KNIVES
A top quality knife is an essential part of the deerhunter’s kit. Buy a good one and it will allow you to butcher and cape out the largest deer without the need for a major re-sharpening; get caught with a poor quality or unsuitable blade and field dressing your deer will be an exercise in absolute frustration.
Larger folding knives and sheath knives are equally popular among hunters and certainly both will do the job.
If you purchase a folding knife insist that it is solidly built, is of good quality steel and has a locking blade to prevent the blade closing on your fingers while you are working on a deer. Look for a blade shape that is not overly long and slender but rather a strong, broad blade with plenty of ‘belly’ for skinning and preferably with a drop point. Companies such as Case, Puma, Gerber, Kershaw and Buck all make excellent folding knives well suited to the demands of deer hunting.
Sheath knives are more robust by virtue of their one-piece construction and can handle the demanding tasks of heavy duty butchering very effectively. They should have a sturdy leather or synthetic sheath to keep the blade out of harm’s way and should not be carried on the belt where they are potentially dangerous in a fall, or will snag on bush. Carry a sheath knife in your daypack and wear a folding knife such as a Leatherman for the day-to-day tasks. Once again, look for a strong blade with plenty of sweep for skinning, a drop point is the best. Quality fixed bladed hunting knives from Case, Puma, Gerber, Buck and Kershaw are very popular amongst deerhunters and although they may cost over $100 and can last a hunting lifetime. Gut hooks can be useful on sheath knives, but limit their usefulness in skinning.
A sharpening tool will be required for the successful hunter as your knives will need some additional sharpening during the caping/skinning meat cutting process. Gerber and others market small, flat hone steels in a leather carry pouch, a small Arkansas sharpening stone may be carried in the daypack or one of the new ceramic or diamond faced ‘steels’ may be used. All are capable of returning the sharp edge to your knife and one should be carried as part of the deerhunter’s kit - it is as essential as a good quality knife.
Check here: Gerber Buck Old Timer Kershaw Case
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