Pond Boss Forums GENERAL QUESTIONS Wildlife Management Opening Day!!

I'm in the foothills of the Blue Ridge, and while there are some agricultural areas here, the areas I hunt are at least ten miles from the nearest cornfield. The deer forage on natural browse, acorns, and perhaps a food plot here and there. While I grew up hunting deer, my wife's family (five siblings) never hunted. Every one of her siblings asks us to host their birthday parties and provide venison. They LOVE it! We put up eight large deer last fall, and I ran out of meat over two months ago.

Turkeys are another matter. When there is ample mast or moisture for other food sources, the turkeys taste great. However, I remember a year about twenty years ago when every turkey I killed tasted exactly like wild onions. They weren't even good in turkey salad!

We gut our deer as quickly as we can. I do not allow a deer to stay in the woods overnight; I will hold my comments on the numerous hunting shows that shoot big bucks while wearing thin clothing, then wait overnight to recover the deer because of a marginal shot. I left one deer overnight that was hit in the paunch because when I began tracking her four hours later she jumped and ran. I went in the next morning and she was still alive.

If daily highs are below 50 I will leave the deer hanging in a shed a few days...doesn't happen here very often. Usually I quarter the deer and put it in a cooler of ice within hours of being killed. I will cut it up within 2-5 days of being put in the cooler. Freeze in vacuum sealed bags for years (though we typically eat it within one year).

My favorite recipe--cut any hind-quarter muscle or the loin into pieces about 2-3" diameter x 3-6" long (smaller or larger is fine, but this is the sweet spot). Coat with a liberal dousing of Famous Daves Rib Rub (I've tried many, and that one is by far my favorite). Then coat in olive oil (just make sure each piece is coated in olive oil...no need to use a ton of oil to cover all the pieces). Let sit ten to thirty minutes while you do something else, like getting the grill as hot as you can get it (mine goes to about 450). Put the pieces on the grill for a few minutes on each side. The middle needs to remain RED. My three sons get upset if the middle is pink. Take off the grill, let stand for five minutes so the meat relaxes and heat disperses throughout. Serve to someone who "doesn't like deer" and watch them say "OMG". There will be no leftovers.

My wife's favorite recipe--take two whole muscles from the hindquarters or the whole loin and grill at high temp until medium rare (still pink or red all the way through, but cooked). Let sit five minutes. If cooked at high heat the outside will be burnt...slice any charred layer off. Then slice the muscle very thinly (perhaps 1/8") across the grain. Place slices in a serving dish. Make a sauce by mixing 1 stick butter, about 3/4 cup zesty italian dressing, 3/4-1 cup brown sugar (sugar to taste...we like it a little sweet), 1/2 cup sweet barbeque sauce, 3/4 cup A-1, 1 tbsp Worcestershire, 1 tbsp soy. Bring these to a boil while stirring...boil for 3-5 minutes to make sure the sugar is dissolved. Pour over the meat. Serve to someone who "doesn't like deer" and watch them say "OMG" and ask to take the leftovers home...

Oops...that was a little longer than I had intended. Sorry guys

Tree Farmer, thanks for the recipes. I'll try them.

I feel the same as you do about leaving a deer in the woods overnight. I did that once, and while it was in the upper 20's, I will not do it again if I can help it.

I've antelope hunted in Wyoming (rifle) in upper 80's - lower 90's temps. The antelope was excellent table fare. We followed these steps. Don't shoot one that was running. Field dress ASAP. Put in truck, turn it so all 4 legs are in the air, then immediately fill the body cavity with ice cubes. Close up body cavity, cover with a tarp and beat feet for camp. Skin and butcher the antelope as soon as you get back to camp, putting the wrapped meat in the freezer or quartered in cloth sacks in coolers on top of a bed of ice in the cooler. If in a cooler, leave the bottom drain open so any bloody water will drain out. You don't want the meat sitting in ice water, nor do you want the meat in plastic bags. Cotton bags so any blood or fluids will drain away from the meat.

Esshup, agreed on all points about meat care. I forgot to mention the running aspect, as it has only happened to me once. I typically bow hunt, and have never hunted with dogs. However, I did have a friend call me once and tell me that there was a group of does coming my way. He had jumped them on the other side of the farm and then slowly pushed them through the different woodlots until he got close to my location. I picked out one of the fawns and performed a headshot so as to preserve as much of the tender meat as possible. That meat was so tough and tasteless that it was the one time my family complained. SO...if you hunt with dogs, I have no advice for you on how to make the meat good, or tender. Based on my one experience, I suspect you will not be able to do either...but if you can, more power to you!

Also agreed on the plastic bags. I used to do that in order to keep the meat out of the icy water. Two problems...one was that most of the time the bag developed a hole and water got in, the second was that it just made the outside of the meat a little slimy. I don't use any bags now, but I do keep the meat on top of the ice. Most of the time I cut the meat up within 24 hours of putting it on the ice. Using something between the meat and the ice would be best.

I started opening the bottom plug each day, allowing it to drain, then closing it. When I used to leave it open all day, the flies would congregate around the opening.

