What did you do with the Deer you killed?

got two buck and three doe this year.... let the boys each get a buck and i get the ones without antennas... we put four in the freeze and i gave one to an elderly woman that i know because she likes the meat and didnt know anyone that would get one for her.
 
We butcher every deer, elk, bear, duck, quail, pheasant, etc. we kill here at home. It always turns out great and we enjoy it much more than having it processed. I've always taught my sons that ethical hunting involves putting the meat, bones, feathers, hide, etc. provided to good use. I make exceptions for coyotes, cougars, bobcats, etc, if taken legally and fair chase methods are used we don't eat the meat. But, we use the hides, heads, etc. as much as possible. IMHO, killing is serious business and should not be done thoughtlessly. It gripes me to see some brainless idiot trophy hunter shoot a big buck or bear on the Outdoor Channel and then laugh and do high fives all around.
 
Freezer. Couple of roasts, backstraps, five 7lbs bags of burger meat, 15lbs or so of jerky and heart & liver.

We butcher every deer, elk, bear, duck, quail, pheasant, etc. we kill here at home. It always turns out great and we enjoy it much more than having it processed. I've always taught my sons that ethical hunting involves putting the meat, bones, feathers, hide, etc. provided to good use. I make exceptions for coyotes, cougars, bobcats, etc, if taken legally and fair chase methods are used we don't eat the meat. But, we use the hides, heads, etc. as much as possible. IMHO, killing is serious business and should not be done thoughtlessly. It gripes me to see some brainless idiot trophy hunter shoot a big buck or bear on the Outdoor Channel and then laugh and do high fives all around.
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So it bothers you when someone gets stoked over a big kill?
 
So it bothers you when someone gets stoked over a big kill?
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Yep! It bothers me when some hillybilly laughs while some animal is dying. Then they walk up to it and say, "That sure is one beautiful animal." It was beautiful, now it's just dead - stupid. These are just some of the thoughts that go through my head. But then, I don't like trophy hunters!
 
Eat it... they hang in a cousins garage and when its time to cut them up we fire up the bandsaw and get after it.

I take as much steak as i can from mine and the rest gets ground and usually mixed with a little pork. The ground stuff is made into sausage, pepperoni, salami and whatnot and distributed amongst the crew.
 
Normally, we put the quartered meat in a cooler for the ride home. Ice is not usually needed, but if we can get it , we will.
I leave it in the cooler for a week, in ice if there is no room for the whole deer in the family fridge. This goes suprisingly well with the mrs. The kids open the fridge and go "EWEEWWEE!" but they are getting more and more used to the idea. We now have a new fridge and the old one will be sent out to the shed to live its life as a tempory meat storage area, as it will freeze up in 2 weeks and be useless.
After the week or so in the fridge... it is sent to the dining room table for boning out. We grind what doesnt make nice neat steaks. I make jerky out of ground meat using some kinda jerky gun thing my wife got me for birthday while back. Kids eat the jerky more than I do.
Ground deer makes great burritos, tacos, meatloaf, spagetti.. You name it, just not very good burgers.
I can not remember the last time I bought store bought beef of any cut other than maybe hot dogs.
the deer and the Wild hogs fill our meat needs nicley, even with a family of 5, and three dogs, ( one of them being a 180 pound Great Dane)
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Deer makes excellent burgers, you just have to mix in some fatty ground beef. I like two parts venison to one part beef. The fat in the beef holds the venison together in patty shape and keeps it from shrinking up as bad as it does in the pan.

Yep! It bothers me when some hillybilly laughs while some animal is dying. Then they walk up to it and say, "That sure is one beautiful animal." It was beautiful, now it's just dead - stupid. These are just some of the thoughts that go through my head. But then, I don't like trophy hunters!
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There has never been a kill where I haven't been both extremely excited and grateful. I live for a sense of independence. Killing and butchering my own food brings this twinkle to my eye that some "bed rest" couldn't. Do I kill for racks? No, doe tastes better anyway. Am I going to mount it if it's a monster buck? Bet your rear end. I'm not trying to bring you down here. It just seems to me like you've taken the fun out of hunting for yourself and made it more of a mourning process.
 
I always feel a little sorry for the animals I shoot. The deer mainly as I dont really care for the pigs too much. Dont get me wrong, I try to kill them ethically, but, there are just so damned many of them these days. Anyways, Hunting and Butchering your own meat is kinda enbedded in my DNA. Its kinda instinct I guess. Its just something I have to do,Like scratchin or sittin on the pot.
 
Perhaps I'm being too harsh. I know it's natural to be excited when one has just made a great kill on a nice buck or bull elk. But, on some of those shows they just laugh and not because they're excited, but probably because they just got it on film. Killing an animal has always had an effect on me. I do it because we have needed the meat for food, and I was just as happy to get a fat doe as a fat buck.

