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Fat Deer?
I process my own deer, and this question is for those of you that do the same.
This year in Oklahoma the weather has been unusually warm, we also had one heck of a crop of acorns. Well, while processing my buck I found it to have an unusual amount of Fat! I thought well, just a good eater. So when I processed my does I found they were really packed with fat as well, like 1/2" or so on their back by the tail. Not that it seemed too weird but they had more fat than I've seen in years!!:eek2: Keep in mind they are the same heard I've been hunting for the last 10 years and NOT being fed anything extra. I've had some of the old timers say it's because it going to be one heck of a bad winter! I find it kind of strange seeing it's been real warm! My question is.... Has anyone else noticed this happening and where are you located. |
It's happening because the deer are burning less fat trying to stay warm. They keep eating, but they don't burn the fat when the weather is warmer. I've had fatter deer here than what you are describing... 1/2" at the back. I've had 1"+.
iSnipe |
I've seen a similar situation here in Indiana with great weather bumper crops of everything and mild weather up until 3 days ago,and more warm weather for a few days this week coming our way. My Bucks belly was full and he had quite a bit of fat like yours stored up.
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My buddy said the same thing about the deer he shot in Tn.
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Same here in northern PA. My buck last year was also packed with fat.
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Just talked to a buddy, Same in Illinois
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Same in Alabama.
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Kinda funny though... Same heard for the last 10 years and we have had even warmer weather in the past at this time of year.
makes you wonder if there is any fact to the " it's going to be a rough winter" theory. Someone even said " if it comes in like a lamb it'll turn out to be a lion" meaning the winter of course. Just wondered if it was area specific, 12 years ago we had a real warm winter and I woke up one morning (after hearing a weather report of 2" - 3") with 18" of snow! |
Originally Posted by iSnipe
(Post 3528649)
It's happening because the deer are burning less fat trying to stay warm. They keep eating, but they don't burn the fat when the weather is warmer. I've had fatter deer here than what you are describing... 1/2" at the back. I've had 1"+.
iSnipe |
Originally Posted by #1Predator
(Post 3528631)
I process my own deer, and this question is for those of you that do the same.
This year in Oklahoma the weather has been unusually warm, we also had one heck of a crop of acorns. Well, while processing my buck I found it to have an unusual amount of Fat! I thought well, just a good eater. So when I processed my does I found they were really packed with fat as well, like 1/2" or so on their back by the tail. Not that it seemed too weird but they had more fat than I've seen in years!!:eek2: Keep in mind they are the same heard I've been hunting for the last 10 years and NOT being fed anything extra. I've had some of the old timers say it's because it going to be one heck of a bad winter! I find it kind of strange seeing it's been real warm! My question is.... Has anyone else noticed this happening and where are you located. |
Same here in MO. It was very warm and rainy, THis was the first time I deer hunted in short sleeves.
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We don't have oaks on our property but we had a bumper crop of beech nuts this year. Plus, a lot of rain and everything in the woods was lush and green all spring and summer. The deer ate good this year.
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Originally Posted by #1Predator
(Post 3528631)
while processing my buck I found it to have an unusual amount of Fat!... "does...they were really packed with fat as well" iSnipe It's happening because the deer are burning less fat trying to stay warm. They keep eating, but they don't burn the fat when the weather is warmer. I've had fatter deer here than what you are describing... 1/2" at the back. I've had 1"+.
Originally Posted by #1Predator
(Post 3528691)
That seems logical, but it's been warmer and not as much fat on them. iSnipe |
Originally Posted by teedub31
(Post 3528698)
al gore said that deer fat is related to climate change.
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A deer I shot in the first week of October was fat.
I have a small buck to butcher this weekend and field dressing revealed a lot of fat internally. I'll be interested to see him once he's skinned. We didn't seem to have a great acorn crop, but our rain was more or less every two or three days from spring to fall. Fall was warm. I think the rain may have had two effects. One was simply to make every thing plush. The other was that around here there were tremendous amounts of standing crops that the farmers couldn't get to because of mud. One of the farmers I talked to said they were a month behind. There was a lot food available that would not have been otherwise. |
my archery doe this year in PA on the opening day (1st saturday in october) had a lot of fat on her, especially early in the season
my rifle doe last saturday had hardly any fat on her, we surmised she was being run about, was burning it off, or just didn't enjoy the summer crops as much...these deer were only about a year apart |
Originally Posted by iSnipe
(Post 3528825)
Ok, what's with the contradiction?
iSnipe |
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