Reactions to Field Dressing.
 

A few years ago I decided to take up hunting and got my small game license to do so. One of my friends is into hunting and since I live in a gun phobic city (archery and/or crossbows are considered the same as guns), finding other people to do go with not easy. So I have pursued this activity pretty much alone (the one hunting friend I have is rarely available to go hunting with).

I will admit that I sometimes have visions of taking down big prey such as a moose or a deer, but I am starting small as if I was to kill anything big, I have no idea what I would do with it and fear it would be wasted. So squirrel season has started in my province and I went out last weekend. Using a high powered pellet gun, I was impressed with myself as I killed a squirrel about five minutes into my hunt and did so with one shot (he was about 30 yards away). I grabbed my squirrel by the tail and took him to a prepared spot where I planned to clean him. This is where I fell apart.

Before going out hunting, I watched several YouTube videos about how to clean a squirrel. I learned how to remove its fur and clean it. I intended to BBQ my squirrel and have it as an (ahem) hors d'oeuvre as I did not want to simply kill it for practice and then have the squirrel go to waste. Unfortunately I made many mistakes when skinning it and the whole thing turned into a huge mess with me in the end simply throwing the squirrel in the garbage.

Now the reason I am making this post is because of the state I was in when cleaning the squirrel. I had not exerted myself while hunting, but I was sweating profusely. The temperature was about 65 degrees and I was working in the shade with a light breeze; still, my shirt was damp from sweat. A few times I felt like I was going to gag and had to stop a for a quick break. So I am now wondering is this normal when dealing with game for the first time? And more importantly, how do I overcome it? Is it simply a more you do it the easier it becomes or do I need to somehow prep myself psychologically? During the event it was strange as my stomach and sweat glands seemed to be saying no, but my brain was saying yes because I really want to learn how to hunt and prep any game that I have. I will overcome all of this, but am looking for some pointers to better deal with it. Any help or suggestions are appreciated. Thanks.

jaYson

Don't eat for several days prior to your next hunt.

Nah I only had the dry heaves. My breakfast stayed where it was supposed to. I guess I could always consider a cold pack for my head, but that would be silly.

jaYson

Didn't you ever dissect anything in high school?

The suggestion had nothing to do with concerns over regurgitating your breakfast.

It ain't silly if it works...you could also consider dramamine....

My apologies as I misinterpreted your response. I know that my post opens myself up big time to jabs and jokes from PS members.:)
Are you saying that by slightly starving myself, I will only be focused on eating so my body will not be concerned with sweating or gaging?

I had not thought of that. Any idea if it would help the sweating or only the gaging part?

You were just coming down off the adrenalin high from the kill.

Like Sean Bean in Ronin.:D:D

That is what I told my family, but somehow they were not buying it. What makes it more funny is that I was buying it . . .

I grew up slaughtering animals to eat so it has never bothered me. You'll get use to it and just remember it's natural. So many people these days have no clue what it takes to dress an animal of any kind. I'd say 95% of America is in the same boat. Our ancestors did it to survive but we have lost many of those skills. Go out and hunt what you can eat, get some experience dressing it and eventually you'll start to become accustomed to doing it. Another thing I use to do is work on a volunteer rescue squad. You see EVERYTHING working on a rescue squad and you learn to deal with it which of course is a good thing if you're in the military as you'll typically be able to keep your cool while others loose theirs.

Just my .02 worth.

That is one of the driving forces behind my interest in hunting and deciding that despite my body's reaction, I will master this skill. It is encouraging to hear that with continued exposure, my response to this type of a situation will lesson. Thanks for the post.

jaYson

The first time
 

The first time with anything is hard. It was a "new" experience for you.

You may know the procedure from watching videos but the first few times of "hands on" with a furry critter will get you a little out of sorts.

My problem is I did it so little, haven't done it in so long and my knife ain't that sharp that I would be more worried I'd mangle the little critter into tufts of fur and meat shards. :eek:

Hats off to you for giving it a go.

This OP's whole post should be in pink. Somebody's got to be pulling somebody's leg.

No way it's got that bad...

It's pretty bad.


Longstreet- As the QP's said, keep it up. It becomes second nature (well, it's actually first nature, I guess.)

It becomes easier with habit. I remember my first field dressings done on rabbits. Wasn't a piece of cake but wasn't that bad either. After a few you won't even notice it but will focus on doing it properly instead.