field dressed or not?

[haftafish22]

When everyone states how big their deer is, they always include a weight. When I give weight, I say the weight field dressed. I keep seeing people giving weights, but they seem high. Are they giving live weight or dressed weight?

[JoshKeller]

i always use field dressed weight - simply because no deer i shoot has the guts left in them when i finally make it to a scale

[DIXIEDOG]

I always go by field dressed weight. I don't leave the guts in any longer than absolutely necessary.

[Hogman]

<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by DIXIEDOG &raquo;</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">I always go by field dressed weight. I don't leave the guts in any longer than absolutely necessary.</td></tr></table>

+1. The deer down here live weight are smaller than field dressed up there around Dixie. I guess that's why we're allowed to take 12.

[blazin461]

I always use field dressed weight. IMO, live weight is just a guess unless you have a scale available prior to gutting it out. I do not like to leave the guts in any longer than I have to. Get them out so that deer can start cooling down inside.

[haftafish22]

i agree, i always dress a deer asap. I just wondered because I shot a decent doe, 103lbs field dressed in illinois, and i see people in the south report shooting 125lb plus does. Seems a little far fetched is all.

[DIXIEDOG]

<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by haftafish22 &raquo;</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">i agree, i always dress a deer asap. I just wondered because I shot a decent doe, 103lbs field dressed in illinois, and i see people in the south report shooting 125lb plus does. Seems a little far fetched is all. </td></tr></table>

Not really far fetched, I've shot does up here in excess of 140 lbs dressed and I've seen others shot that went over 150. It depends what they have for feed and the conditions. If you get a favorable winter, they aren't diseased and there is good food supply they can grow fairly large.

[Roddy]

Field dressed.

[90xpress]

I killed one this year 145lbs undressed and last year we had one killed 175lbs undressed

[Derek B]

we do things a little different down here. We don't gut a deer unless we have to drag it out. I'll take a 4 wheeler in the woods and load up the deer, bring it back to camp and clean it. Even then we don't gut them. Cut the back straps out, take off front shoulders, and debone the hind quarters all while the deer is hanging. Leave the guts in the cavity and toss the whole thing away.

I guess the answer to your question is I always give the live weight.

[90xpress]

<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by Derek B &raquo;</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">we do things a little different down here. We don't gut a deer unless we have to drag it out. I'll take a 4 wheeler in the woods and load up the deer, bring it back to camp and clean it. Even then we don't gut them. Cut the back straps out, take off front shoulders, and debone the hind quarters all while the deer is hanging. Leave the guts in the cavity and toss the whole thing away.

I guess the answer to your question is I always give the live weight. </td></tr></table>

Not sure if you do this or not derek but you can also get the LOINS without gutting the deer. If im not making chops and steaks, then I will do what derek does. Take everything but the guts and i also reach in and get the heart!!

[haveme1]

<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by Derek B &raquo;</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">we do things a little different down here. We don't gut a deer unless we have to drag it out. I'll take a 4 wheeler in the woods and load up the deer, bring it back to camp and clean it. Even then we don't gut them. Cut the back straps out, take off front shoulders, and debone the hind quarters all while the deer is hanging. Leave the guts in the cavity and toss the whole thing away.

I guess the answer to your question is I always give the live weight. </td></tr></table>

*what does one do with the heart ? You eat it ?*

[haftafish22]

<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by 90xpress &raquo;</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">I killed one this year 145lbs undressed and last year we had one killed 175lbs undressed</td></tr></table>
well from what i understand, 14% or so of a whitetails weight is internal organs. This is what i consider field dressed (removal of inner organs). With that being said, a 175lb live weight doe would weigh ~150lbs. That is a huge deer for LA. think you need to get your scales checked, I only see weights like that in the the midwest and further north. but hey i believe you....we are after all fisherman right........i know i know IT WAS THIS BIG

[ace of blades]

Field dressed. Guts come out immediately.
Oh and haftafish, I hope you arent leaving the loins, if you are, you are sure missing out. MMMMMM MMMMMM.

[Derek B]

<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by 90xpress &raquo;</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">

Not sure if you do this or not derek but you can also get the LOINS without gutting the deer. If im not making chops and steaks, then I will do what derek does. Take everything but the guts and i also reach in and get the heart!!</td></tr></table>

yeah we get the loins out too. The guts will hang over the ribs but they'll stay in there. I have never taken the heart of liver out... not that hungry yet

[ol man river]

here in florida we use the live weight and multiply by 2 so were not as embarrassed...

[90xpress]

The heart is the best part!!! now the liver, that can stay!!! Dont like the texture

[blackram]

Here in NW FL a field dressed doe over 105 pounds is not unheard of. Heck, I think the does get bigger here than a lot of the bucks

[alleycat]

A couple of years ago I had a doe weigh out field dressed at 150lb. the buck we weighed was 195 field dressed. We did not win the big buck and doe contest either.

[jpfishmaster]

guts out