Nice shootin!
Congrats to the boy.
I know in the southern states it’s SOP to field dress deer at the house. Up here in Ohio and surrounding states it’s SOP to field dress in the woods.
I know there are several factors that dictate the difference. Temperature, terrain, size of deer all play a part. But I wonder where the transition from one method to the other takes place.
I was born and raised in Western PA so it’s different to me as well. I’ve never had somebody fully explain the background as to why. Other than “Those scent sacks have to come out quick or it’ll ruin the meat.”
I was always told to remove in the field to stop them from ‘cooking’. This time of year, archery season, is still warm for us in VA so I always gut where I find them (then hunt over it for coyotes!).
I was told the same. Get the meat cooling as quick as possible.
Also, dragging a 200+ pound deer uphill is a PIA.
Lighter is better. 
nice looking fallow there!. is that on a game preserve somewhere? i wasn’t aware that they free ranged in the US. Then again, I’m assuming you are in the US.
Yeah, it’s a place we go in West Virginia
Nice! I’m in VA. Would you mind letting me know? a PM is fine.
I’m always looking for new places that are close to me.
Archery buck tag filled. Small rack big body. I do all my own butchering, but this one made the exception. I took all the boneless meat minus steaks and roast to the butcher and had 41# made into snack sticks and pepper sticks. Picking up after work today. Gonna be delicious. What you cant see in the picture is how hard I worked for this harvest coming out of 3 year dry spell.
On to doe patrol for 
. Got a flintlock 6 weeks ago and shooting dead on. Cant wait for late season in Pa. Happy hunting fellas!
Watched this group of does for 30min in a field next to the hunt club. They finally crossed the line and my 308 barked. She is going towards the SCDNR Hunters for the Hungry program.
Nice shooting GG!
Thanks.
