74novaman wrote::I'm not a hunter. I want to change that, and include the know how to skin/butcher anything I take.
I'm sure there's more I should learn...but I'm 25. I have time.
But I would like to offer some encouragement that you probably would do OK if the need ever arose.
When I was 25 a hunter friend of mine gave the hind quarter of a deer he had taken on a hunt on the condition that my wife and I invite him to the first meal from it. Being struggling students in college we were very grateful for the extra free protin. However neither one of us had a clue as to how to begin to butcher the deer leg. Finally I got out my trusty X-Acto knife and proceeded to disassemble / disect the leg muscle by muscle. It took awhile but I got all the tendons off the meat and ended up with a pile of meat pieces and a pile of bone and other inedible stuff that only the dog could love. Dinner turned out rather well.
I guess what I'm trying to say is that you don't have to think through every detail; just make sure you have adequate multi-purpose tools at hand and plan to improvise a solution to the current problem when needed.
My 2c
Gerry
"With atomic weapons, as in many other things, knowing what to do isn't nearly so important as knowing what NOT to do." -- J. Robert Oppenheimer, 1946
Wisdom comes from reading the instructions. Experience comes from not reading them!
I've never been an "umbrella" guy, but carrying a cheap $15.00 Walmart "Rainsuit" in the car has come in handy a few times, protects from wind/water. holds warmth, etc.
Also, in about 1984 I recall reading about some overturned car in a ditch in the cold and I started carrying candy in the car for calories in case I'm frozen (good excuse huh?)
30-ish years ago a girl "fell n love" with me when her nephew cut his finger while ice skating and I whipped a Band-aid out of my wallet. "Being Prepared" can be an attractive feature in a person.
Guess I better get back to my old preparedeness level ...
I'm no lawyer
"Never show your hole card" "Always have something in reserve"
74novaman wrote::I'm not a hunter. I want to change that, and include the know how to skin/butcher anything I take.
I'm sure there's more I should learn...but I'm 25. I have time.
But I would like to offer some encouragement that you probably would do OK if the need ever arose.
When I was 25 a hunter friend of mine gave the hind quarter of a deer he had taken on a hunt on the condition that my wife and I invite him to the first meal from it. Being struggling students in college we were very grateful for the extra free protin. However neither one of us had a clue as to how to begin to butcher the deer leg. Finally I got out my trusty X-Acto knife and proceeded to disassemble / disect the leg muscle by muscle. It took awhile but I got all the tendons off the meat and ended up with a pile of meat pieces and a pile of bone and other inedible stuff that only the dog could love. Dinner turned out rather well.
I guess what I'm trying to say is that you don't have to think through every detail; just make sure you have adequate multi-purpose tools at hand and plan to improvise a solution to the current problem when needed.
My 2c
Gerry
I call myself a "hunter" because I've been hunting exactly once......and got skunked. I would have no problem shooting a deer or a hog, but there are details of dressing it out that I don't know and I need to learn. Those details could mean the difference between enjoying a good meal on one hand, or a trip to the hospital with a raging case of E. coli dysentery on the other. Specifically, how does one separate and remove the lower colon/rectum along with the rest of the entrails from the carcass without contaminating the meat? Is there a youtube video or something that demonstrates this?
BTW, if anybody would like to take me hunting and demonstrate this in person, I will be a most willing student.
“Hard times create strong men. Strong men create good times. Good times create weak men. And, weak men create hard times.”
The Annoyed Man wrote: Specifically, how does one separate and remove the lower colon/rectum along with the rest of the entrails from the carcass without contaminating the meat? Is there a youtube video or something that demonstrates this?
BTW, if anybody would like to take me hunting and demonstrate this in person, I will be a most willing student.
There are a ton of both articles and youtube videos on the subject easily found via google. Also, a lot of different state's departments responsible for hunting/wildlife will post articles on the subject. I've tried learning to hunt in my 50's without much success, but I did research what the heck to do with it if I shot one.
tallmike wrote:Trust me, there are far more fire emergencies that happen to folks than gunshot emergencies.
