Hunting not only regulates and preserves the domestic game population. First and foremost, it also produces a high-quality foodstuff, the so-called game meat or venison.

In order for this to be of high quality and for the extraction process to be clean and hygienic, there is a lot for the hunter to consider after the shot. In order to be able to extract the food cleanly and hygienically, it is important that the hunters take care of the game after the shot in a timely manner (depending on the outside temperature and the respective type of hunting).

This includes a clean break open using the adequate tool and a quick removal of the organs stored in the game body and the blood collected in the game body due to the shot. If the outside temperature is higher and there are also strong pieces on the track, it is recommended to make so-called ventilation cuts on the leaves of these, so that the cooling process of the game body can be accelerated after breaking open.

What is ringing?

As with pretty much everything about hunting, there are different opinions and methods regarding breaking open. The abdominal cavity can be opened in a variety of ways and some open the chest and throat, some do not.

However, the greatest dispute is experienced when it comes to opening the so-called lock (front bone of the pelvis). Here, many hunters debate whether this should be done or whether the pelvis should be left closed and the rectum surrounded by it with woad hole should be sharpened and removed through the opening of the abdominal cavity. This process is called "ringing" because the woad hole is usually sharpened to a point with a knife in a ring shape before the rectum is detached from the pelvis.

Advantages and disadvantages of ringing

In any case, ringing offers the advantage of hygiene. If the lock does not have to be opened, the legs (and to some extent the inner fillets) remain better preserved. Also, the risk of puncturing or cutting the bladder is reduced - if you can master striping.

One disadvantage of ringing is that it is usually more time-consuming, complicated and, especially with small pieces, more fiddly than breaking open the lock.