Has anyone ever built a Butcher Cradle for Gutting/skinning Deer and Hogs

[jt400]

I'm pretty ignorant to these but I've seen them used. What are the advantages over hanging a deer on a skinning rack?

[pontiac]

One night 25+ years ago we took 3 deer to Dad's Processing out in Merkel. We got there late after some extended blood trailing and Dad offered me the use of his cradle to clean the 3 deer. He also offered some tips on using the cradle, and by the 3rd deer I set my speed record. Right then, I decided to build one of my own.

We used PT 2x4s for the X legs on the ends, the lower braces (connecting the front and back legs and running across the lower half of each X) and the bottom of the V trough. Then used plywood for the side walls. We had wire rings around the end lags that would allow us to spread and secure the legs for access. We also made the entire rig strong enough so that once you cut everything loose inside you could tip the whole rig up on its hind legs, dump all the guts and drain and rinse out all of the blood from the cavity.

I think the first one lasted for about 5 - 6 years.

[cehorn]

I'm pretty ignorant to these but I've seen them used. What are the advantages over hanging a deer on a skinning rack?

The biggest advantages I think are:

• No swinging/rotating deer as with a hanging deer. How many times have you said hold that leg or danced in circles with a hanging deer? The cradles I have used also tie the legs open so everything on the deer is in position for you to be cutting.
• If the deer is on its back the insides sit on the spine while you are cutting. This decreases the odds of cutting the guts, etc. I compare this to a deer hung by the back legs where the guts are trying to go into the chest cavity as you are cutting, etc.
• As others have mentioned, If you also have a winch or can hang a deer this allows multiple deer to be worked on at a time.

With all of that said, I use both the cradle and hanging for various stages. I typically start on the cradle and cut around the butt and down the stomach but I don't cut through the last layer of "skin" or membrane which keeps the guts where they are. Then when I get to the chest cavity I cut through the skin and then saw thru the sternum, ribs, etc to the throat. As I mentioned, when I do this everything is against the spine "at the bottom" so it is out of the way. Then I'll skin as much as I can making my cuts up the legs while they are tied open and skinning towards the back. Once I've don't all of this I lift the deer up so it is hanging by its back legs. At that point there is a thin skin still holding the guts place that I easily cut and everything falls out with minimal cutting (usually just the diaphragm) into the gut bucket below. And then I finish skinning which was already close to 3/4 done while on the cradle. It may be or sound harder for some but I think it works really well minimizing accidental cuts to the guts and it goes quicker for me.

The only time I don't go in this order is if it is a trophy I plan to mount. Then I cape out from the stomach to the head while hanging. Once I have the cape secure and on ice, I follow the same process as above with slightly less skinning since the cape is gone.

[jt400]

The biggest advantages I think are:

• No swinging/rotating deer as with a hanging deer. How many times have you said hold that leg or danced in circles with a hanging deer? The cradles I have used also tie the legs open so everything on the deer is in position for you to be cutting.
• If the deer is on its back the insides sit on the spine while you are cutting. This decreases the odds of cutting the guts, etc. I compare this to a deer hung by the back legs where the guts are trying to go into the chest cavity as you are cutting, etc.
• As others have mentioned, If you also have a winch or can hang a deer this allows multiple deer to be worked on at a time.

With all of that said, I use both the cradle and hanging for various stages. I typically start on the cradle and cut around the butt and down the stomach but I don't cut through the last layer of "skin" or membrane which keeps the guts where they are. Then when I get to the chest cavity I cut through the skin and then saw thru the sternum, ribs, etc to the throat. As I mentioned, when I do this everything is against the spine "at the bottom" so it is out of the way. Then I'll skin as much as I can making my cuts up the legs while they are tied open and skinning towards the back. Once I've don't all of this I lift the deer up so it is hanging by its back legs. At that point there is a thin skin still holding the guts place that I easily cut and everything falls out with minimal cutting (usually just the diaphragm) into the gut bucket below. And then I finish skinning which was already close to 3/4 done while on the cradle. It may be or sound harder for some but I think it works really well minimizing accidental cuts to the guts and it goes quicker for me.

The only time I don't go in this order is if it is a trophy I plan to mount. Then I cape out from the stomach to the head while hanging. Once I have the cape secure and on ice, I follow the same process as above with slightly less skinning since the cape is gone.

Thanks for the explanation

[HogCommander]

I bought a Gut Daddy last year and love it! Does essentially what the cradle does with the exception of positioning the deer off the ground. Sped up my field dressing tremendously!

https://realtree.com/brow-tines-and-backstrap/how-to-use-the-gut-daddy-field-dressing-kit

[hogmess]

I have two like this one. Believe I got them at LE in llano. I got tired of the wooden ones. These are much easier to clean and I like they are slanted. Also have spots to hold your knife. We don’t use them to gut just skin. I will take a better pic tomorrow.

No one has a rolling cleaning table ?

it’s a fixture at our places

[brokeno]

Just hang them up and don’t gut them at all You can still get the hanging tenders without fulling gutting them.

[HTOWN]

Just hang them up and don’t gut them at all You can still get the hanging tenders without fulling gutting them.

That's how we do it. We don't gut at all, but get everything off the deer. Easy and not messy at all

[LivinADream]

Just hang them up and don’t gut them at all You can still get the hanging tenders without fulling gutting them.

we do the same. i would imagine those using the cradle are hanging their deer in a cooler for a few days, in that case you wouldnt want the guts sitting in the cavity.

[Atfulldraw]

I have two like this one. Believe I got them at LE in llano. I got tired of the wooden ones. These are much easier to clean and I like they are slanted. Also have spots to hold your knife. We don’t use them to gut just skin. I will take a better pic tomorrow.

Yep.

lyssy and Eckel is where we got ours too.

it’s our primary gutting spot.

[hogmess]

The cradle keeps the hide out of the way as you are skinning. I refuse to skin anything hanging up and chasing a deer in circles. I can skin several to a person that is skinning one hanging up. This way keeps the hair off the meat as well.

we do the same. i would imagine those using the cradle are hanging their deer in a cooler for a few days, in that case you wouldnt want the guts sitting in the cavity.

[cehorn]

I have two like this one. Believe I got them at LE in llano. I got tired of the wooden ones. These are much easier to clean and I like they are slanted. Also have spots to hold your knife. We don’t use them to gut just skin. I will take a better pic tomorrow.

Do you remember how much they were at LE? Or maybe AtFullDraw?

[hogmess]

$400-500 I believe.

Do you remember how much they were at LE? Or maybe AtFullDraw?

[Chance Love]

The only times I have ever been around any cradles, those things take too long. Much quicker to just gut one on the ground (whenever we actually gut one), then hang that sucker and knock it out. I am NOT a cradle fan. But hey, if you’ve got a lot of time on your hands go for it.

[Texas Grown]

The only times I have ever been around any cradles, those things take too long. Much quicker to just gut one on the ground (whenever we actually gut one), then hang that sucker and knock it out. I am NOT a cradle fan. But hey, if you’ve got a lot of time on your hands go for it.

My only problem with gutting it on the ground is, getting off the ground once I get down there.