Best Game Shears Reviews of 2021 (Updated)
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Why should a pair of game shears appeal to the hunter in you? Well, they make quick work of smaller game and birds, like pheasants, ducks, and turkeys, letting you snip necks, legs, and wings, and you can even find extra-large shears designed for deer and other large game.
It's always handy to have a pair of these shears out with you, especially considering how effective they are and the fact that they take up such little room in your bag. They're also generally cheap and inexpensive to buy, so they won't cost you a fortune like other bits of game kit. Even although they are cheap, there are still lots of different models to choose from on the market.
So what do you need? Below you’ll find out reviews for the best game shears we could find out there right now, as well as some tips to help you pick the right one.
Top 5 Rated Models Comparison Table
Image | Shears | Blade Length | Serrated? | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Editors Choice | 3.5” | Partially Serrated | |
 | 4” | Scallop Serrated | ||
 | 3.5” | Scallop Serrated | ||
 | 3.5” | Scallop serrated | ||
 | 4.5” | Yes | ||
Reviews of the Best Game Shears
Looking for the toughest of game shears? These Camillus Titanium Bonded bad boys have you covered. The blades are made of 4Cr13 steel but treated with Carbonitride Titanium Non-Stick, which strengthens them up to 3x more than before and protects against rust and corrosion of all kinds. The serrated, drop-point shape is perfect for dressing small game and birds, and they come apart for easy cleaning. The handles are made of rugged ABS and come in camo.
When it comes to toughness, these blades are king. They’re tempered to HRC54 hardness, and the titanium treatment really adds to their durability. They achieve perfect heft for cutting small game and birds.
There’s one thing lacking from their durable build, however; the center pin is known to break on very tough cutting jobs, which belies the excellent quality which with the blades themselves are made and hardened. Disappointing; a simple fix to take these shears to another level.
But, they’re still great. In fact, they are our pick for the best game shears of 2018; tough, hard blades, treated with titanium, and with a sharp, serrated edge. And they’re still some of the cheapest on the list. If they fixed that center pin, they’d be an excellent option for all different kinds of game.
Pros
- Hardened steel blade
- Titanium treated
- Serrated, drop-point blade
- Affordable
Cons
- Center pin is weak
Verdict: Best Overall
These excellent little shears are exactly what you would expect from Gerber: small, sharp, tough and durable. The blaze orange rubberized handles are comfy easy to grip and make them easy to spot and keep track of. One blade is scallop serrated for cutting through small game easy, while another is straight; both are 420J2 steel.
The whole setup is compact and easy; the shears are 8” overall and come with a fabric sheath that goes onto your belt. The pivot pin lets you take them apart for cleaning and maintenance.
But, they’re too small for cutting any real game. Chicken, quail, ducks, squirrel – sure. Anything larger, and you’re out of luck. It might be worth investing in something bigger.
If you just need a small, portable, tough set of shears for small animals, this Gerber is the way to go.
Pros
- Rubberized, orange handles; easy to grip and cut
- Scallop serrated blade
- 420J2 steel
- Fabric sheath included
Cons
- Too small for big game
These game shears from Outdoor Edge have 3.5” blades made of 420J2 stainless construction with a full-tang, rubberized TPR handle. They’re sturdy and built for all kinds of game. The blades are serrated and curved for tough cutting jobs, and you can feel the heft when you pick these bad boys up – they’re 10 ounces.
A neat feature with these SC-100 shears is the bone-breaking notch on the end of the handle, which makes dressing game and cracking bones real easy. They’re perfect for field dressing birds, ducks, geese and turkeys, small game and even fish.
Sadly, even with their durable heft, they’re just too small for cutting large game; you definitely won’t be getting through any large bones or field dressing deer with them. (For that, grab a good bone saw). They’re also a bit loose; the center pin does not hold the blades tightly together.
But, they’re still a good pair of shears. We have no doubts they’ll hold up to hard, heavy use and wear.
Pros
- 420J2 stainless, full-tang blade
- Rubberized TPR handle is comfortable and tough
- Hefty build
- Specialized bone-breaking notch
- Nylon sheath included
Cons
- Too small for large game
- Center pin construction is weak and wobbly
These heavy-duty and multifunctional shears are ready for anything, and work for a lot more than just game. They feature 3.5” serrated blades, made of highest-quality stainless steel, with scallop serration; Kershaw says this style of serration gives them even cutting power on both push and pull strokes, avoiding tearing whatever you’re cutting as rougher serrations.
