A different kind of "Success" (long)
12-05-2005, 12:12 PM
#1
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2005
Posts: 9
A different kind of "Success" (long)
Just a short story I wanted to share with ya'll after spending this weekend with my Girlfriends family.
Like some, I have been successful in swaying my girlfriend to understanding hunting, it's purposes, who it helps, the truths based on facts instead of the knee-jerk reaction some have based off emotion. In fact, I have persuadedher so well, that not only has she gone hunting with me (haven't gotten a rifle in her hand yet, but perhaps some day) but she will even share some of the points I've explained to her to others who have misconceptions about hunting.
Anywho, I've spent plenty of time with her family and with hunting season approaching, it didn't take long for discussions to venture into hunting. Again, these were mostly fence-sitters who opposed the idea of shooting an animal but allate meat. I've explained my reasons to them and for the most part they understand and no one seems to be bothered by it. Well, two weeks ago I got a dandy of a 5 point out of W. Va (a story will be posted when I get the pics back, he dressed at 135 which is HUGE for my standards based off of central vA). Anyways, her parents had expressed interest in trying venison as they never had and I certainly have plenty. We invited my G/F's sister and her boyfriend, she hadn't had it either, he had once before and told her it wasn't good, and told her it was gamey. We also invited her other sister who also hadn't tried it. Well, I cooked up the steaks last night and everyone LOVED it! All except the older sister, she refused to try it, even with the rest of her family telling her how good it was. Their mom finished her steak and got seconds, something, I've been told, never happens, the father got seconds, the boyfriend got seconds and cleaned both steaks as did his g/f (my g/f's sister) and neither finished their mashed potatoes and greenbeans from filling up on the steaks. They all kept saying how pleasantly surprised they were and said how good it was and tasted like really good steak. I was grinning from ear to ear! Aside from the feeling from taking from the field to the plate all by myself, but to know that I just helped broaden the hunting-accepting community by a few members. They were all adamant about trying to get the other sister to try, but some people are just too stuborn.
Anyways, I thought ya'll might like to hear about that, I love when I get past someone's reservations to show them why it is I love to hunt.
The Prep details:
The deer was shot, dressed, and skinnedon monday 11/21, it hung in 30's degree weather until wednesday. It was cut up and packed in a cooler with snow until I got home on Saturday. I cut it up making some ground, two roasts and a lot of steaks (for those that don't know, I just learned it helps ALOT if you cut opposite of the grain on the steaks, way better!) [On a side note, my G/F helped me cut all the meat up and grind it up, she kept saying "never in a million years would I have thought I would be doing this"] The steaks were marinaded Sunday morning in Italian dressing and worshire sause with some garlic salt and italian seasonings. As I grilled I basted the steaks with the marinade and served, man were they good!
Like some, I have been successful in swaying my girlfriend to understanding hunting, it's purposes, who it helps, the truths based on facts instead of the knee-jerk reaction some have based off emotion. In fact, I have persuadedher so well, that not only has she gone hunting with me (haven't gotten a rifle in her hand yet, but perhaps some day) but she will even share some of the points I've explained to her to others who have misconceptions about hunting.
Anywho, I've spent plenty of time with her family and with hunting season approaching, it didn't take long for discussions to venture into hunting. Again, these were mostly fence-sitters who opposed the idea of shooting an animal but allate meat. I've explained my reasons to them and for the most part they understand and no one seems to be bothered by it. Well, two weeks ago I got a dandy of a 5 point out of W. Va (a story will be posted when I get the pics back, he dressed at 135 which is HUGE for my standards based off of central vA). Anyways, her parents had expressed interest in trying venison as they never had and I certainly have plenty. We invited my G/F's sister and her boyfriend, she hadn't had it either, he had once before and told her it wasn't good, and told her it was gamey. We also invited her other sister who also hadn't tried it. Well, I cooked up the steaks last night and everyone LOVED it! All except the older sister, she refused to try it, even with the rest of her family telling her how good it was. Their mom finished her steak and got seconds, something, I've been told, never happens, the father got seconds, the boyfriend got seconds and cleaned both steaks as did his g/f (my g/f's sister) and neither finished their mashed potatoes and greenbeans from filling up on the steaks. They all kept saying how pleasantly surprised they were and said how good it was and tasted like really good steak. I was grinning from ear to ear! Aside from the feeling from taking from the field to the plate all by myself, but to know that I just helped broaden the hunting-accepting community by a few members. They were all adamant about trying to get the other sister to try, but some people are just too stuborn.
