Fat Deer

[Qweaver]

When I was a kid killing a deer was a big deal.  There was just so few that only bucks could be killed and only one per hunter per season.  Now I can kill nine and that is fairly easy to do if I really wanted to.  We worked up two deer today and these were the fattest deer that I have every seen.  The fat was over an inch thick.  What are the guys eating?  I don't feed corn.

[wetdog]

Was there a big acorn crop up there this year? That's what will put the fat on'em down here.

[beenthere]

Over my 50 yrs of deer hunting, have found it pretty normal for the deer to be heading into winter with a good layer of fat. Some bucks run it off while in rut, but younger bucks and doe's have good layers of fat.

That fat I always peeled off when butchering up the venison for the freezer, as it can carry a strong gamey flavor to the meat when cooking. Same with removing the bones.

[Qweaver]

Yep.  Huge acorn crop this year.  Hadn't thought of that.  I just got back from a back-strap meal that Sarah cooked and that was the best deer that I have ever eaten!  Tender and delicious.  Can't wait to get a hind quarter on the BBQ.

[reswire]

Our deer population seems to be down somewhat, most locals are blaming the ballooning coyote population.  A good friend of mine found 5 dog collars near a coyote den this summer.  They eat pets as well as deer, and seem to have gotten more populated near Fredericksburg of all things.  I guess leaving dog food out works well for coyote too!  I've seen two this year while deer hunting, but those rascals are slick.  They don't expose themselves for long, in and out of a field or clearing rapidly.  I'm trying to talk the hunt clubs into a coyote "competition" of some kind.  Our county is offering a $50.00 reward for each killed, too bad they have taken such a strong hold on this area.  I've been told if you can see one, then you've got 20 more nearby. 

At night they howl like crazy, and you can hear their calls hit a fever pitch when the pack makes a kill.  I know I carry a pistol when walking on my farm, all of friends and neighbors do as well.  Darn shame.   :

[beenthere]

Our county is offering a $50.00 reward for each killed,

Which county and state is that?

[Ljohnsaw]

Go out on Netflix and watch the PBS special on the Coywolf.  A cross between the Coyote and the Black (iirc) Wolf.  Very interesting.  They are even in Central Park, NYC!

[WV Sawmiller]

Qweaver,

    I've butchered 3 here this year and all were very fat. Last one felt like had been coated in cooking oil. We had a bumper crop of chestnut oak acorns which are as big as the end of your thumb. The deer hardly had to travel but just bedded and ate. I have hopes for big fawn crop this year as they look to be going into the winter in prime shape. We've had some unusually warm spells. It was 55 degrees here today. A little snow but only on the ground for a day or so. Heavy snow in rifle season seems to really up the kill rate because you can see them so much further.

     Turkeys also seem to be doing well.

     I have a young rat terrier I am going to try to train to be a squirrel dog in January when all deer hunting is over. He seems to have good potential.

    Have a real good holiday.

[WV Sawmiller]

Qweaver,

    Shot a nice young Christmas doe this afternoon with my bow. Quartering away shot and was able to watch her till she fell. She was also like had been coated in cooking oil when I skinned her. I have a nice skinning rack set up and usually can skin them within minutes of shooting them so they are still warm. Sure makes it easier to skin but I never remember them being so slick with fat before. There were 5-6 more with several yearlings (okay - 6 month old fawns) with them so looks like we will have plenty of seed stock for next year. Happy holidays.