Jaw Removal From Deer To Provide Essential Information For Herd Management

By Allan Jackson

 

 

The first two cuts are on the inside of the jaw, hard against the jaw bone.Cut from the nose, around the heel of the jaw,down to the ear.

 

Make the cut as deep as possible within the heel to clear the muscle from the jaw.

Clear the Tongue. This exposes some of the key lymph nodes for disease
 detection.

 

They resemble Small Grayish Testicles. This node is normal and healthy

The node has been sliced to check for infection. If there is infection, for example T.B. the node will be swollen and obvious, gritty to cut due to scar tissue, and generally pus filled.

Skin the outside of the jaw. Clear the muscle tissue from the heel of the jaw.

 

The jaw is attached up into the skull near the ear, and often needs some vigorous knife work.

The jaw cleared and ready to be wrenched free.

Place your boot on the jaw and wrench the head away from the jaw.Gripping the jaw with your hand to wrench it clear of the head is not recommended as it often results in a cut hand from the sharp teeth.

 

May need some knife work to clear the jaw.

You only need one side of the jaw for jaw ageing and measuring. Half a jaw is a more compact carry.
Ease the jaw apart slowly. If the jaw breaks the jagged bone is dangerous.
Personal wounds in these situations often become infected.