Anyways, I thought ya'll might like to hear about that, I love when I get past someone's reservations to show them why it is I love to hunt.
The Prep details:
The deer was shot, dressed, and skinnedon monday 11/21, it hung in 30's degree weather until wednesday. It was cut up and packed in a cooler with snow until I got home on Saturday. I cut it up making some ground, two roasts and a lot of steaks (for those that don't know, I just learned it helps ALOT if you cut opposite of the grain on the steaks, way better!) [On a side note, my G/F helped me cut all the meat up and grind it up, she kept saying "never in a million years would I have thought I would be doing this"] The steaks were marinaded Sunday morning in Italian dressing and worshire sause with some garlic salt and italian seasonings. As I grilled I basted the steaks with the marinade and served, man were they good!
12-05-2005, 01:29 PM
#4
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Apr 2004
Posts: 3,236
RE: A different kind of "Success" (long)
I come from a hunting family, I have hunted almost my whole life and killed many deer. Growing up we would eat the deer we took but never really liked it too much. We just felt obligated to eat it if we killed it. Lately however, I have begun to take more enjoyment in the prep and eating of venison.I think the reason we didn't like it when I was growing up is because we were ignorant of the proper prep of venison. Once I started the practice of liberal trimming of all tallow and silver skin from the meat the flavor has improved tremendously. Granted, every deer tastes different, and some can be downright rank. I once fed a whole spike to my dog, it was THAT bad. There are methods to get the best flavor.Embracing the utilization of marinades is a must for the best tasting venison. I also like to cook it in a crockpot for ten hours...incredible. Last night I dipped it in egg and rolled the steaks in italian seasoned breadcrumbs and baked them in a glass pan with a little oil for about 50 minutes at 350. Great! And even better is eating them cold as leftovers. My wife will not eat deer but my son and daughter love it. We marinade the ground meat and shoot it through a jerky gun and dry it in the oven. I have found this to be the best use of ground venison. My kids swear it tastes better than slim jims and as good as packaged jerky. It REALLY goes fast. I will still probably never hunt for the meat, (I am a buck hunter, mostly), but I have learned to really enjoy the venison I occasionally bring home. One must get over the notion that you just throw it in a pan and crank the heat, like you can get away with when cooking beef.
12-05-2005, 01:37 PM
#5
Dominant Buck
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Ramsey , Indiana
Posts: 22,545
RE: A different kind of "Success" (long)
Good on ya , Smoothbronco ! [8D]
Thanks for making the effort to show others that we aren't just a bunch of trophy obsessed savages , and that we do good work for everyone's benefit as well as that of the wildlife . Now that you have them hooked on venison it might just be time to give them some hunting lessons ...
Thanks for making the effort to show others that we aren't just a bunch of trophy obsessed savages , and that we do good work for everyone's benefit as well as that of the wildlife . Now that you have them hooked on venison it might just be time to give them some hunting lessons ...
12-05-2005, 02:12 PM
#6
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2005
Posts: 9
RE: A different kind of "Success" (long)
Thanks everyone. The sad part was, the sister who refused to try the vension, brought her own steak. Then proceeded to complain that it was greasy and had a lot of grissle. Oh well, her loss!
12-05-2005, 02:14 PM
#7
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: MD
Posts: 4,572
RE: A different kind of "Success" (long)
awesome story smooth.......I have found alot of times people especially some women, like the attention of saying "Im not eating that" it seems that they like to be in a room full of people and make a fuss about eating deer. I have a freind whos wife is like that. She has tried deer before, liked it and eats in her own home. But when we have alot of people at the house she likes the attention she gets from everyone making over her by telling her she needs to try it etc. I have learned to recognize this and when people like that act up, I ignore them.
12-05-2005, 02:24 PM
#8
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2005
Posts: 9
RE: A different kind of "Success" (long)
I never thought of that, but it would make sense, especially for this woman. Considering how much people were talking to her, trying to persuade her, giving her attention, it actually makes a lot of sense.
Freud would be proud!
Freud would be proud!
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