A few years ago my 15 YO son shot a spike buck with his bow. He made a nice lung shot and I watched that little buck gasp for air until he expired. My son was excited and told me that was the best experience he ever had. I reminded him gently that that young buck had just lost his life so that we could have some meat for the winter. But, also congratulated him on the good, clean shot.

Then, three years ago I was out pheasant hunting with my 11 YO and I had a heart attack and I was gasping for air. Luckily, I made it back to the truck and got to the hospital OK, but I couldn't help thinking about that spike buck and how he felt. I know animals have feelings. I have two very sensitive dogs that hang on my every word. I know they hurt and have needs and love living. I don't think wild animals are much different.

So, to me it's just the right thing to do to be respectful in the face of death - any death whether it be animal or human.
 
HUNTERGIRL I bought a grinder last year and it was the best $ I ever spent. I got a Tasin TS-108 not very expensive, all metal gears,easy to use and clean, came with everything I needed except hog casings. Gone through 8 deer and a buffalo so far and no signs of wear, first cutter blade is still sharp, I'll probably never get to the spare it came with. I don't like taking deer to a processor and getting 50 lbs. of meat out of a 180 lb.deer. I trim the ribs, lower leg brisket and neck for burger,heart for frying, liver to a friend that likes it, back strap and tenderloin for special meals. I like to use a good roast to make jerky cutting it across grain and marinating it over night in my oun concoction, 4 oz. each of liquid smoke worcestershire sauce and soy sauce, the spice to taste, I use a lot of black pepper ect. that enough for 20- 25 lbs. of meat.
 
Got a nice buck this year. As usual I have a butcher process it due to time and space constraint here at home. Steaks, burger, roast, butterfly chops, tenderloins. good eatin! did a crock pot roast that was exceptional just last week.
We gave away some to my daughter's family and to a widow with 6 kids that we help out too!
Joe
 
I had a local guy turn an old doe in summer sausage for me. He did a wonderful job, mixing in cheese and peppers. I am having a few slices right now:)
 
What did you do with the Deer you killed?
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Nothing. Zip. Zero. Nada.:o

With 4 days left in the season I've been skunked this year, the first time in 8 straight years! Saw lots of little ones and jumped a couple of pretty big ones, even saw Bullwinkle as he vanished into the swamp, but I'm living on leftovers from the freezer unless I get lucky this week. :(
 
My wife got the deer. We had a neck roast made, kept the backstraps, and tenderloins. Then we had the remaining 75% made into summer sausage, and the other 25% made into jerky. That way it all gets eat. Give some to really close freinds, and thats about it.
 
I have read alot of responses and Im greatly surprised how many hunters bring their meat in to the butchers. My frist 2 bucks my buddy who is an apprentis butcher came on over and showed me what to do..nothing fancy. But 6 bucks and 2 black bear later I have done all myself. I have no secrets really just keep the loins and a few steaks but the rest I grind up, and mix with beef for the people in my family who dont like a gamey taste. Throw in alot of garlic and every bodys loved it. Iv made breakfast sausages (that gets a little tiring making) and chubs of garlic sasuage (just grind it all up squish it like the big salimi's you see at the store, put it in the oven and rotate it slightly every 30 mins. I find it kind of funny when I see "I got it made in to" and so on, I have the money to disopose of for the butchers but I could find a better way to spend it hah. I also noticed alot of people give it away! I will give ONE out of my chubs away but what the hell, why in gods name would I give it away, it taste ****n delicious! I have a bear sandwhich or deer sandwich 1-2 a day. I pull a chub out from the freezer let it thaw, throw it on my pizza, my sandwhich, in my spagahti (for the meat balls) and so on!
 
Venison chili
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Venison Bratwurst
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Venison smoked sausage
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Venison jerky
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If you learn to do it yourself it will taste better!!!
 
We generally process our own. Lots of steaks and roast. For Christmas got a grinder. Do have some processed depending on temp and time. This year had 40lbs turned into Bratwurst and Bologne(oh my goodness) You can't even imagine how good that is. I do share with folks who can't hunt. We make loads of jerky(we are popular around Christmas)

Have an Amish family up the road who smokes all his. I do see a smoke house being built this year out back.:)

My dogs do get there share of scrap meat. The coyotes get the bones and hides, keeps them off the Turkeys.

Lonny
 
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Kingudaroad you no doubt got me very hungry. Nice job! I would rather see some hard work go into it or have someone with the skill to do it. That way it all gets used, and is very good. You got me wanting to get back out there already. Have a good one!
 
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