Psyxologos Posted November 19, 2011 Report Share Posted November 19, 2011 Hallo all. I have ordered a gralloching DVD online but it now looks like the dvd will not be here before I set off for Scotland on Friday. I had a look on youtube but there seem to be so many videos, and I feel I am not able to tell the difference between a good and a bad technique. As I do not want to start by learning the wrong way, I was wondering if someone could point me to the right direction. The DVD I ordered is the BDS one, I know it is supposed to be the best, this is why I went for this. But now I need a solution untill it arrives. The problem is I am going stalking on my own (the first stalk I will be doing on my own) and if I am lucky enough to get a deer, I need to have a decent idea how to gralloch. Many thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vampire Posted November 19, 2011 Report Share Posted November 19, 2011 www.bestpracticeguide.org.uk Then look on youtube for best match. Hope this helps Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gixer1 Posted November 19, 2011 Report Share Posted November 19, 2011 Where abouts in Scotland are you going?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Norrie Posted November 19, 2011 Report Share Posted November 19, 2011 PM Sent.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blunderbust Posted November 19, 2011 Report Share Posted November 19, 2011 (edited) I would like to think that, 1, You would not be going to stalk a Deer unless you were competent in what is needed to prepare a Deer if it was for you and your own consumption or to be entered into the food chain (not that there is any difference). 2, Hopefully, no one would allow you out on the hill unless they knew you were able to handle your quarry once it had been shot. Stalking is a great sport but respect for the animal is A1. I would suggest that you find out what you are doing before you go and kill such a wonderful animal, they deserve respect. I meant to add to my OP that the best Gralloch DVD I have seen is the “Stalkers Guide to Gralloching & Post Mortem Inspection, issued by the Donington Deer Management group. The film and explanation is good although I feel that there are still a few gems that can be sorted. Edited November 19, 2011 by Blunderbust Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Psyxologos Posted November 19, 2011 Author Report Share Posted November 19, 2011 Blunderbust, you seem to be jumping to conclusions without having the whole picture. Please would you be so kind as to indicate where from my message you got the information or reasonable indication that I have no respect for my quarry, or that I do not know what I am doing? Please refrain from interjecting in conversations offering your useless advice when neither you have been asked for it nor you understand the full facts. It exposes you to the danger of making a fool of yourself. Where abouts in Scotland are you going?? Close to Castle Daglas, Dumfries and Galloway. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gimlet Posted November 19, 2011 Report Share Posted November 19, 2011 You can watch all the DVDs you like, they won't help you much until you get your hands on the real thing under the guidence of someone experienced, and then it will take several attempts to get it right. For a start most deer in these training vids have been in a chiller before the gralloch is filmed; a freshly shot animal that's warm steaming and flopping all over the place is a completely different proposition. That's assuming you've shoot it well and don't have to wade through soup when you get inside. Either way you'll be full of adrenaline and your mind will go blank. If you're not DSC1 qualified you have no registered hunter number and you cannot legally inspect a carcase and pass it as fit for human consumption. Nor will you be able to make a proper inspection just from memory after watching a video. Do not attempt to gralloch your first deer unqualified, alone and unsupervised. You are trying to run before you can walk. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Psyxologos Posted November 20, 2011 Author Report Share Posted November 20, 2011 You can watch all the DVDs you like, they won't help you much until you get your hands on the real thing under the guidence of someone experienced, and then it will take several attempts to get it right. For a start most deer in these training vids have been in a chiller before the gralloch is filmed; a freshly shot animal that's warm steaming and flopping all over the place is a completely different proposition. That's assuming you've shoot it well and don't have to wade through soup when you get inside. Either way you'll be full of adrenaline and your mind will go blank. I have watched a few deer being gralloched in front of me and have gralloched a couple of deer whilst accompanied by an accredited witness. I just need to refresh my memory on how it is done, as my last first hand experience was a couple of months ago. That is all. If you're not DSC1 qualified you have no registered hunter number and you cannot legally inspect a carcase and pass it as fit for human consumption. Nor will you be able to make a proper inspection just from