I'm looking forward to field dressing my first buck this year. Everything I've read says ignore them as they don't or can't spoil the meet. The handful of animals I've seen field dressed avoided the tarsel glands. Basically the theory goes that the only way the tarsel glands can cantaminate the meat is from the knife. Yet...............

I still run into folks, especally old Texans, that swear it's the first thing that needs to be done and that all the venison I've ever eaten would have been 100% better if the tarsel's had been removed. I aint buying it but was wondering if anyone here stll cuts out the Tarsel Glands and why?

Happy hunting!

I do. Back in Virginia we hunted whitetails in the rutt when these glades were wet and smelled like hell. We always cut them off first. After relocation to the PNW I continued doing it even though they don't stink nearly as much when we are allowed to hunt here. I suppose you can do whatever you like to do. But for me, I'll continue to cut them off.

Always cut them off just wait til your done gutting then you don't contaminate your animal!! They don't really stink on deer around here til the rut!! Good luck.

Dave

If you find a bottle of Tarsal Seasoning in the store,get a picture of ssame.(grin)

The merits associated with clean meat,doesn't require much of an explanation.

I never remove them and think it is completely unnecessary. When you skin the legs just skin the glands away at the same time after gutting. There is no direct knife contact required and zero risk of contamination.

Removing them first would just be more work and a an invitation to get your hands and knives fouled.

I've no doubt that some folks could factor reason(s) not to wipe their ass either.

Being good with a blade is rather handy and I couldn't call a 10 second task "work",especially one geared towards the quantifiable improvement of relative tablefare.

No brainer.

always

Always. Even if it doesn't make a difference, it only takes seconds. Boning a deer out requires moving and holding the legs to take the meat off, so I'd rather not have the glands left in place where I might get a handful of stink.

Transport from the death bed also involves handling the Critter. I can't like Tarsal goo on me,my packs,my crummies,my boats,my motorcycles or in my garage.

If only for starters.

Flipside being Tarsals affixed to a boot,will reliably coax Bucks into your AO and that entrance is easily controlled via the astute.

Old Injun Trick.

Moreover, you can pull off some really gross practical jokes back in camp with them.

Tough to top shitting in someone's boot.

+1

I remove the large intestine to the hair,remove the skoozle pipe and Tarsals.

No exceptions.

Thus the debate continues..............

Thanks all for the responses. I'll probably wait for a gametime decision based on current factors. Usualy hang and skin back at camp so I'll probably wait but if I feel there will be a lot of extra handling to get him back to camp I may cut them out.

Just shoot a doe if possible and dont worry about it. You cant eat antlers anyway.

If you choose to do it, make sure it is the LAST thing you do.

Think about it for a minute. If it is the first thing you do, that musk is all over your hands, so as you gut and skin you contaminate everything you touch!

The animal is dead, that means the blood and other fluids are no longer circulating.

Leave them alone and remove them in the skinning process, and then skin the legs last.