PERFECTING THE BACKCOUNTRY GUTLESS METHOD ON ELK

Training, hiking, organizing, building out a rifle and kit, and planning the best path all lead to one goal—to have sights on a bull elk. Everything points to that moment. However, we often forget what happens after we pull the trigger. Once the animal is down and we're miles away from our campsite or truck, what then? That's where Cliff from the Cliff Gray YouTube channel comes in. In a recent video, Cliff provides a thorough tutorial on how to butcher an elk using the gutless method, which involves skinning, quartering, and harvesting prime cuts like the heart and tenderloins without turning the carcass into a messy horror show.

GUTLESS METHOD

Instead of ripping open the belly and dumping out the guts, carve a little smarter. Cliff works along the spine, carefully peeling back the hide with precision to reveal the major muscles underneath. This approach prevents internal organs from spilling out, helping maintain cleanliness, reducing the risk of contamination, and making the pack-out process much more manageable. It's an efficient skill that every hunter should learn.

HOW TO

Once the hide's off, (he starts on one side and then moves to the other) Cliff carefully breaks down the animal into its large, valuable sections: the hind- and fore-quarters, the backstrap, and the. The cuts are deliberate. He follows seams, locates the joints, and avoids hacking randomly. Every slice is purposeful, maximizing usable meat and minimizing waste. Then comes the pièce de resistance, the heart. He methodically cuts through rib attachments, freeing the heart without damaging it. Many argue that the gutless methods mean you can't harvest the heart, but Cliff begs to differ.

ZOOMING OUT

Of course, this isn't a detailed retelling of the techniques Cliff teaches. What I've tried to explain is only the surface, and without many of the gory details. The technique he covers comes from years of experience, which is why he makes it look easy. But, instead of gatekeeping information, Cliff looks to pass it on to all hunters. If you want to check out more of what Cliff has to offer, then head over to his YouTube channel.