A little pricket roe buck, just what I was looking for. He's only a small chap but he should produce about 10 kgs of meat, which is 5 meals for hungry workers. It's a good start.
He's hanging in the chiller, and I'll butcher him in a week when the meat has had some time to relax and mature.
The little buck had the last laugh as I had to drag him a mile back to a track, where I could then pick him up with my truck. I was red in the face, sweating and puffing, even with frequent rest stops. I had better work on my cardio and dragging technique before the next stalk.
Dakota gets very excited by a successful hunt, and she likes to check on the bounty -
She knows a deer means liver for breakfast.
No time to sit on my laurels. There are 50 meals to make so I'm going to need a few more deer. And there 3 more food groups to source. At least I won't get out of breath harvesting vegetables.
15 comments:
You are SO my hero!
I just found out I got a doe tag for hunting season this fall, so I've got to start working on my shotgun skills in earnest. It would be tragic to get the tag and not get the doe.
That's a beautiful buck, and I hope the workers he'll feed appreciate both him and you.
Very fun given out conversation over the past few days! Well, OK fun might be a bit of a strong term. As we have never dealt with anything but young chickens, hanging was something we were not familiar with.
Hank Shaw has a good post about hanging small game (he did a good bit of research about it). I had heard about hanging deer and elk (locally harvested) and thought perhaps hanging small game was a British thing (sounds like it started there?) but it sounds like it's a common practice. And yes. "high game" sounds a bit iffy to me.
I'd love to see how updates on the prep for hunt meals! (carrots can give you a bit of a run if you let them)
Maybe I should (that would again - long story, I'll tell you when I see you) Restart of sentance, would you like apple cakes made at anytime during the season? Offer is there :0)
Off to work tonight then Cornwall for a couple of days.
Least I didn't have to carry Lily as far as your deer!!! (thankfully x)
Colette
Hey Jennifer congrats! So what is the need for all the fresh aged meat, veggies and various side dishes? Must be something special on the horizon.
My first mammal hunt doesn't start til early Oct. so I am still in cardio mode cycling these days.
Congratulations on your buck, and may you bag a few more.
Even if I wanted to hunt, not that I wouldn't do it, but if I wanted to, I couldn't because my husband is a self-professed 'indoor cat', so lurking about in the brush or the middle of a stream is a bit of a dream at this point. I've no one to go with, and no equipment or training either. So I'll live my hunts vicariously through you, and fishing trips vicariously through Tamar. I sometimes wish she wouldn't describe her meals quite so thoroughly.
Thanks for answering my last question- I'm glad this is a good gig for you, given all the work you're doing!
Tamar - If only you knew what an amateur I really am!
Congratulations on your doe tag. I think it's impressive learning to shoot and taking on your first hunt all in the same year. I've got venison recipes coming out the wazoo if - sorry, WHEN - you need them.
Theadalynfarm - I've enjoyed the emails so thanks! I can give you updates on preps for shoot meals but it's just basic peasant food. I go the Hank Shaw for proper cooking techniques and recipes. He's definitely the man!
Let me know if you do hang any of your chickens and what you think.
Colette - Cakes are a different department! I'm only main course. Don't forget knitting group next Monday between 2-4pm.
Terry - Great to hear from you, I've been missing your posts. Hope you're drawing some more tags.
Buck is just for feeding the shoot workers. We try and use as much meat from the estate as possible. He's only small (2 maybe 3 yr old) cull buck.
He was sat on the horizon where I could see him but I had to wait nearly an hour for him to mooch into range, and in front of a backdrop. The .308 did the rest. I saw 6 more does and fawns in the same small piece of woodland that night.
Good idea doing the cardio work early!
Hi I just found your blog through Tamar's Starving off the land.
A really great read, I'll be following your adventures.
Cheers
SBW
Paula - I like your 'indoor cat' description. I would like to do more fishing and live vicariously through Tamar & Kevin too. (And Hank Shaw is my food porn.) I hope you get a chance to get out and prowl the woods sometimes - if only to chase away the 'coons!
Very cool! I just learned to harvest my rabbits this year. I'm working my way up, but I have a long way to go from rabbit to deer ;).
I gotta say, I don't think any of us are living vicariously. Seems to me we're all managing to live actually, seizing the day and all that. I think it's the fact that I'm trying my hand at new, interesting, outdoor foody things that makes other people's adventures in similar things so interesting to me.
Hi SBW - I'm glad you found us. I'd already been catching up on your blog when I can (loved the skull link - do I get any points for knowing it was a turtle of some sort?!)
Wendy - Rabbits aren't as different as you think, just a bigger target and they take up more room in the freezer. And if you can stomach the smell of rabbit guts, nothing is as bad.
Tamar - Can I change my plea from 'vicarious' to 'inspiring' or maybe 'encouraging'? We really do want to fish more and I always read your fishing posts aloud to Mike to tempt him to take me out for a trout, or even to tie a few flies.
And you've made me believe, after a traumatic childhood of badly prepared bluefish, that it has merit and credibility as a fish. I can get behind tandoori anything. I'm really interested in how different people prepare and eat their harvests.
You have to learn to shoot them so they die on the road lol. I saw a video once of a bow hunter that tracked a shot elk and found it almost on the road. Also is that an Encino Man reference?
Nice one!! - spot the reference to bad films
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