Gutless quartering HAIR OFF
You cut a few ribs out by the spine. But if it's a small animal like an antelope or deer, It'll probably be jerky by the time you butcher it. I seldom bother unless it's an elk sized critter.
I looked at the method shown in fatbass's link. I'm not a big fan of leaving the hide on, so here's how I do it:
Make an incision in the belly (skin only) like would if your were gutting it. Cut the hide along the belly/sternum all the way to the mid neck. Make a "Y" cut from the beginning of the incision,on the inside of the hind leg past the hocks. (A gut hook works great for of these steps.)
Make circular cuts around the leg just above the hock. Skin the legall the way around and down exposing the rumpmake on more hide cut around the genitals and just above the anus. continue to skin the until the entire rump is exposed. Make a cut along the natural line in the crotch, you'll hit an artery and blood will seep, but don't worry. continue to make your cut next to the pelvic bone and up over the backside to meet the point where you started. Press the leg outwards and make small cuts until you get to the hip socket. You should be able to push down and get your knife in between the ball and the socket to loosen any conective tissue. The leg should be off. Repeat for the other side.
Leave the hide on the back to protect the backstraps while you do the front legs.
Make another incision up the inside of each front leg past the last knuckle. Repeat the skinning process to expose the entire leg. pull the leg away from the body of the animal and cut away the connective tissue along the back side of the scapula until the shoulder falls off.
Turn the animal over on it's belly and skin the remainder excluding the head. Cut out the backstraps and neck meat.
I leave the meat I have cut off on top of the game bags (s) to cool while I am doing the rest of the animal and cut the legs off at the joint right before I put them in the bags. Like pro said, If it's a big critter or if you are miles from the road, you might want to get it off of the bone.
That's my story and I'm stickin to it. :wink:
PS, I wrote this before fatbass posted the link. Thanks alot man! :twisted: