'm a backcountry hunter myself.

[@titusdaniel]

Nice work man. Thanks for the info

[@SankofaNYC]

He has such a good speaking voice and cadence. Very clear with interesting pauses and places of emphasis

[@Eddiejl04]

POWERFUL STEVE RINELLA!

[@thetruth7608]

Great video, perfect way to do this

[@Kronkus36Outdoors]

Good work Steve !

[@TylerCrazyFace]

now im not sure because the video segment on deboning only showed 3 seconds of you taking the meat from the ribs, but i noticed when you were deboning the ribs you were cutting on both sides of them, leaving behind more meat than necessary. i found a video a little while back showing how to best get all the meat from the ribcage if you are interested. the video is called Carnivore: How to de-bone rib, neck and backstraps. again, i have not seen your method before, but this is the best demonstration i have seen on how to debone your large game. enjoy!

[@loganswanson9635]

Thanks Steve ! Very informative

[@tooradforBrad]

Simple and well explained! Concise, I like it!

[@christopherch7307]

👍😎👍 Thank you for sharing your pride & passion.

[@MsPoprouge]

OMG! just found your playlist, liked watching you. We have like planner interests. Please keep 'em coming! :)

[@JuanPerez-sx6yg]

MsPopRouge ok

[@user-bn5wi2fg9w]

MsPopRouge hi Indian people

[@racebiketuner]

A pair of high quality trekking poles can really help, especially with descents and slippery terrain. For soft ground, you need the type with baskets.

[@paparomesoutdoors711]

Great video and very true, i hunt the backwoods of the east coast which is thick and steep and see more larger game than most would ever imagine

[@TheExperience]

Thanks for the tip!!

[@Bayan1905]

This works great for me, I got hurt a few years ago and can no longer drag out a deer, so last year I ended up cutting up a whitetail in place, and simply carried the meat back. It wasn't a huge deer, but it made my life so much easier not having to try and worry about how I was going to drag a deer and instead was able to pack out a bunch of meat. If I can do it, anyone else should be able to.

[@tylerdash5724]

This honestly looks cool as hell

[@DavidBrown-qp8zn]

Excellent video.

[@robertbotta6536]

So darn good! Thanks bro.

[@davidsmall3557]

Thank you for this video

[@tcmixman]

Steven is an educator not an entertainer who spends 40% of the video plugging endorsements. Adventurous and informative.

[@marklawson6290]

He doesn't even mention his gear brands. Sometimes here and there but not noticeably. Straight up educator for sure

[@KS-zr5og]

Hes made me a better more conscious hunter for sure. I've been so wasteful over the years just because I was ignorant of all the ways you can use an animal

[@bapofpranks6653]

Hii

[@basudevshrestha8836]

G

[@bullgravy6906]

I’ve only started watching Meateater in the last year, and without him ever mentioning it it’s obvious he’s sponsored by Vortex, Weatherby, and first light. It’s awesome how he keeps it about the hunt and the education

[@lioutdoorsman9046]

The greatest man who ever lived

[@danielwhirley6779]

Love your shows Steve I'm a MI boy like you God bless

[@joshguntercreative194]

thank you Steven good video

[@SouthWestIron]

Excellent advice!

[@norockets]

A pair of lightweight, collapsible trekking poles will make the hike out considerably easier, especially going downhill.

[@dclos6296]

Voyage Thirty-four my knees thank you

[@swampass4054]

How does it help?

[@chadam2010]

Freaking Frogs you can keep some weight off your legs

[@frn24at]

I just started this year using trekking poles to get into and out of hunting areas. World of difference in stability.

[@rickywhittaker4978]

Get this man to 1mil already

[@hawkins308]

As a former Infantryman, his advice about working up weight in backpacks is 100% spot on.

[@rashikjawad5774]

I like it...keep it up

[@joeybeckum4147]

place looks beautiful, where was that looking for places to hunt across the country

[@TeaBagggg]

Nice instructions on how to skin the animal! As far as the mesh bags did you close them or leave them open?

