Why You Need a Gambrel If You Are Hunting Large Game
Most deer and large game hunters know the importance of hanging a carcass after harvesting a deer or similar animal. The way you hang it and use a proper tool like a hunting gambrel to support the animal is as important as any other tool you use during your hunt.
Deer Hanging
One of the best tools available for when you have dressed your deer and are ready to hang it is a hunting gambrel. The gambrel looks a bit like an oversized coat hanger and has hooks on each end that are inserted between the tendons in the rear legs of the deer or game.
The gambrel ensures that the carcass will stay put and allows the blood and other fluids to drain from the body before butchering the animal. There are a few different hunting gambrel styles available, so choosing one is often a matter of preference and may make a difference depending on where and how you use it.
Depending on the temperatures after the harvest, your deer may hang for a couple of days or as long as a couple of weeks to allow the meat to age. The gambrel needs to be strong enough to support the deer or other animal over the entire hang time. If the gambrel cannot support the weight that long, the carcass could fall and bruise the meat or be within reach of animals that may find it a tasty meal.
Support Systems
A hunting gambrel needs some form of support to hang it up and hold it when you are hanging your deer or other animals on it. Often a snatch block style pulley system is used so the animal can be put on the gambrel on the ground or from the bed of a truck and then hoisted into position.
Large carcasses can be extremely heavy, but the pulley system makes lifting them much more manageable. Often one person can house a large animal up with these systems and take the carcass down by themself when they are ready to butcher the animal.
Some hunting gambrel systems use an electric winch to hoist the gambrel and carcass into the air, but you will need a power source to use them. If you have a shed you hang your deer in, you could install the system and run electricity to it or find a power gambrel that is 12 volts and use a battery to power it when needed.
Buying a Gambrel
Finding the right hunting gambrel for your needs is not overly challenging. Most sporting goods stores and hunting outfitters have them for sale and may offer several sizes and models. If you are not sure which one is the best for your needs, browse online hunting shops such as Skin-M-Right to see more options.