How to clean the game of Georgia

 

      Learn the game of Georgia and what you need 

 Are you new to hunting in general or the state of Georgia and do not know what animals you are allowed to harvest and how clean them?  If you read this article you will learn what animals live and migrate through Georgia. If you follow read this article you will be able to able to identify and then clean the animal or animals, you harvest in Georgia. 

Most hunters know that animals are categorized as small and big game. Small game is birds, rabbits and waterfowl. Big game animals are deer, turkey, and bears. It is important to know the difference between big game and small game and this will help you be identify the type of license you will need to hunt the game you are searching to harvest. For small game and most big game all you need is a license. With animals like ducks and alligators you need to pay an extra tax or get a special permit. 

     

How to identify male and female  

With animals that are big game most of the time to identity male or female you just have to look and see what parts they have. Ducks are not to easy to tell if you are a new hunter. Duck sexes are characterized their size and colors male ducks known as a drake has more color than a female known as hen. The hen is smaller and less color to better hide from predators to protect their eggs. With doves and other birds the biggest one is male. 

What you need to harvest game in Georgia 

To harvest small game you will need 

• a state of Georgia hunting license and with Duck you will need a state and federal duck stamp 
• a blind to conceal yourself so you the game you are trying to harvest does not detect you 
• a call or some decoys to lure the game to you 
• clothing appropriate for the location 

How to clean your game 

Waterfowl

• Pluck the feathers by hand and make a cut down to expose the breast 
• Pull the sides of duck or goose so you now have nothing blocking the breast
• then cut the breast out 

     tools you will need 

• A knife with a sharp blade 
• A gut bucket to store the guts after you clean the animal 
• Water bowls to wash the meat and your hands 
• Salt to put in the water to help take some of the blood out
• Plastic bags to store the meat in and then move it to the freezer 

Doves 

• Place the dove where you can see the breast of the animal 
• gently peel the skin back 
• take your fingers to pop the breast out 
• then use a pair of scissors to cut the breast loose 
• Then wash the breast to get the reaming feathers off of the breast 
• do the same thing for quail 

tools you will need 

• a pair of scissors 
• a bowl of water 
• a table 
• a pair of latex gloves
• Plastic bags to store the meat in and then move it to the freezer 

Deer

• Put the deer in the position in which you would like to clean it by field dressing it or hanging it upside down 
• remove the hooves at the elbow by finding the joint and and cutting around it as deep as possible to snap off later 
• start at the edge of skull then down towards the breastbone and end at he stomach and pelvis 
• Pull the skin at the shoulders and neck down the body to remove the skin 
• Cut the off by severing the ligaments below the head 
• Wash the carcass to remove any hairs still on it 
• Split the backbone in half to separate the chunks of meat from one another 
• remove the back straps and tenderloin this is dark lean meat found inside the cavity 
• Store the meat in a cooler or freezer to keep the meat cool so it does not spoil 

     things you will need 

• a pair of gloves 
• a very sharp knife 
• a cooler 
• depending it your hanging the carcass upside down you will need a wench and deer hook

Have a good time and practice your skills 

Now that you know how to clean and identify animals remember to practice skills. The sense of knowing that you can clean an animal by yourself is something that makes you feel good as you save money and have a good time cleaning animals and learning new techniques after you have mastered the beginner levels. I have been cleaning animals since i was 12 and just about everybody has their own way to clean the game they kill and I love learning new ways to clean game which often saves time. After you clean 15 doves by yourself there is feeling of accomplishment. If you are beginner I hope this article helps.