Why do people hang dead deer from their trees and garage rafters and such. I find the image disturbing in that can't-look-but-have-to way ... but I assume there must be a reason aside from some primitive need to show one's hunter/gather prowess. Very curious ... since I am living in Michigan and see A LOT of this.
2007-12-23 08:01:55 · 19 answers · asked by PoetForPeace 2 in Sports ➔ Outdoor Recreation ➔ Hunting
The draining blood answers make me laugh. Talking to a large animal studies friend with a masters degree, there is no way to drain blood from muscles unless the heart is still pumping. With cattle, that's why the hit them in the head with a bolt gun or shock em. The heart still beats but the brains is stunned and it's easier to bleed them out, by cutting the throat.
Most hunters do all the draining that can be done when the bullet blows a hole in the deer or the broadhead slices its way through. The hanging is for skin removal, then butchering or removing the meat in easy to package and further butcher the meat. In some areas where it is cold enough they can age the meat by leaving it in a cool area. This allows the meat to partially deteriorate and soften. They do the same thing with beef.
Now for the hunters out there, yes you will see additional blood coming out of the animal, but not out of the muscles in the meat you are merely draining the large arteries in neck, which you are not eating anyway... (arteries no, neck meat yes!)
-edit, Hah hah! Thanks Bass! Well you know what they say... You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make all the dumb animals drink!
2007-12-23 12:48:26 · answer #1 · answered by Maker 4 · 1⤊ 5⤋
Maker,, I see you got a lot of thumbs down on the blood draining reply. But,, you are absolutely right.. you cannot bleed a dead animal. Attempted bleeding of a dead deer is something people have always done.. Not realizing there is very little blood that will drain when this is done. Only a living animal will bleed. Most people hang deer to dress them out. Keep them hanging high so not to get the meat dirty when skinning.
Where I am,, in the south ofcourse... I quarter up the deer and saok it in ice cold salt water over night,, drain it all off,, and then soak it again in ice cold salt water again for another night. This will remove quite a bit of the blood that everyone is trying to bleed to start with. After the two nights of soaking ,, then the deer is cut up ,, wrapped,, and put in the freezer.
I have always wondered why people cut the throats of a dead animal to bleed it. That's just crazy,, Dead animals don't bleed.
2007-12-25 10:28:38 · answer #2 · answered by B_A_S_S_2 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
It has absolutely nothing to do with "some primitive need to show one's hunter/gather prowess." Or "Politic's" for that matter. Are you always so cynical ? This is the HUNTING category.There is a lesson here somewhere if you choose to see it....
You have already been "educated" as to the practical explanation and need for such a thing to be done in order for the venison to cool out and drain so as not to spoil. If you find it so "disturbing" simply don't look
2007-12-23 08:21:24 · answer #3 · answered by JD 7 · 7⤊ 0⤋
This is done to drain the blood and to make the dressing process more simple. Gutting and skinning are much more easy when the deer is hanging, ground skinning can be a pain and it is difficult to keep the meat clean.
I do the same with any large game, including catfish.
2007-12-23 10:55:07 · answer #4 · answered by evo741hpr3 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
People hang them up to skin them in order to get the meat from the carcass, and drain the blood out. It is a lot easier to do when the deer is hanging up and you are not bent over trying to move everything around in the woods.
2007-12-23 09:40:10 · answer #5 · answered by Joe H 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You dont see it in texas because of the temperature. I'm gonna assume you are up north, It is part of the meat prep process, If it is below 40 degrees you let it hang a couple days to cure the meat. Some people will tell you its about blood draining but they are wrong. Once a deer is field dressed and cleaned you wont get any more blood coming out of it. Getting the deer off the ground keeps critters from getting to it. Plus when yo do skin it you have to hang it up.
2007-12-23 08:10:29 · answer #6 · answered by sfcjoe4d 3 · 6⤊ 2⤋
Usually it is just that they have not yet butchered the deer. Some people like to hang a deer for a few days to "age" the meat and improve its flavor. This is often done with beef, too.
2007-12-23 12:07:18 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
We are not just going to throw are meat on the ground where mice, rats, and other varmint can get at it. Would you throw a side of beef on the ground? Didn't think so. It also helps cool the animal and tenderize the meat. As far as people hanging them outside where it is visible, We certainly aren't going to hang them and let blood drip in our homes. Trust me it is not to brag, or to purposely offend......most of the time.
2007-12-26 21:50:54 · answer #8 · answered by Stocky 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
To drain the blood and to gut the deer. Also it may be for quartering the deer to process the meat.
In all honesty here, if it really bothers you so much, no one is forcing you to look at it. All you have to do is simply turn your head, or close your eyes.
2007-12-23 08:10:01 · answer #9 · answered by boker_magnum 6 · 6⤊ 0⤋
The main reason is so you can remove the Deers hide off of it and get the meat to cool as quickly as possible.* The other reasons are to age or cure the meat before you cut it up into steaks, chops, roasts and hamburg.*
2007-12-23 08:28:36 · answer #10 · answered by dca2003311@yahoo.com 7 · 3⤊ 1⤋