What are the best knives for butchering deer? If you’re a new hunter, or a seasoned veteran who’s looking to add some cutting power to your arsenal, you’ve probably been inundated with adverts from all sorts of manufacturers. You can choose from gas, electric and steak knives, but have you ever wondered what makes a knife work best, and which are best for hunting? After all, there’s no point buying one that won’t cut easily, or one that will break on you if you use it wrong. So let’s take a look at some factors that affect whether a knife will work well for you.
First of all, consider the blade length – some knives, particularly filleting knives or pocket knives are more suitable for bigger game such as turkeys, than others, such as a simple knife. The bigger the game, the longer the knife needs to be, generally speaking. This applies equally to larger game such as antlers. The longer your blade, the more effective it is. So if you’re hunting large game, choose a knife with a longer, stronger blade length, for better penetration.
Size is also important, although many people seem to prefer the smaller “just right” size for general use. Most people will prefer a slightly larger one, though, for tough situations where you might need extra leverage. So the best knives for butchering deer, moose and other game would be ones with 6 bones, as these offer a good balance between cutting power, and strength. However, for larger game such as elk, a double bladed knife is almost necessary.
Sharpness is also important. Dull knives will cause poor penetration, so it’s important that you get a good knife sharpener, either by buying a professional tool, or sharpening your own blade. The best knife sharpeners will be automatic, which means they’ll do all the work, without you having to do anything. However, be aware that automatic knife sharpeners are very expensive, and you may have to pay for service to take advantage of them. Still, they are well worth the investment, as getting a good knife sharpener out of the box, is often much cheaper than buying an automatic one later.
There are many different styles of blades, as well. One popular style of blade for a butchering deer knife is the “tanto blade”, which is simply a long knife blade, designed to slice and chop. The flat top tang of the tanto blade makes it easier to cut through tougher skin, reducing the chance of cuts and possibly scarring. Another popular style of blade is the full-toothed blade, which has a thin “teeth” for cutting and grinding.
When deciding which of these best boning knife styles is best for you, remember that quality materials will be more expensive, but they’ll also last longer and require less maintenance. For a budget-conscious person, laminate and carbon fiber boning knives can be found that are durable enough to handle difficult cuts of meat. Although plastic and resin materials will not last as long as more expensive woods and metals, they do offer a more affordable option.