As most hunters know, field dressing and cleaning can sometimes be a huge pain, especially on those freezing cold days. Whether it’s a deer you’re dealing with or something a bit more manageable like birds, squirrel, other small game or even just cleaning fish, a good pair of game shears can often come in quite handy. Although they may look similar to kitchen shears, the best game shears have much sharper blades. They also have more cutting strength, allowing you to chop through smaller bones and cartilage quite easily.
Snipping the wings, legs and head off those pheasants, geese or even a turkey becomes a whole lot quicker and safer with a decent pair of game shears. As well, you can even find larger shears designed for deer, elk and other large game, which can make short work of cutting through bone.
Of course, all of this is only possible with a strong, sharp pair of game or utility shears. Your old kitchen shears just won’t cut it. Standard poultry shears may be able to handle some of the tasks, but you’d still be better off purchasing a pair designed specifically for game as they are generally a bit stronger and sturdier.
In order to help you make a better informed decision, this article will take you through all you need to know. We'll cover what to look for in game shears and tips on how to keep them in perfect condition.
First let's take a look at the top rated game shears.
Gerber Take A Part 8 Inch Game Shears
These eight inch shears from Gerber continue in the company’s long tradition of producing some of the finest game shears out there. Not only are the blades super sharp and strong, being made from high carbon stainless steel, but the shears are also a bit longer than most. This makes them easier to use and allows you to tackle bigger jobs that smaller shears wouldn’t be able to handle.
As the name suggests, these shears also come apart for easier cleaning. To keep the shears safe, a special ballistic nylon sheath is included to store them in. Considering all of these factors, these Gerber game shears really are some of the best that money can buy.
Browning 230 Outdoorsman Shears
These are an entirely different type of game shears than all the others on this list. The Browning Outdoorsman shears resemble larger pruning shears and in fact can double for cutting down branches and shrubs. Still, they are designed for cutting through the bones of big game. Rib cages, brisket, pelvis and leg bones all crunch under the power of these awesome shears.
They are much larger than the other shears mentioned here as the intended game is larger. However, they are still quite compact and convenient to carry. They can easily fit in a hunting backpack and can be hung from the belt loops of pants.
The extensions of the handles will give you a little bit more force ability to cut the pelvis of the game. This makes getting the entrails of a deer out much quicker and easier while field dressing.
If you’re looking for something to make the job of field dressing, cleaning, and quartering your next deer, elk or moose easier and safer, these are definitely the shears for you.
Kershaw Taskmaster Shears
More than just a pair of good game shears, the Kershaw Taskmaster offer a variety of other tools to help with numerous different tasks. They include a nutcracker, screwdriver tips, a lid lifter and a jar opener.
The Kershaw game shears also feature a handy bone notch. The notch makes it simple to grab and snip through small bones, making these some of the best game shears for squirrel and other small game.
The straightness of these shears does mean they are not as ergonomic as many others. Because of this they can make your hand hurt after continuous use. However the best thing about the handle is taskforce rubber. This means they are non-slip and have great grip.
Overall they are great shears for small game and perfect for doubling up as a multi-tool aswell.
Outdoor Edge SC 100 Game Shears
These Outdoor Edge game shears resemble your standard garden shears in almost every way, with straight, spring-loaded handles. The fact that they’re spring loaded offers extra cutting power. However, should the spring mechanism fail, they mostly become useless.
Like the Kershaw shears, these ones also feature a bone notch and are made from high quality stainless steel. In general, these shears are quite a good product, but they’re really more for smaller tasks as the handles will make your hands hurt if you’re cleaning a huge amount of birds. In addition, the handles can also become a bit slippery once your hands get covered in blood.
Buck Knives 815 Utility Shears
Overall, these Buck game shears seem to be a great product. The steel is high quality, the blades are sharp and they come with an unconditional lifetime warranty. As well, they’re made by Buck, one of the top knife producers, which is well known for quality and durability.
The shears also feature a screwdriver and can be used to open bottles and pry open lids. The only problem is the screw holding the two blades together has been known to come loose after a few uses. Still, this doesn’t seem to be a problem for most, and if it does happen, the lifetime warranty means you’ll get a free replacement.
Game Shears vs Other Scissors
Before we get too far into things, it’s first necessary to show you exactly why you need a pair of game shears instead of trying to use kitchen scissors. The most obvious difference is in the blades, as game shears are generally made from higher quality metal than other scissors. This allows the blades to be both sharper and stronger.
Another major difference is in the handles, as shears usually have larger openings on the handle to enable you to get a firmer grip on them. However, you may also find some game shears with straight handles, more similar to what you might find on garden shears.
What to Look for in Game Shears
When buying game shears, the most important factors are that they are sharp and strong enough to live up to the task at hand. Unfortunately, many of the products out there have been known to fall apart after a few uses. You’ll also find quite a few that are made of inferior metal that becomes extremely dull within a short time. Therefore, one of the first things you’ll want to look at is the type of metal that the blades are made from. Although most are made from stainless steel, not all are made from heavy duty or cutlery grade stainless.
Another factor you’ll want to consider is the type of handle. As mentioned above, most game shears either come with straight handles or have handles with large holes for your fingers, similar to a standard pair of scissors. Both types of handles have their merits, so it’s up to you to decide which feels more comfortable in your hand. In general, the straight handles can sometimes be a bit easier to use and offer more versatility, but there’s no doubt that the other handles are safer as the holes prevent your hands from slipping. Also, keep in mind that most straight-handled shears are spring loaded, again just like most garden shears.
Finally, you’ll also have to decide whether you want straight shears or a pair with a slight curve. Many people find the curved shears to make it easier when cutting through breast plates and other bones, but again, this is a matter of personal preference.
Tips of Taking Care of Your Game Shears
After buying your new pair of shears, you obviously want them to last. The biggest key here is to make sure that you fully clean and dry them after each use. To make this easier, you definitely want to consider getting a model that you can take apart.
As well, it’s not a bad idea to use a whetstone or diamond file to sharpen the shears before you use them. If you can’t do it every time, at least make sure that you remember to do it periodically. Otherwise, the shears will eventually become so dull that they barely cut, at which point they will probably need to be professionally sharpened. However, if you remember to quickly sharpen the blade before each use, a good pair could easily last a lifetime.
Good game shears can definitely make your life easier, and if you do happen to buy any of the products on this list, you can feel confident you’re getting some of the best game shears on the market.