[@chesterj6621]

thank you SR

[@akbarkhanpathanakbarkhanpa7049]

Good hunting bro 👍👌

[@kathireshgun9087]

Good one

[@PeterHatch-mx7zc]

Great knife I want one

[@GruntProof]

This guy is a true American badass 💪🇺🇸

[@8IggiE8]

You did really good on your gutting video. The best I've seen! But the quartering video you went too fast and the camera was too close. I couldn't see how you were doing it. Could you do another video on the quartering the deer to carry it out please Steven.

[@Blitzykay]

thank you sir your amazing,, your videos have chnaged my life around ad i really appreciate everything youve taught through your videos these last few years, thank you sir

[@malvinmk0269]

awesome

[@phillipmonroy]

Very informative video, and great advice! Thank you!

[@brianbeck3615]

You the man Steve

[@amonglajamir1051]

By fib to see e

[@truthteller9147]

Respect

[@user-ru9gf7ky2y]

and few people have the access to private "back country" , and I do understand and respect that.

[@VermiponicsOnline]

Epic!

[@mkmosnik]

I’ve been watching Meateater the last few weeks. One question I have is how long before the meat HAS to be refrigerated/frozen? It seems like on the show it could be 2-3 days which seems risky?

[@luke-te3sr]

I'm going the bike route. There are a few good trails that go back super deep. Only foot bike and house are allowed.im going back aboit 5 to 7 miles then im going a mile on foot off that..... i had a sweet spot but its been Closed due to a CO wild fire.. so im going to have to go deep and take a chance on a spot iv only scouted out on one. Im hoping the house guys aren't going to be back there. They tend to do that more in rifle season hear.. im hoping to get a good section of land to myself... fingers crossed

[@carolyn9andthecats653]

I been watching video after video, maybe to see a little something I don't know or a better way, n a lot are just plain b.s......but my hats off to ya for this one! (Only flies can lay bugs and shit on those kinda bags.....we used mamas old pillow cases, n just wash em after)

[@RuggedSportsmen]

Thats pretty much the same material as the "high end" game bags now a days

[@shibukumar7709]

Veri nice

[@rachetCD]

I wish we had public hunting Land where I live :(

[@Oreodogify]

where?

[@mateopavolini]

Where i live theres a bunch of armed paramilitary on our public hunting land /:

[@jimbigboystoys4077]

I’ve been considering packing the meat out as of late. I’m going to be 56 this January. I will tell you… dragging a deer is getting harder and harder as the years go by. I’ve been seriously considering getting a new backpack specifically designed for packing out meat. Any suggestions?

[@marshalllapenta7656]

Exactly

[@MrPascalau]

How kniffe? I' love hunting and wild

[@carterworo4467]

Do you hang your meat to age? If so, do you just use meat hooks to hang your ribs, neck roast, etc.?

[@AydinProductionsLtd]

Great points, would also recommend people bring latex gloves to keep dirty hands from contaminating meat.

[@rossmcdonagh1554]

Obviously hygeine is the no.1 priprity when it comes to food prep at every level of the process but considering your carcass would presumably be washed and cooked at a later date and you are carrying this process outdoors anyway how effective do you feel gloves are ?

[@AydinProductionsLtd]

@@rossmcdonagh1554 gloves keep unnecessary bacteria or other stuff your hands may have potentially touched that could contaminate meat. Thats my thoughts and it works for me :)

[@rossmcdonagh1554]

@@AydinProductionsLtd oh no doubt my point is is that unless you change the gloves after doing the initial cuts on the outside youd be dragging in bacteria on the carcass on to the meat anyway ! Was just wondering if anyone has any idea of how effective it is.

[@nasircervantes340]

@@rossmcdonagh1554 best move I've tried is 3 pairs of gloves on at once. Make my incisions through the hide and remove a pair. Skin back till my side is exposed(hands have plenty of hair on them) with the blood clotting makes it sticky and hair is clumping Third pair is for handling the meat. I find that this method cuts down considerably on hair and debris on the meat. One side done, eat something repeat for other side of animal. Other method usually takes 3-4 bottles of water to wash hands intermittently. That can be a lot of water since every gallon weighs 8 extra pounds and the water i carry is enough for 2 days just in case. Usually come back with half a gallon left. Hope this helps. Home depot or any hardware store sells heavy duty nitrilemechanic gloves. Those work best. Happy Hunting

[@Christopher.Mathew]

Truthfully never used gloves and never had a problem either.

