How many deer would you need to harvest a year to feed a family?

[Ruger_Ronin]

They taste like s--t

You've eaten worse. And been sober!

 

[Ruger_Ronin]

Politicians are a lot like squatch. You really need to braise in a crockpot or dutch oven to break it down properly.

I tenderize by beating it mercilessly with a stick. Pre-euthanization.

 

[Mij]

About 20 years ago I counted the leagal deer you could take. We had more open bonus numbers then. It was 13 if you hit luck of the draw in the 2 state drawings. More if you have crop depridation tags, (# determined by area game biologists).

The largest deer in Indiana are along the Ohio river (check state records) in more ag areas they avg. ~ 150 lbs. live weight. 60% cut out. That’s the weight of meat, bone in.

After hunting for a couple years you and one other person can Easley process a deer in a daylight hours of one winter day. Cut up and wrapped. Excluding grinding burger and sausage. If you can some of it add another day. This is with 3 knives and 1 hand saw.

If you eat venison at my house I’ll bet you a cup of coffee you can’t tell the difference between my venison from one of my beeves unless your experienced at eating each.

This is a learned skill set. Not to be expected from a novice, but it is an easily learned skill with an experienced teacher.

If you live an agrarian life style, 4 people can make do with 2 venison per yr. 3 is better. This is in addition to upland game and self caught fish, (not sport fishing). My 2 cents.

 

[Magyars]

If your hunting during a SHTF scenario, a shot could be a sign to others that someone has shot "something".
Butchering a deer in the field can leave you vulnerable.

 

[ISP 5353]

My wife and I go through three of four deer per year on average. That feeds the two of us and a lot of meals for kids, grandkids, and friends. It also includes jerky for gifts and chili for pitch ins.

 

[Jaybird1980]

About 20 years ago I counted the leagal deer you could take. We had more open bonus numbers then. It was 13 if you hit luck of the draw in the 2 state drawings. More if you have crop depridation tags, (# determined by area game biologists).

The largest deer in Indiana are along the Ohio river (check state records) in more ag areas they avg. ~ 150 lbs. live weight. 60% cut out. That’s the weight of meat, bone in.

After hunting for a couple years you and one other person can Easley process a deer in a daylight hours of one winter day. Cut up and wrapped. Excluding grinding burger and sausage. If you can some of it add another day. This is with 3 knives and 1 hand saw.

If you eat venison at my house I’ll bet you a cup of coffee you can’t tell the difference between my venison from one of my beeves unless your experienced at eating each.

This is a learned skill set. Not to be expected from a novice, but it is an easily learned skill with an experienced teacher.

If you live an agrarian life style, 4 people can make do with 2 venison per yr. 3 is better. This is in addition to upland game and self caught fish, (not sport fishing). My 2 cents.

I'm not eating your beeve.

 

[Ingomike]

I'm not eating your beeve.

What is a beeve?

But I will eat beeves…

 

[Mij]

I'm not eating your beeve.

OK, steers, heifers, cows, the best t-bone I ever had came from a 4 yr old bull. It’s probably the only “u.s. graded prime“ animal I ever raised.

 

[Leadeye]

When you get to the SHTF scenario you want to be careful about hunting. Before you get to that point, figure your expenses involved in hunting as opposed to other pursuits. I live in the outland, and hunting is not a primary part of my plan unless the animals are literally in my yard, which they often are.

Processing is important, clean is number one if you want meat to taste OK and last. You can get a fair amount out of a deer if you are willing to invest the time. I don't when I hunt, but I know folks who literally keep everything but the grunt.

Salting meat was done for years on sailing ships, you just need to soak it in fresh water before cooking. Salt meat, peas and ship's biscuit kept the royal navy going for centuries. Grog helped you forget the taste.

 

[stocknup]

Have you ever thought of just raising rabbits ? You can control how much meat you want to process .
Butcher as you need them , no extra to worry about preserving , they are quiet , free fertilizer for the garden .
I know some people who raise extra to feed their dogs too .

 

[bwframe]

...it's what I do with this deadass animal after I do. I'd have to hang and clean it in the field and take it straight to a processor, because I don't have chest freezers and meat processing tools or everything freezer packaging for a whole animal right

Correct.

Forgetting that hunting isn't nearly as simple just dropping a deer that you have randomly seen when doing other stuff in the woods, there are many critically important things to be learned only by doing.

What if you didn't take into consideration where your deer might run, even after a good vitals hit? Vitals hit deer often run for many yards, sometimes hundreds, into the worst areas for dragging out, sometimes not to be found at all in time to recover meat.

The point is that there is often a LOT more than "we'll just do this or that" because we've read it's possible. "Others have done this, so we will just do it too." Nearly everything involved in a successful venison harvest can and will go sketchy, as you are learning as you go the first few times.

One really simple thing that often takes years to learn is that taking deer to be processed is a mixed bag. Putting the meat handing in other's hands is a risk. Even assuming that you have handled your meat perfectly, from on the hoof to 40 degrees, letting that harvest go out of your control can be a problem.

Even a solid dependable deer processor can have issues. From mixing meat, to staffing, to handling, to being overrun with work all at once, etc.

There is a big differerence between those who put venison in the freezer and those who depend on that meat to be the groceries that feed the family.

A lot of family members and even the hunters themselves dread having to eat "that freezer full of gamey venison."

 

[snapping turtle]

Live trapped animals (raccoons opossums ground hogs rabbits ) can be looked at as live canned meals. Trapping is 24/7 and hunting is not. You can trap while doing other things and when you hunt basically you hunt only.

 

[Sigblaster]

They taste like s--t

Turn her over, you're eating the wrong side!

 

[Ruger_Ronin]

Truer words...

 

[Jaybird1980]

Those logistics are what stop me from deer hunting right now. It's not putting a shot on a deer, it's what I do with this deadass animal after I do. I'd have to hang and clean it in the field and take it straight to a processor, because I don't have chest freezers and meat processing tools or everything freezer packaging for a whole animal right now.

Logistics matter when you get into game animals too big to be stuffed in a backpack.

You can break a deer down and bring home just the meat or even quarters, but it is a lot of work especially out in the weather. Having someplace out of the weather is nice, but not necessary. The biggest thing is to get it gutted as quick as possible, you do not have to hang it.

 

[cg21]

Well since we are talking survival let’s not forget the “gut pile” everyone throws out is actually the most nutrient packed portion of the whole carcass.

 

[bwframe]

Well since we are talking survival let’s not forget the “gut pile” everyone throws out is actually the most nutrient packed portion of the whole carcass.

You save the heart and liver, right?

Those are always ate first here.

 

[jwamplerusa]

I'll just leave this here...

 

[Ruger_Ronin]

Well since we are talking survival let’s not forget the “gut pile” everyone throws out is actually the most nutrient packed portion of the whole carcass.

You eat it.

 

[Ark]

You can break a deer down and bring home just the meat or even quarters, but it is a lot of work especially out in the weather. Having someplace out of the weather is nice, but not necessary. The biggest thing is to get it gutted as quick as possible, you do not have to hang it.

That's true. If I wanted it bad enough I suppose I could gut it, drag it back to the car, quarter it, wash it out with a couple gallon jugs of water, then wrap it in trash bags and chuck it in the hatchback for the drive home.

Apartment neighbors: "Whatcha got there?"

Me covered in blood with a flintlock rifle and trash bags: "A smoothie."