memory after watching a video. Do not attempt to gralloch your first deer unqualified, alone and unsupervised. You are trying to run before you can walk. I agree with you. I do not hold a DSC1, I am taking my exam at the beginning of December. I am medically qualified though, and I can identify diseased lymphs, anthrax, foot and mouth, TB etc. I have no concerns on that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gimlet Posted November 20, 2011 Report Share Posted November 20, 2011 Fair enough, though I still think you could do with a few more supervised grallochs before you go solo. There are a few dodgey techniques on some vids. I've seen one where the guy split the sternum with an unzipper right through to the jaw and made an awful mess. Haven't seen the latest complete BDS DSC1 and 2 DVD but its highly rated. A lot of them now tell you to tie off the oesophagus with a cable tie rather than tying a knot in it. Probably not a bad tip when you're fumbling with nervous slippery fingers. Thats the bit that will ruin the carcase if you don't get it right. Good luck with it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Psyxologos Posted November 20, 2011 Author Report Share Posted November 20, 2011 Fair enough, though I still think you could do with a few more supervised grallochs before you go solo. There are a few dodgey techniques on some vids. I've seen one where the guy split the sternum with an unzipper right through to the jaw and made an awful mess. Haven't seen the latest complete BDS DSC1 and 2 DVD but its highly rated. A lot of them now tell you to tie off the oesophagus with a cable tie rather than tying a knot in it. Probably not a bad tip when you're fumbling with nervous slippery fingers. Thats the bit that will ruin the carcase if you don't get it right. Good luck with it. Thanks. Yes, I know. This is why I asked people's opinion on good videos on youtube in the first place. Because I know there are some very weird ones. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muddy Funker Posted November 20, 2011 Report Share Posted November 20, 2011 I would like to think that, 1, You would not be going to stalk a Deer unless you were competent in what is needed to prepare a Deer if it was for you and your own consumption or to be entered into the food chain (not that there is any difference). 2, Hopefully, no one would allow you out on the hill unless they knew you were able to handle your quarry once it had been shot. Stalking is a great sport but respect for the animal is A1. I would suggest that you find out what you are doing before you go and kill such a wonderful animal, they deserve respect. I meant to add to my OP that the best Gralloch DVD I have seen is the “Stalkers Guide to Gralloching & Post Mortem Inspection, issued by the Donington Deer Management group. The film and explanation is good although I feel that there are still a few gems that can be sorted. That's ridiculous. How can the OP learn without first killing a deer? What he's doing here is showing respect in my book. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blunderbust Posted November 20, 2011 Report Share Posted November 20, 2011 Blunderbust, you seem to be jumping to conclusions without having the whole picture. Please would you be so kind as to indicate where from my message you got the information or reasonable indication that I have no respect for my quarry, or that I do not know what I am doing? Please refrain from interjecting in conversations offering your useless advice when neither you have been asked for it nor you understand the full facts. It exposes you to the danger of making a fool of yourself. Close to Castle Daglas, Dumfries and Galloway. Point taken mate. I just thought that you had no experience after reading your OP. I think it was this part of it that might have thrown me "As I do not want to start by learning the wrong way" I apologise for my comments, I did not mean to offend you in any way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Psyxologos Posted November 20, 2011 Author Report Share Posted November 20, 2011 No problem Blunderbust. What I meant by 'start by learning the wrong way' is that I am not an experienced stalker. I only have a couple of grallochs under my belt and they were performed under supervision from an expert. This will be the first time that I will be out there on my own. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yankeedoodlepigeon Posted November 20, 2011 Report Share Posted November 20, 2011 A lot of them now tell you to tie off the oesophagus with a cable tie rather than tying a knot in it. Probably not a bad tip when you're fumbling with nervous slippery fingers. Thats the bit that will ruin the carcase if you don't get it right. Good luck with it. Can you not remove the oesophagus? