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Skinning Elk: On the
Ground or Hanging

Skinning elk is probably the easiest part of butchering an animal. Once you’ve gutted your elk, or decided to use the gutless method, you’re ready for skinning the elk. Everyone has their own peculiar way of skinning elk, but the idea is to get the hide off without getting dirt and hair on the meat.

Secondly, most people want to get it done fast and efficiently without gouging the meat with a blade. Some like to keep from cutting through the hide, so they can use it for something. We trade each elk hide for cow hide gloves (2 pairs) at the local recycling center (Pacific Steel). Or, they offer an option of cash that is far less than the price of the gloves.

For skinning elk that are hanging, gravity simply plays a different role. If there are horns, most people prefer skinning elk hanging from its head. If it’s a cow, most prefer to tie a branch, pole, bar or lift hooks to the back legs between the tendon and leg bone just above the lowest joint. (Be careful not to cut the tendon.) The bar can be inserted through a hole cut between the bone and large tendon.

Skinning on the Ground

When skinning elk on the ground, you have to skin one side and then flop the elk over and do the same on the other. It’s not that difficult, except for the effort and space required to roll it over.

Keeping the side clean that has been skinned requires careful attention. We have stretched the loose skin out for the skinned side to lie on, but it is easier to use a tarp or table cloth between the meat and ground.

Either way, the skinning process is about the same. My family has grown comfortable skinning elk on the ground, but we still hang it up when we get one home whole. Hanging makes it easier to cut meat off the bones, but that can be done relatively easily on the ground as well.

We use a singletree with hooks that a friend made for us. We lift it with a simple chain hoist secured to a heavy cross beam in the garage. I’m always concerned about the weight issue and safety. Be careful hanging an elk in the woods. Pine trees don’t always have strong enough branches.

Frankly, skinning along with someone else can be pretty dangerous, especially when both of you work quickly. It’s easy to get cut in that situation, even by someone who is good at skinning. Just stay separated and use caution.

Detailed Instructions for Skinning:

Using a Sharp Knife Saves Time

Start with a sharp knife and use a sharpener or switch to another knife, if you find yourself having to work too hard. Skinning elk or any big game takes an edge off a blade pretty quickly. The tip tends to dull the quickest, because it does most of the cutting. Try to use the full length of the blade as you cut to avoid dulling the tip so soon.

Avoid Cutting Meat or Hide While Skinning

The idea is to avoid cutting the meat or the hide while skinning an elk, deer, or other big game (except for "lengthwise" and "around" cuts). I like to separate the skin from the rib area first, if it is already opened up from the gutting process.

After making a start with your knife, pull the skin away from the meat with your hand while slicing parallel to the meat with your knife. You will actually be cutting through the white membranous layer that begins to stretch between the meat and hide as you pull on it.

The key point is that you are cutting the white stuff, not the meat or hide. A skinning knife makes it easier to avoid poking the tip through the hide or into the muscle, but any sharp knife will do.

If you see that you are cutting into meat, angle the blade toward the hide. If you see that you are cutting through the hide, angle the knife a little toward the meat. In some places, you might be able to pull the skin away without making much, if any, cutting motion. Other areas will be tighter and require more patience, care, and shorter cuts.

"Lengthwise" and "Around" Cuts

While skinning elk, consider that everything on the animal is basically “around”. That is, the skin goes all the way around everything: torso, neck and legs. You always have to make a “lengthwise” (perpendicular, or long) cut and then an “around” cut on these round parts.

You made the first “lengthwise” cut when you cut the hide from anus to chin. You’ll need one along each leg that meets the first one (under belly). Then you will need four “around” cuts at the bottom of each leg and one below the head on the neck. Now you can unwrap the whole carcass using the method of separating hide from meat by pulling and slicing the white stuff between.

Around the butt you’ll have to work at it a little, because the hide goes around this and that curve. You an easily cut off the tail, using a saw or knife, and leave it attached to the hide.

Keeping Hair and Dirt off Meat

When skinning elk or other big game keep in mind that every time you cut through the hide, you will cut hair. The hair falls free and can easily land on meat, potentially tainting the flavor. No one never gets any hair on their meat. Just try to keep it to a minimum by moving your knife away from the meat as you cut through hide.

Always make cuts through hide from the meat side outward, as much as possible, to avoid getting hair on the meat. That is, cut with the knife blade pointing away from the meat outward (like you do when making the gutting cut).

If you make a cut through hide that is above exposed meat, especially while skinning elk that is hanging, hair will drop on your exposed meat below. Loose hair heads for moist meat like a magnet.

If a bull has been wallowing, the mud will be dry and now the hide will be covered with thick dust, which readily falls on your meat if you're not careful. I skinned a 5 X 6 in September of 09 that was filthy. I used several pairs of latex gloves because the dirt covered the glove whenever I pulled on the hide.

Any hair or dirt on the meat can easily be removed before cooking or freezer wrapping while cutting off the white membrane on the outside of the muscle. It won't rinse of with water. Just peel off that membrane and it's clean!

No Need to Carry a Heavy Hide

Incidentally, I stopped carrying heavy hides a long time ago, when packing meat out of the woods.

If you want to take it home, roll it up lengthwise, hair out. Tie it in at least three spots to keep it from unrolling. Then drag it behind you on the ground with a long enough rope to keep it away from your heels. It slides easily on the ground.

Now you’re ready to debone it or cut it up or take it to the butcher shop for processing. Consider cutting and wrapping it yourself. It’s not that difficult.

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Skinning Elk: On the Ground or Hanging