How do I remove deer hair after skinning?

Question

After skinning a freshly killed whitetail deer, I usually butcher the deer myself. Often I struggle with hair on the meat after skinning. What is the best way to eliminate hair on the meat after skinning?

As most deer hunters know that after skinning a deer, you inevidibly end up with some loose hair on the meat. Since there are good suggestions for removing the loose hair, I assume I am not only one to have this issue. But, as Pedro so eloguently put it...I must be FOS...thanks.

I have used the hose method in the past, but it seems to turn the meat a grey color instead of the nice fresh red it should be. I doubt this hurts the meat, but was just wondering if others had any alternate methods that work well. The torch method seems interesting.

Answer 1

I hunt with a group of guys who have done this their entire life. After we skin the deer we quarter it, then we use a torch and burn the hair off of the meat. This seems weird but the hair will burn off right away even before the meat starts to get hot. You have to be careful not to hold the torch in one spot for to long though.

Answer 2

everybody mentioned using water to get the hair off. Water causes bacteria growth IE. Grey meat. I do not use any water at all usually if there is hair on the meat just take a paper towel after butchering and lay the meat on it for a few seconds then remove the paper towel the hair will come off with the towel. Ive not had a real problem with hair other than a few strays floating around I use a fan blowing on the carcass and this will blow any hair away from the meat.

Answer 3

I've been processing my own deer for many years and the ONLY way to get the hair off is to use a small propane torch.
I always skin my deer when they're still warm, the hide slides off easier. Then I wash out the inside with water, then use the torch all around the body to remove all the excess hair. just use it lightly, you don't want to cook the meat, but it doesn't take much and in just a couple minutes you're good to go.
Good Luck!

Answer 4

Down here in my part of the South, we skin deer a different way.

We hang them by the neck, cut around the neck, around the hooves. and around the anus.

Pull down on the neck skin to get a little loose. The take a rock, and put it in the loose skin and loop a rope around the skin, making a pouch with the rock in it. Tie the other end of the rope to an ATV or the bumper of a truck, and pulle the sking off. It will turn inside out and will leave very little if any hair on the carcase. If need be wash it off with a water hose, or use the singeing method someone else mentioned.

FWIW, if you use a neck shot and sever the spinal column, using this method will result in a headless deer on the ground.

Doc

Answer 5

We hang them by their hind legs and start there and pull the hide off from the top down. After yo get over the legs it gets a little tougher so we cut a hole in the sides of the hide that is already off the meat for handles, then back to pulling down. We usually don't have any hair on left on it unless it is fluttering in the air. We hose it off with water. I hope this helps you.

Answer 6

i have killed 3 deer. im 13. and to get the hair off i usually take a big bowl of warm water, put unidolized salt in and let it sit for a while. when it has sat a while, take a woodenspoon, hold the meat at the bottom of the bowl and poor the water out. then flip it and repeat.(if it needs to be fliped)

Answer 7

use the torch method works great any hairs left pick them off by hand, hanging by the rear legs working down to the head an avoid touching the hide and meat then the hide helps

Answer 8

I also use a propane torch that takes the litle bottels works great and alot easier than tring to wash all the hair off.

Answer 9

I use a warm bucket of water and a hand towel while it is still hanging, or after quartering it... It is easiest while hanging..

Answer 10

A hose will work quite well. No need to work unnecessarily.