[@MrMarkjrevans]

Hello steve, after you have taken the meet. would you leave the rest of the animal in the open?

[@norockets]

I always make it a point to move the carcass and hide away from the gut pile and conceal it in bushes, etc when possible. I try to leave as little trace as possible that an animal was taken and butchered.

[@nubymizer]

coyotes need left overs too! But yes, if saw the carcass of another hunter's win I would feel that I was not in a fresh hunting environment.

[@o-rang9137]

Does the animal still go into rigor mortis when you quarter like this? Will you still need to let the meat "relax" for a few days?

[@509Gman]

Ideally, yes

[@nubymizer]

okay so this is the bit about hunting large game in back country that confuses me... How do you cool the meat? Unless the temp is below 40 F then you have to worry about bacteria growth. Any advice?

[@o0hbomb0o]

Thanks for your question. I didn't know the answer myself, so I Googled it. Here's what I learned to do without hauling in ice, a cooler, a generator, or a fridge. 1. Keep your meat as clean as conditions allow. Contamination from dirt, insects, and scavengers will introduce more bacteria to the meat increasing the likelihood of it spoiling. Many hunters pack latex gloves and sanitizing wipes for when they process the animal. It can also be a good idea to clean your knife before you dress an animal. 2. Let the meat cool as quickly as possible. Skin your game quickly as the fur and hide help hold in the animal's body heat. In warm weather they recommend to remove the hide before field dressing to expedite the rate at which the animal cools once it's on the ground. 3. Hang and place your meat in the wind and shade. Hanging your animal increases the surface area exposed to wind to help bring the temperature down faster. Shadey areas are cooler on hot days and sunlight will cause the surface temperature of the meat to rise above the ambient temperature promoting microbial growth. 4. Bones hold in a lot of heat on large game animals. Apparently elk quarters spoil from the inside out. To avoid bone sour remove meat from the bone or slit meat to the bone before hanging. 5. Quality game bags. Good game bags breathe well and might even have antimicrobial elements. Before you stuff a game bag to the brim, let the meat cool completely because it will cool even more slowly once bundled with other cuts. Buying the cheapest game bags only to have your meat spoil is counter productive. 6. Use a creek or stream. They advised using cold, running water by placing your meat in heavy duty, waterproof plastic bags. My concern with this would be avoiding contamination from waterborn pathogens or anaerobic bacteria. You would probably need to hang the meat in the open air each night if you did this. I leaned this from the following site. www.petersenshunting.com/editorial/how-to-keep-game-meat-cool-during-early-season-hunts/327214 Does anyone with practical experience want to chime in on what to do?

[@codybranscum2829]

This video has just recently started appearing on my recommended videos. My eyes swiftly grazed across the thumbnails in search of an interesting video to watch without reading titles... 1st time on recommended : Holy Sh!t. That's an Elephant trying to stop the skinning of another Elephant! 2nd time on recommended : Holy Sh!t. That's a Chimp eating someone! 3rd time on recommended : Holy Sh!t. again? (reads title) Some great advice from Steven Rinella! Really, though, the first time I glanced at the thumbnail, I thought he was a baby Elephant.

[@ruggedsons2157]

What kind of stove were you using?

[@capsoulgotthehits6719]

broo its still crazy to this you do this with your bare hands i would pay money to learn how to do this.

[@phetkasemkaewinsri5935]

สุดยอดเลยครับ

[@quintenpuckett3399]

What kind of saw is that your using sir

[@blairkendell820]

Time for an update

[@RightWingCon81]

1 or more miles? Is that all it takes to reduce the hunting pressure? I'm in ny and want to be fairly alone when I hunt.

