Pupster,
Yep, I thought the same thing. Then onecam showed an 'old buck' some new tricks. Correct me if I'm wrong, onecam. This is my version of his technique.
First get a knife with a gut hook. I got a folding version at Walmart for about $30. I also carry a supply of latex gloves. If there is a slope I put the head up hill. If you have helpers have one hold each front leg. Then make a stab in the chest area somewhat off center.
Next turn the knife over and starting at the stab opening run the gut hook back until you get between the hind legs. The first cut will take the skin. The next pass gets some of the muscle. After a couple passes the deer is open.
Onecam removes the mammary glands before that part. I just cut through the area and wash it out later. Next cut through the muscle between the hind legs so they open easily. Go back to the chest and cut forward through the ribs on the side of the initial stab. Cut through all the ribs clear up to the neck area. This takes a little muscle and a sharp, strong knife is helpful.
Then I pull the chest open snapping the ribs on one side. This gives easy access to the esophagus and trachea for severing. Cut a bit where the heart is attached to the chest wall. With the chest open cutting the diaphragm is much easier. Pull all internal organs back cutting as necessary. 'Milk' the contents of the lower digestive tract forward so that when you sever the colon the contents don't get in the abdomen. The doe is now field dressed. I put a foot on one back leg, reach over, grab the other rear leg and pull in an arc. The whole deer flips over so blood can drain out and critters are denied access while you get a recovery vehicle.
If it is the last one I'm field dressing at that time I wipe the latex gloves off with leaves, grass or snow then, while holding the bloody, folded knife, invert the first glove over it. Then I put the knife and glove in the other hand and invert the second glove. Now the bloody knife is inside both inverted gloves and doesn't get my pack or pocket messy. I wash the knife off later and properly dispose of the latex gloves.
If I have to drag the deer I use a nylon strap left over from my rock climbing days. It is about ten foot length tied in a circle. Put a doubled end of the circle under the doe's neck then run the long end over the neck and through the opening. You can then put a back twist in the loop to catch the doe's nose so it follows you as you pull and doesn't catch on stuff. The looped strap is long enough that two people can pull at the same time without triping each other.
I bring them back, hose out the body cavity, clean up any bloody areas and flip back over as before to store in a shady area until pickup. Hanging would be even better for faster cooling.
You of course do not want to do it exactly this way for anything you will have done as a shoulder mount or you will have an angry taxidermist and big sewing bill.
Onecam says if you get blood past your knuckles you aren't doing it right. It is a lot more fun than the old days with blood and fat up to my elbows!
It takes much less time to do than it did for me to describe doing it.
Hope that helps. If it does thank onecam!
Old Buck