gutless skinning?

hey guys im doing an archery elk hunt in utah opens august 21st, my first elk hunting or experience of any kind. i'll be completely on my own as my friend who is showing me the area is unable to hunt this year and i dont want to let this opportunity pass me by.

being by myself(assuming im successful) i would like to try a gutless approach by skinning the elk, removing the quarters, back straps, and reaching inside for the tenderloins....hang my meat and start packing it out as quick as i can due to the heat.

does anyone know any good online references to see pictures/read about it? i mean really it shouldnt be something i need to read about but you never can be too prepared especially when the biggest game animal ive ever hunted is whitetails and ill be elk hunting on my own.

thanks!
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if your not sure how to do it gutless. i would just gut the elk it only takes 10-15 mins.
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well, it's been explained to me and seems pretty darn simple, was just looking for material to back it up...unless i need to field dress it to cool it off quick, it really just seems like an extra unnecessary step to me....correct me if im wrong but really it's the same difference all im going to do after it's gutted is the same thing i would do gutless besides the skinning.

right? wrong? what do you guys think
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182BC...4Now!
Check out this video on elk101. com. It's a two part video that does a pretty good job at explaining the process. Hope this helps...

http://elk101.com/webisodes/gutless-video/
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You'll never learn if you don't try. I tried last year for the first time after a buddy explained it to me. Worked great. Watch those videos and give it a shot.
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"182BC...4Now!" wrote:Check out this video on elk101. com. It's a two part video that does a pretty good job at explaining the process. Hope this helps...

http://elk101.com/webisodes/gutless-video/
perfect! thanks exactly what i have been looking for....should be an interesting experience if i get an elk, first elk and first time trying a gutless method.

it's also my first mule deer hunt, im originally from the midwest and used to field dressing the deer and dragging the whole thing out hanging it up in the garage and skinning....do people use this method in the field for mule deer also? ill be too far from anywhere with this heat to get it to the truck and drive it home like i do whitetail..
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great video's.
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'Ike'
"182BC...4Now!" wrote:Check out this video on elk101. com. It's a two part video that does a pretty good job at explaining the process. Hope this helps...

http://elk101.com/webisodes/gutless-video/
 Great site and great guys to deal with also... :thumb
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the gutless thing is cool, but if you don't gut him how are you going to get the heart and liver? there is nething like heart and liver for dinner after you bag a big boy.
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"capt.nw" wrote:the gutless thing is cool, but if you don't gut him how are you going to get the heart and liver? there is nething like heart and liver for dinner after you bag a big boy.
 yuck no thanks, ill leave them in the woods for you and pm the gps coordinates :P
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If you leave them on ice with a beer I'll go get them. lol good luck on your hunt send pic and let us know how the gutless thing works out.
Capt.
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bc.pse
Go up the spine then peel it down the sides. And then we just carve the meat right off the bone and throw it in a meat bag and start packin down. Just what we do. Hope this helps :thumb
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I do this on backcounty deer hunting...Great tips and video guys.. Especially like the tenderloin part.
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The gutless method is easy, i did it on my bull last year, i didn't have any help, i was hunting alone, in 2 hours i had it caped, skinned and all the meat bagged and on my way out with him.

Kevin
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bigbuck92
If you do this method it wont ruin the cape will it if you want to mount it? Does anybody have any videos or links on how to cape out a elk to?
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Used the gutless method on an elk last year and we will never do it any other way again. It is so much cleaner, less smelly, faster and with 2 people it is really cool. We went through the hunting area a few weeks ago, all that was left of the carcass was the head and spine, every other sliver had been eaten, hair, skin, everything.
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+1 to speedgoat. The first time I saw the gutless method used was a few years ago on an Oregon elk hunt. My brother shot a bull and me and my buddy met up with him within a few minutes as he was rolling it over to gut it. My buddy says you guys have got to try it this way and just starts taking the bull apart. The cool part was when he got the tenderloins out. Completely quartered and caped bull and only bloody to the wrists. I havent gutted an animal in three years now. Even if its easy to get em to the truck whole I still go with the gutless method.
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