Field dressing (or gralloching) is the process of removing the

internal organs In biology, an organ is a collection of tissues joined in a structural unit to serve a common function. In the hierarchy of life, an organ lies between tissue and an organ system. Tissues are formed from same type cells to act together in a ...

of hunted game, and is a necessary step in obtaining and preserving meat from wild animals such as deer. Field dressing must be done as soon possible after the animal is killed in order to ensure rapid body-heat loss and to prevent

bacteria Bacteria (; singular: bacterium) are ubiquitous, mostly free-living organisms often consisting of one biological cell. They constitute a large domain of prokaryotic microorganisms. Typically a few micrometres in length, bacteria were among ...

from growing on the surface of the carcass. Field dressing helps maintain the overall quality of the meat. It also makes it considerably easier for a hunter to carry larger game from the hunt area.

Tools

Most hunters use a sharp knife for field dressing. Other tools can be used such as axes or saws. However, the fact that harvesting locations are generally in remote areas makes the transporting and use of larger tools impractical. Using a knife specifically designed for field dressing and the use of surgical gloves can greatly aid in sanitation."Wearing protective rubber or disposable gloves as you field dress your deer will make your own clean-up quicker and easier and will reduce the possibility of exposure to disease."
from
Field Dressing Your Deer
', Division of Wildlife • Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Publication 111, September 2006.

Risk of disease

Chronic wasting disease (CWD) is a neurological disease and has been found in a growing percentage of deer and elk in certain geographical areas in

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and the

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. Although there have been reports in the popular press of humans being affected by CWD, a study by the

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is the national public health agency of the United States. It is a United States federal agency, under the Department of Health and Human Services, and is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgi ...

(CDC) suggests that " re epidemiologic and laboratory studies are needed to monitor the possibility of such transmissions." The epidemiological study further concludes that, " a precaution, hunters should avoid eating deer and elk tissues known to harbor the CWD agent (e.g.,

brain A brain is an organ that serves as the center of the nervous system in all vertebrate and most invertebrate animals. It is located in the head, usually close to the sensory organs for senses such as vision. It is the most complex organ in a v ...

spinal cord The spinal cord is a long, thin, tubular structure made up of nervous tissue, which extends from the medulla oblongata in the brainstem to the lumbar region of the vertebral column (backbone). The backbone encloses the central canal of the spi ...

, eyes,

spleen The spleen is an organ found in almost all vertebrates. Similar in structure to a large lymph node, it acts primarily as a blood filter. The word spleen comes .

, tonsils,

lymph nodes A lymph node, or lymph gland, is a kidney-shaped organ of the lymphatic system and the adaptive immune system. A large number of lymph nodes are linked throughout the body by the lymphatic vessels. They are major sites of lymphocytes that includ ...

) from areas where CWD has been identified." Tests have also been developed to check for the presence of CWD.

References

https://ohiodnr.gov/static/documents/wildlife/hunting-trapping/field%20dressing%20deer%20pub111.pdf

External links

{{Commons cat, Gutting, Field dressing
Field Dressing GuideWhat does field dressing harvest mean?
Hunting Meat industry

Tools

Risk of disease

See also

References

External links