Am I really done?
 

The family I donate meat to got another deer today....compliments of our very own iamyourhuckleberry.:)

They said they thought they had enough in the freezer to last them through the season, now (as others have also given them venison). I have two of my own in the freezer.....and I just don't know if I wanna pay to have another deer processed....just to give it away.

So.....unless someone says they need one......I think I might be done.....with 3 weeks still left in the season.

Weird.[&:]

RE: Am I really done?
 

Can you process it yourself and then give it away?

RE: Am I really done?
 

Ya know....I didn' think of that. I DO have neighbors who would like some venison. That's a great thought.

That was simple, huh?[&:]:D

RE: Am I really done?
 

I'm glad I got you thru these tough times;)

RE: Am I really done?
 

there are sooo many people that want meat all the time, never an issue if i don't have room in my freezer, then again, i don't freeze it much anyway, it pretty much gets eaten shortly after the kill.

RE: Am I really done?
 

Thanks, mr4....

Whewww! That was close!

RE: Am I really done?
 

First, kudos to you for donating the meat instead of wasting it. Can the person you give the deer to pay for processing? Seems like a small price for all that venison. The price for processing in my area averages about $60/deer. Not sure what it is by you. If I didn't/couldn't hunt, I would gladly pay the $60.

RE: Am I really done?
 

If I told myself I was done I'd be lying to myself. The itch will hit, you will hunt. I probably gave away 250lbs of meat so far this season. It costover a grand in fuel bills to date just to give it away. I probably spent 100hrs hunting, skinning, quartering,and deboning all my deer.It is "the cost of doing business." I'll be in business til the state shuts me down.

RE: Am I really done?
 

Vito you make a good point. I need to make a call or two. I know some people who would probably like to at least split a deer or two.

Honestly....I'd split one more with someone....and we're talking $50, here. Last three weeks will probably see me in observation stands, honestly. No reason to go to places I know deer travel. I've got an entire ridge I haven't stepped onto.

RE: Am I really done?
 

I'm done, because I still have a cold and the season ends Sunday. Besides that, I have 2 in the freezer. More than I need. Last night our power went off for several hours. I started going into my panic mode about loosing it all.4 or 5 years ago we were without power in Maryland for 7 days and I did loose it all.

My 65 year old student shot his 3rd deer of the year with my old Darton today. He's got a petting zoo going on with a lot of animals around. He ran 3 or 4 off from in front of his stand when he went in. 20 minutes later 2 more came out and he nailed one at 25 yards. Not bad for a rookie bowhunter to whack 3 his first year out. I know he's never going to give me back my bow.[&:] I think I should send him an invoice for lessons, used equipment and lodging. LOL

RE: Am I really done?
 

If you need some help thinning out the herd, I'll be glad to help ya:D. Out of 8 sits last week I seen 3 deer. Granted I've killed 6, I can't buy a deer here in the last week. The orange army surrounds my properties and the deer are on edge.

RE: Am I really done?
 

Brandon....

PM me. You're welcome to come here. Are you free this weekend? Any weekdays? Just say the word.

RE: Am I really done?
 

Is that all, i guess our butcher has a nice monopoly going because it is around 300 dollars to have one processed (he is the only one in the area). i process them my self it only takes around 4 hours to have him deboned and turned into various types of sausage and jerky.

RE: Am I really done?
 

Well sir you just need yourself a meat grinder and a jerky gun, they will pay for themselves, and it never gets old!:)

RE: Am I really done?
 

That's when it pays to have the generator off your bowfishin boat in the garage!:) I've already thought of that, if the need arises...I have plenty of power to keep the freezer nice and, well frozen.

RE: Am I really done?
 

$300?! Wow! My brother and I process all of our deer. I can't justify spending $60 and not have control over the cuts. I couldn't imagine someone paying $300 for processing. Does hewrap the cuts in gold?

RE: Am I really done?
 

Ya know, what I've started doing? I skin the deer and cut the meat off in the largest possible chunks that I can... then (because I don't have a meat slicer) out comes the electric filet knife. The big chunks turn into 1/4" thick strips and into the 24 hour marinade they go. From there they go into the dehydrater ($20 at Wal Mart) 5 hours later I have jerky. 40lbs of meat yields about 10lbs of jerky, it's much easier to store and you can even eat in the turkey blind:D:D:D

RE: Am I really done?
 

I can't imagine taking a critter that I killed to someone else to prepare so I could eat it...

All men need to know how to skin and butcher game...They also need to know how to cook it...

btw...If you are out of freezer space, there is always canning...

RE: Am I really done?
 

every ounce of meat I cut from my two deer this year besides the tenderloins and backstraps....went to jerky. I used a buddy's slicer and froze the slices though, haven't got around to marinating and dehyrdrating yet.

He put in 41 lbs and took out 8.something...so he said. That amazed me.

RE: Am I really done?
 

I love it... he's probably pretty close. It depends a lot on just dry you like it, if you like it a little moist... then you get more jerky per pound:D

RE: Am I really done?
 

I agree with the others that say deer jerky!!

Also you could possibly get Bologna made and give away some for christmas gifts? I know plenty of people that will do just this to co-workers and such!! Its nothing big, but for people that love bologna it is probably one of the best "gifts" they get!!