Yep... and probably a lot more medical emergencies than fire emergencies.
Everybody know first aid? CPR? How to use an AED?
A lot of communities offer FREE basic preparedness training through the CERT program
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but there are details of dressing it out that I don't know and I need to learn. Those details could mean the difference between enjoying a good meal on one hand, or a trip to the hospital with a raging case of E. coli dysentery on the other. Specifically, how does one separate and remove the lower colon/rectum along with the rest of the entrails from the carcass without contaminating the meat? Is there a youtube video or something that demonstrates this?
In my experience in 40 years of deer hunting a small sharp knife works best. Many a hunter can wield a big ole bowie knife but when it comes to not accidentaly cutting too much, a small blade is the thing. There are lots of instructions available for dressing a deer but nothing really prepares you for the experience unless you are with somebody else who coaches you through it. It is very much easier than you would think and gravity is your friend in the endeavor.
"Moderation is the silken string running through the pearl-chain of all virtues", Thomas Fuller
tallmike wrote:Trust me, there are far more fire emergencies that happen to folks than gunshot emergencies.
Yep... and probably a lot more medical emergencies than fire emergencies.
Everybody know first aid? CPR? How to use an AED?
A lot of communities offer FREE basic preparedness training through the CERT program
Absolutely. Medical emergencies happen all the time, far more often than fires. I can't believe I forgot to mention medical training, thank you for thinking of that! Yes, basic first aid is so important, if everyone took the time to learn CPR/AED it could help save many lives.
Also, CERT is a wonderful thing. Those volunteers are some great individuals and always appreciated.
but there are details of dressing it out that I don't know and I need to learn. Those details could mean the difference between enjoying a good meal on one hand, or a trip to the hospital with a raging case of E. coli dysentery on the other. Specifically, how does one separate and remove the lower colon/rectum along with the rest of the entrails from the carcass without contaminating the meat? Is there a youtube video or something that demonstrates this?
rwg3:
In my experience in 40 years of deer hunting a small sharp knife works best. Many a hunter can wield a big ole bowie knife but when it comes to not accidentaly cutting too much, a small blade is the thing. There are lots of instructions available for dressing a deer but nothing really prepares you for the experience unless you are with somebody else who coaches you through it. It is very much easier than you would think and gravity is your friend in the endeavor.
Plus, gutting, skinning and quartering a deer will let you know whether your prized knife really will hold an edge and stay sharp. I prefer a
drop point blade. One knife does it all.
About 6 years ago we remodeled our house which included adding a second story.
I cant remember what brought up the conversation but about 6 months ago we realized the only way out from upstairs was down the staircase which leads right into our livingroom/kitchen.
I looked around and every window is about 20 feet or more from the ground!
Bought a colapsable ladder for about $100 that night and it now resides under our bed.
The last thing we need if our house catches on fire is two homeowners with broken legs from jumping out the window!
You can buy chain ladders that come in a box and mount below the window. In an emergency, you drop it out the window and climb down. It takes up a lot less space, and is easier to deploy, than an extension ladder.
You can also find versions with big hooks to hang on the window sill.
Don't forget to hold "Fire Drills" from time to time.
We had the chain ladders under the beds when we had a town house and every once in awhile I'd hold a fire drill and we would deploy one of the ladders and all climb down to the ground on it. Believe me it's not as easy as the vendors would have you believe especially if the downstairs windows are directly below the upstairs windows. Also you don't want to be doing this bare foot unless the house is really on fire.
I'd hate to have to do my first time trial at 3:00 A.M. with fire and smoke in the house.
Just my 2c
Gerry
"With atomic weapons, as in many other things, knowing what to do isn't nearly so important as knowing what NOT to do." -- J. Robert Oppenheimer, 1946
Wisdom comes from reading the instructions. Experience comes from not reading them!
But I would like to offer some encouragement that you probably would do OK if the need ever arose. 
Also you don't want to be doing this bare foot unless the house is really on fire.