My hunting is limited to a two hour drive from home so I am not familiar with the area along rte 80.In my neighborhood the public land is too crowded with too few deer so I drive to better hunting.I used to stay at a camp there but the owner died and his family sold it.Now my wife has health issues,so I never know if I'm going hunting until the day before.

3212: as a Caregiver for MY wife (she has M.S.) since 2006, I can tell you that I can relate to the unpredictability of scheduling.

If it's not considered a "sissy" thing bub........I offer a huge MANHUG to you, knowing what it's like to care for an ailing wife. God's Blessing on you and yours.

Going back "on topic" a bit, concerning Field Dressing; I have settled on a set of Buck knives for that task. The 102 for the gutting, and the Gen 5 for the skinning. (I had bought the Wyoming Knife for skinning, but I decided to offer that as a gift to one of my Son-In-Laws, (the Captain in the Army). I think he'll get a big kick out of it!!

-Soupy1957

As far as field dressing goes,I use inexpensive 3and 1/2 inch blade folding knives kept in an inside pocket so I don't lose them.The wyoming knife is a good idea although I've never used one.I carefully open the abdomen with the deer on its back with light cuts until I see organs.Then I put two fingers in the incision and lift and spread and insert the knife tip between the fingers and slowly zip them open to the breast bone.I don't split the pelvis until I'm done dragging the deer to keep dirt out.I have a homemade heavy blade knife for splitting.Thanks for the comment about the health problems.The same to you and yours.

Although I ordered the Wyoming Knife (which I think just came to the house a couple of minutes ago, and I will find out shortly), I am settled on using the Buck 102 (which I ordered a day ago) for the gutting, and the Buck Gen 5 for the skinning. (I'm thinking of giving the Wyoming Knife to my Son-In-Law (not because I don't think it worthy of using, but because I had to somehow justify the purchase of the 102, to the wife.........shhhhhhhh.......don't tell ......lol).

-Soupy1957