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blunderbust Posted November 20, 2011 Report Share Posted November 20, 2011 That's ridiculous. How can the OP learn without first killing a deer? What he's doing here is showing respect in my book. What I mean is, get some experience from others, as the OP has stated in a later post, he has watched a few grallochs and has actually done a couple under the supervision of an AW. You do not need to go out and kill a Deer yourself just to learn the gralloch. You can very easily get experience and hands on by getting in touch with an estate that is doing a cull. Most are more than happy to let you help with the retrieval of the carcase and assist/learn the gralloch and larder work. That is the way that I learned the skills needed. I have to admit if I had prior knowledge that the OP has had some experience before I posted my FP, I would have written it differently. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Psyxologos Posted November 20, 2011 Author Report Share Posted November 20, 2011 Not a problem. It is a misunderstanding. It happens. Onwards and upwards... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gimlet Posted November 20, 2011 Report Share Posted November 20, 2011 Can you not remove the oesophagus? No. The oesophagus is attached to the rumen and the whole thing needs tying off and sealing before the green offal is removed otherwise the stomach contents will spill out through the oesophagus as the gralloch is pulled from the body cavity. Then the carcase is condemned. When you've tied off the oesophagus and emptied the rectum of any fecal matter and cut around the anus so that comes away with the intestines, the oesophagus will have gassed up like a fat sausage if the rumen is full. If you've removed it entirely or failled to tie it off you'd have green sludge welling out into the throat and chest cavity. Result- dog food. That's the trouble with ruminants, you've got a great slop-filled balloon to deal with. It ain't like a rabbit! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yankeedoodlepigeon Posted November 20, 2011 Report Share Posted November 20, 2011 Sorry if I am a little thick but could you cut down from the jaw and remove oesophagus and rumen at the same time? (something I am just getting into) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Psyxologos Posted November 20, 2011 Author Report Share Posted November 20, 2011 Sorry if I am a little thick but could you cut down from the jaw and remove oesophagus and rumen at the same time? (something I am just getting into) This is exactly what my BDS instructor told me. On a suspended gralloch it should be possible. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gimlet Posted November 20, 2011 Report Share Posted November 20, 2011 (edited) Ah we're at cross purposes here. I was talking about gralloching on the ground. Some of us stone age types still do it. Carry on as you were. Edited November 20, 2011 by Gimlet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Psyxologos Posted November 20, 2011 Author Report Share Posted November 20, 2011 Ah we're at cross purposes here. I was talking about gralloching on the ground. Some of us stone age types still do it. Carry on as you were. No, still good to know what you suggested. If there is no tree to suspend, what should we do? Tie the oesophagus or not? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Magus69 Posted November 20, 2011 Report Share Posted November 20, 2011 I am assuming that you will be going guided stalking with a professional stalker,just tell him that you are inexperienced/rusty on the gralloching/preparation side of things I'm sure he won't have a problem and will help you through the process(everybody has to start somewhere).Videos although some can be quite good and informative others can be total pants especially youtube ones and there is nothing like hands on experience so please ring your stalker tell him your concerns I'm positive he'll say no problem and put you totaly at ease. Good luck with the stalking and the DSC. Mike... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muddy Funker Posted November 20, 2011 Report Share Posted November 20, 2011 You do not need to go out and kill a Deer yourself just to learn the gralloch. You can very easily get experience and hands on by getting in touch with an estate that is doing a cull. Most are more than happy to let you help with the retrieval of the carcase and assist/learn the gralloch and larder work. That is the way that I learned the skills needed. That's a fair point, makes sense Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dougy Posted November 20, 2011 Report Share Posted November 20, 2011 No, still good to know what you suggested. If there is no tree to suspend, what should we do? Tie the oesophagus or not? Yes It will end up being allot cleaner if you do, Of course when it is possible it is always easier to do the job if the beast is hanging from the hind feet, also quicker Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gimlet Posted November 20, 2011 Report Share Posted November 20, 2011 As above. Always tie off. The traditional method is to scrape a couple of inches in the middle of the oesophagus clear of the outer membrane with your knife, cut through the oesophagys at the throat and tie a stop knot in the scraped section. Its quite easy to do, but can feel like wrestling a greased eel. I've always tied them off but if your fingers are cold or the stomach is very full and the oesophagus is starting to fill up having a small cable tie to hand could be very useful. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.