[@ruppedogg]

RightWingCon81 I believe he means 1 or more miles from the roads within a national parks system and/or local/regional park. The assumption here: you are likely already well isolated from many other hunters just by going to these back-country sites. Don't forget your orange vests now!

[@RochdChati]

where do you get those mesh bags?

[@malvinnathaniel987]

I never understood how do hunters clean the blood from the animal in the field. If not, then how do they clean it before storing it in the freezer?

[@evarflorendo1989]

633 dislikes🙄 Must be vegans🤦🏽‍♂️ Awesome video bro 👌🏾

[@peredavi]

Good video. There is more details on gutless field dressing method on Alaska Fish and Game website. Carrying any more than 30% of your body weight, if you’re fit, is risky. Knee injuries….

[@massnb]

Would you have concerns about chronic wasting disease in the northeast, quartering out a deer like that? (Cutting the spine)

[@animalcracker8623]

what pack are you using???

[@khiemluong4591]

Can you put the butchered meat in a saran bag?

[@chuzilla1163]

Khiem Luong no

[@luke-te3sr]

Saran?

[@ambujaprathap]

In our place we pack the hunting meat in gunny bags and tranceport.

[@spasplash156]

What about carrying the head

[@victoriareece2811]

I have it and am watching it now thank you To Tina Turner and Neil Diamond

[@rholsor]

thumbs up steve,.......no. 1

[@ghostsparta13]

If you guys want a more detailed video sort meat eaters videos by most popular, the fourth one down is "how to field dress a deer" is pretty in depth and its kind of funny people want a new video but this video i mention is 8 years old 😂 happy hunting!

[@henrywinchester9372]

Cut down the spine cut out back straps peal the hide off the mud section cut the hide down the legs and quarter and then pull your heart and tender loins out of the chest cavity… if your good you don’t need to even open up the stomach to get the inner loins

[@seankusmc163]

How long do you have to get it in the freezer?

[@johnvictorengland7703]

Trust your eyes and your nose.

[@taposhmandal348]

👍👍👍👍👍

[@r.a.wskillsadventuresandbu5571]

Hey I m up in Alberta Canada and am looking to do my first white tail hunt this season. Can anyone tell me, if I am packing out the meat like this, do I need to carry out proof of sex or can I leave that with the carcuss? I do plan on carrying out the head. Thanks to anyone who answers.

[@h2olove]

Varies from State to Sate. You need to check the regulations for where you plan to hunt.

[@andrewmarsjr9879]

I wish you had a class in how to do this i would pay

[@jarodmorris611]

How do you protect the meat you leave when you have to take a few trips? That smell is going to attract some scavengers like crazy. ~Jarod

[@sakaklovas]

Gotta hang it high, higher the better.

[@langan9000]

Hang it out of reach leave a speaker playing music by it that helps too

[@luke-te3sr]

I always buy a bear tag and a small game tag... that way if i come back to other critter snacking I can fill a bear tag or take a coyote lol

[@fallv1per694]

try reindeer hunting in Norway ;)

[@tigris115]

I feel like having a hunting buddy would help a load since you guys can then hang the animal by its legs

[@superscaryeti]

I lost my first bull elk down a 6 mile canyon

[@tallonburnz1430]

Happens to the best of us

[@XMetalChefX]

What you mean you lost it?

[@guccipitts]

@@XMetalChefX either fell and too bruised or he just ran off injured

[@fontcaicoya5686]

Just lost my first doe of the season. She had me fooled, went down and stayed down for 15 minutes while I packed up and headed up to field dress her. 20 yards distant and she gets up, sprints off. Followed a hefty blood trail for an hour and a half before I realized she went back up the mountain and it's nightfall. No such luck. Hope she finally passed and a coyote or lion gets a freebie. Lesson learned for me - wait the full half hour lol

[@TaterChip91]

Llamas?? 🤣 Thats a new one

[@marianoespinoza4663]

His brother uses llamas,pretty cool.

[@westonmoore8669]

how many pounds of meat do you get off an elk

[@langan9000]

Dpeneds on the animal size but could be 2-300lba or more