11/28/2025
Part 3 of my "Deer" comic series: skinning! Skinning your deer (or other animal) seems intimidating, but once you get started it's not super-difficult - it just requires a lot of upper-body strength and a bit of anatomical knowledge.
I'm a big proponent of "using every part of the animal" - too often, animal parts are wasted by hunters with no time, skill, or interest in anything except meat and antlers (and usually just antlers). I believe we need to respect the animal, at least as a sentient being, if not a person. The physical body is sacred, even if we can't figure out an immediate use for a certain part. For instance, in this comic I call the face and leg skin "not very useful" - but that's just my ignorance! If you know a good use for these pieces of hide, please let me know.
If you do have to discard animal parts, please please please DON'T PUT THEM IN THE GARBAGE. Place them back in the land, with an apology to the animal. If you're worried about raccoons and coyotes and such, dig a hole at least 2' deep and bury them. Landfills are horrible places that stop decomposition and rob the land of the nutrients from animals. Call me a hippie if you want, but I'm determined to have a deeper relationship with the land and its creatures, and part of that involves giving back the parts you don't use.
As always: do your own research, and get a knowledgeable friend to help you! The methods detailed here aren't the only way to do it, and you'll likely discover a better way. I'm not an expert, just a guy who sometimes does cool stuff and makes comics about it. I only make these comics if I've actually done the activity myself. Good luck, find joy, and happy hunting!