The handle has a non-slip overmold, and the blades come apart easily for cleaning, which is always nice, as you should be cleaning them after cutting any animals. There are also a Nutcracker, bottle opener, cap lifter, and screwdriver all built in, so you’re prepared for any other task that might be thrown at you on a trip.
Unfortunately, despite being stainless steel, they actually rust quite easily – a major annoyance. And for their size, they don’t have as much cutting power as they really could.
Which is too bad, because they’re a sturdy set of shears with a bunch of handy tools built-in, and very versatile. But if cutting power and strength are important to you, we’d recommend looking elsewhere.
Pros
- Large, serrated blades
- Scallop Serration gives even cuts, less tearing
- Non-slip overmold on handles
- Nutcracker, bottle opener, cap lifter, screwdriver
Cons
- Rust easily
- Not much cutting power for their size
These awesome little poultry shears are tough and versatile. They have sharp, curved blades, that taper down to give you access to hard to reach parts of the animal. They also have a spring-loaded handle, which makes getting a lot of cutting power easy and keeps you from straining your hand, as well as a handle loop and bolster to keep them from slipping around.
The blades are made of the traditional stainless steel, are sharp, and one side is serrated. They also separate easily for cleaning, using warm water and soap. Solid and easy to cut with; we really like the grippy handle.
The bad? We wish there was a loop on the upper handle; the open one up top can make it tough to grip when you need to cut something especially hard and thick. And the latch that keeps them closed is cheap.
Otherwise, they’re sturdy, sharp little shears for cheap. The curved blade is good for cutting small animals and funny-shaped curves and corners.
Pros
- Curved blades for hard-to-reach spots
- Spring-loaded handle
- Serrated edge
- Easy to take apart for cleaning
Cons
- Needs two handle loops
- Latch breaks easily
Choosing a Good Set of Game Shears
Size
What exactly sets game shears apart from regular scissors? Mainly, size and cutting strength. They are larger than household scissors, have much thicker, sharper blades, and are capable of much more cutting strength.
So you’ll want to look for a pair of game shears with long blades (3-4”+), that are ready for cutting through animals of any kind.
Blade Shape
Most game shears have at least one serrated edge; although they won't cut through bone, they will make cutting through skin and meat a little bit easier when clean cuts are needed. Blade shape is important also; while some shears may be straight, like traditional house scissors, they tend to come with slightly curved blades now. A curved blade makes it easier to get into the nooks, crannies, and turns of small game and meat, and make more precise cuts.
Material
Choosing a set of shears is similar to picking a good knife; you want a blade that is sharp, hard and holds an edge well. You will often see some made of stainless steel, which is tough in its own right, but for the best bang for your buck in quality, look for ones of made hardened carbon steel. These are the hardest and hold their edge the best.
Why Use a Special Pair of Game Shears Over Regular Ones?
All hunters will know that dressing and cleaning game in the field can be a painstaking process, especially during colder weather. Whether it’s squirrel, ducks or deer which you are dealing with, a decent pair of game shears will make the job a whole lot easier than a bog-standard pair of multi-purpose shears, but why?
Although the two look very indifferent, game shears have blades which are much sharper and are manufactured in a way which gives them extra cutting strength. This extra strength and sharpness of the blade makes cutting through bones and cartilage much easier, making all the difference when you’re stuck in the field trying to cut your way through a deer.
You are best off investing in a pair of specially-designed game shears which have been created to get the job done as quickly, easily and mess-free as possible. Although kitchen and poultry shears may work to an extent, they require a lot more strength and effort on part of the hunter, and they won’t deliver the same clean cut as a pair of good game shears will. It is always best to purchase shears which have been designed for game animals; they eliminate tons of fuss and speed up the field dressing process.
Final Thoughts
Our choice for best game shears are the Camillus Titanium Bonded Game shears. They have tough, hardened steel blades treated with titanium for corrosion-resistance and durability, and the serrated drop-point blade is perfectly shaped and sharp enough for just about any job. And they’re still cost about half of other, not-so-good shears. We really like them.
The Gerber Vital Take-A-Part shears are also a decent setup, thanks to their hardened, full-tang steel blade, rubberized handle, and that cool bone-breaking notch, which comes in handy.
All in all, each pair on our reviews list will get the job done. Just choose a pair suitable for your own purposes and game size and get out there.