Tree Farmer, congrats on your kids' deer, that's just awesome! My son and I got skunked Saturday - not the way I like to start a season - but we'll be after 'em again tomorrow with the bows!

I finally got my first sit in Saturday afternoon...weather was OK, not great but OK. The corn is still in the field on the stand I hunted so deer were fairly scarce. I could see the corn stalks moving where they were passing in front of me but that's about it.

But at least I got out there....felt good.

Anyone have any luck this weekend?

I spent 4 hours in the tree on Friday evening. They were not moving at all, so it was a pretty uneventful afternoon. Looking forward to the corn coming out and the leaves to fall off the trees.

Got out last night with my 6 year old...Had a couple of yearlings around the stand for almost an hour...He tried his best to talk me into taking one...

Probably won't be able to make it back out until next weekend with my 9 year old for his first youth season...He has been working hard on shooting and marking shot placement in old hunting magazines...Hope his hard work pays off...

Saturday was the VA archery opener...high of 90! Didn't even hunt in the afternoon. This afternoon we went to the property to plant more Christmas trees. Shortly after getting there my son and I smelled the strong odor of a buck's hocks for about five minutes. There were several scrapes and large rubs in the area. I know the rut is a month away, but I suspect grunting and light rattling might get some attention. We'll see later this week!

I have multiple sparing between bucks and bucks chasing the last couple of days on my plotwatchers (Yes daytime activity). It really seams early.

Had three big-bodied basket sixes come under the stand together monday evening. Just walked through. Looked like triplets. A doe and fawn also came by, but never got a high probability shot at momma. Had one doe on the trail cam that bedded in front of the camera. Guess she thinks she is photogenic...

You guys are killing me... Our season opened on the 1st and I won't be able to crawl into a stand until the 19th...

Although I was able to take a couple weeks and head West for elk and antelope already, so I can't complain.

Got this critter on camera I would like to get a shot at! Don't see them very often during the day.

I saw my first bobcat in the wild last year. They are making a comeback in a big way in Adams County Illinois. I have seen several on trail cameras too.

Yeah I am not big into killing them but if I could I would like to have one. Got a perfect place in the cabin for it!

RC

Are you into trapping? That's how my neighbor got his bobcat mount.

Carefully looked over a little doe and took it with a double lung. However, in spite of my best efforts, it turned out to be a button. Dang it. From ten feet away, you cannot even see the nobs. And it was really small, 60 lbs field dressed. Dang it! I am trying to manage for trophy bucks...

The longer that I spend in the woods, the more I appreciate a good set of binoculars, even for the close up stuff.

I've seen deer after dark (that I didn't want to spook getting down out of the tree stand) that I couldn't see with the naked eye. They're useful just to look at other stuff in the woods when no deer are around too.

I've got 2 pair, a 8x42 and a 10x42. Typically the 8x42 is plenty strong enough for in the woods.

Well - We could not tell it was a button until we flipped it over to dress. You can feel the nobs, but they are really small. It was 6:15 PM with plenty of light, and I was less than 20 feet away in the stand. My wife was bugging me to take a small one for a friend. Not sure what I can do except not take any small ones. I looked hard for nobs before I shot. I had already let several small ones walk, but I was 10 days in. It will be good meat, but I want to let the bucks grow up and compete!

For years I didn't carry binoculars just because it was one more thing to deal with and since I was hunting with the bow the whole time figured it wasn't worth it. And part of the problem was the ones I'd used in the past were el cheapo's so I didn't know what I was missing. But then one thing led to another and I ended up with a pair of Steiners. It's enjoyable being able to check things out with a clean view. Like esshup said, even the up close stuff. The ones I've got will focus as close as 7 or 8 feet.

RAH don't sweat it, mistakes happen, I did the same thing last year - TWICE. Enjoy the meat

I have small, nice Nikons. I am always worried I'll catch them in the string when I release. I already added a safety harness this year, which I hate, but I am getting old! I also would not use them that close up, since the deer may be alerted. I have been very successful at deer hunting, so I may have too many rules without evidence to support them.

I would rather leave my bow in the truck than forget my binos... I use mine from the minute I'm in stand until I get down. I've crawled back down to get them several times after forgetting them at the truck.

Here's what I give for advise to guys who don't want to shoot buttons.

1. Don't shoot single deer.
2. Don't shoot the first deer in the field.
3. Don't shoot first or last half hour of daylight.

If you follow those three rules, you will find out that your chances of shooting a button drop dramatically.

But don't worry about it to much, if you shoot enough does to keep the herd population managed properly, you WILL shoot some buttons along the way.

The last Button I shot was one of 3 deer, but it was just after sunset. Good advice! I did remove 4 does last year, but the last one was in a herd of 20. Life is hard:)

I took a button last year as well - accidentally. He was with 2 other deer, a small buck and a doe. That's going to happen if you're hunting for does. I usually try to take 2-3 does for every buck I harvest, just to try to keep the numbers in line. Last year I took 3 does and 2 bucks (counting the button) so my ratio was a bit skewed but I ran out of people that wanted meat and my freezer was full.