Gut hook?

[dennishoddy]

I was given a knife with a gut hook for my birthday, and got around to using it this weekend. I've heard pro's and cons on them.
I tried it on the first doe, and it just kept clogging up with hair and was pretty much useless. The second doe gave me a brainstorm, and instead of starting from the hind quarters and going to the ribs, I went from the ribs to the hindquarters. The same direction the hair grows, and it worked like a charm. I like it

 

[Oklahomabassin]

They work alright on some smaller deer with thinner skin. Often times I have found on larger deer that all you cut is the skin and then have to make a second swipe. I have a drop point knife that I slide it, with the sharp edge up, between two fingers and unzip the gut. When I get to the rib cage it can be opened up without ever pulling the knife out or switching grip. I do remove my hand that I was using as a guide before opening rib cage. The lungs and heart are the only thing in the rib cage and won't spoil meat if you do cut them, but my knife doesn't have that long of a blade. I can do everything that needs to be done with a deer with about a 3" blade.

 

[kdlong]

try a carpet hook blade in a sheet rock knife they work pretty good also work good for skinning just remember to go the same way the hair lays plus they are cheaper then regular knives and the sheet rock knife will retract to protect the blade

 

[Glock 'em down]

All guthooks are not created equal.

Here's a nice one.

 

[chazroh]

+ 1 from GED i have a set of those and they are the "berries"

 

[dennishoddy]

They work alright on some smaller deer with thinner skin. Often times I have found on larger deer that all you cut is the skin and then have to make a second swipe. I have a drop point knife that I slide it, with the sharp edge up, between two fingers and unzip the gut. .

Thats the way I've always done it in the past, and your correct, about having to make a second pass on a bigger deer, but all in all it went pretty quick.

 

[bigcountryok]

The best one I have ever used was the hook on the Wyoming Skinning Knife. Its a replaceable blade and does open deer up like a zipper. What every you do, don't take the cover for the skinning blade off until you are ready to use it. Then be real careful. That thing will slice you up before you know it. http://www.cabelas.com/p-0006369512438a.shtml

 

[Shadowrider]

The best one I have ever used was the hook on the Wyoming Skinning Knife. Its a replaceable blade and does open deer up like a zipper. What every you do, don't take the cover for the skinning blade off until you are ready to use it. Then be real careful. That thing will slice you up before you know it. http://www.cabelas.com/p-0006369512438a.shtml

No way I could use that. I'd have myself sliced and diced more than the deer!

 

[dennishoddy]

The best one I have ever used was the hook on the Wyoming Skinning Knife. Its a replaceable blade and does open deer up like a zipper. What every you do, don't take the cover for the skinning blade off until you are ready to use it. Then be real careful. That thing will slice you up before you know it. http://www.cabelas.com/p-0006369512438a.shtml

Now that I've used one I think I might have to look into getting one of those. They have been around forever, and I just couldn't see how they would work untill I tried this one. The Wyoming looks like a good deal.

 

[RedneckZombie]

They work alright on some smaller deer with thinner skin. Often times I have found on larger deer that all you cut is the skin and then have to make a second swipe. I have a drop point knife that I slide it, with the sharp edge up, between two fingers and unzip the gut. When I get to the rib cage it can be opened up without ever pulling the knife out or switching grip. I do remove my hand that I was using as a guide before opening rib cage. The lungs and heart are the only thing in the rib cage and won't spoil meat if you do cut them, but my knife doesn't have that long of a blade. I can do everything that needs to be done with a deer with about a 3" blade.

Thats the exact same technique i've used for years. And like Oklahomabassin said, a short sharp drop point blade is my preference also. I use a CASE XX Elephant Toenail that i've had for years.