Noob question: after the deer is dead, then what...

[eastbank]

thats just to rare for me,i would let it on the grill a while longer. eastbank.

 

[geo57]

Hi eastbank,

The picture may make them look more rare than they actually were.

A lot of people make the mistake of over cooking venison ( and beef ) and thus ruining it.

There is a reason that many finer steak houses do not guarantee nor will take responsibility for steaks ordered more done than medium.

One has to be especially careful in not over cooking and drying out venison because it's much leaner than beef. Properly seared on the outside they will hold in juices which are essential to putting out the best in a steak.

These were done medium rare with warm textured centers . A rare beef or venison steak has a slick, almost purplish and cool center. I do not care for that rare a steak but many do.

But like everything else in a free country , to each their own.

Regards

 

[twofifty]

Geo that's beautiful looking food, and exactly how I like venison.

 

[Davek1977]

I've never understood those that, IMO, ruin a fine cut of meat by overcooking it. Other than my burgers, I've never understood the desire to cook beef or venison anything past medium, and honestly, find medium "too done" a lot of times.

 

[Sav .250]

You can`t "learn" to hunt on a forum. Your opening post leads me to believe it will be more like ,"the blind leading the blind.

Opinions at times can be informative. The local library can also help fill in the blanks (books) on the various phases of hunting.

There is way more to hunting than buying a weapon and killing something.

Hope you guys get "schooled" and end up as responsible hunters. Good luck.

 

[T.R.]

There are several good YouTube videos that show how to field dress, skin, and cut up your deer.

TR

 

[rolokatz]

Looks like I really need to watch some of those videos and then visit the local shotgunning club to find someone willing to let me and my son tag a long...


Thanks!!!
Rob

 

[zdc1775]

I've got a friend that I showed how to hunt and dress animals that was living in Geneva. I'll give him a call and see if he is still in that area. If so I will see if he mines me giving you his contact information. He isn't extremely experienced but I do know he was taught correctly.

 

[zdc1775]

Sorry it took me a few days to get back, but my buddy isn't in the area anymore. He just finished moving out of state a few months back.

 

[Arkansas Paul]

thats just to rare for me,i would let it on the grill a while longer.

Shoot. That's perfection.
You cook deer past medium rare and I'd as soon chew on my boot.

 

[Arkansas Paul]

The first: What do you bring with you when you are 'day hunting'? we've a local state park that's 20 minutes away. What does he/we need to bring withonce we walk away from the car?

I don't take much with me. My stand is a mere 20 minutes from the house.
A good knife, iPhone and maybe some water or a snack.
Plus, if you're only 20 minutes from home, you don't need to be Daniel Boone. Make sure you're comfortable and don't weigh yourself down.

You should keep a few things in the truck for field dressing purposes.
- Some plastic surgical gloves come in handy
- A few gallon jugs of water (just for rinsing out the cavity of the animal. Creek water is plenty acceptable. lol)
- Heavy duty trash bags for guts/entrails

The second: It's the field dressing and packing it out of the woods and getting it to the processor. What are the minimums, and what are the 'this will make it a WHOLE lot easier' items and techniques?

I'm not the best dresser of deer, so I don't have tips for techniques that will make it easier on you. However, I'll say the minimum would be to gut it. The longer the guts stay in the animal, the more strong and "gamey" the meat will taste.
Gut as soon as possible and get it to the processor.
We butcher our own, so if we kill one during the evening hunt we'll gut it and hang it overnight at the camp (providing the weather is cold enough) and butcher the next day.

Getting those guts out in the first hour or two is key to quality tasting venison though.

 

[jim in Anchorage]

THE VERY FIRST THINK YOU MUST DO IS, is jump up and down,let out a loud yell and high five any body around. then go poke the deer in the eye with your rifle barrel.then and only then can you procede to field dress you deer. eastbank.

You missed sitting down and smoking a cigarette, cigar, pipe or chew or what ever you prefer and a good strong cup of hot coffee. Then you can do this dressing stuff like you where born into it.

 

[Doc7]

this is my hunting checklist, not for deer (yet), but most of it is probably applicable to you. I need to add first aid stuff to this once I figure out what I want to eliminate to save some weight. Additionally, make sure your WALLET is on the list. I have gone hunting 3 times in which I realized halfway there (after 30 mins of driving) that I did not have my wallet (including driver license, probably a BIG DEAL if I got stopped in NJ with gun in car!) ... Because I am wearing my HUNTING PANTS, not my Daily Pants, you don't notice that it doesn't "feel right" when you don't have a wallet in your pocket! It feels completely different and you don't get those subconscious cues you normally get about that sort of thing.

Hunting plan left behind with someone detailing route / times / what to do if no show
FID Card WALLET
Firearm(s) – proper CHOKE, carrying case
Ammo
Required Orange Gear
Knife
Game Shears
Toilet Paper and/or Unscented Wipes
Binoculars (Mono)
Spotting Scope
Ibuprofen
Hearing Protection
Drinking Water
Snack Bars
Compass
Maps
License / Permits
Lighter(s)
Whistle
Rope (paracord, 550 cord)
Phone and/or GPS
Flashlight
Bug Spray
Calls
Laminated index card with emergency contact info, blood type etc
Stuff to write on and Pens / Pencils
Camera
Lunch




I added the ibuprofen after a recent crushing headache ended a hunt hours earlier than planned.

 

[der Teufel]

Here's a link to a pamphlet that covers the basics. It's published by N. Dakota State Univ. —

http://www.ag.ndsu.edu/pubs/yf/foods/fn536.pdf