You Are What You Eat

I recently made a run to Miesfeld's in Sheboygan to fetch the last batch of venison from the 2024 deer season.  It took a while for everything to be processed; yet it's completed. 

Garlic summer sausage, snack sticks, wieners and bacon.  Yes, there is such a thing as deer bacon.  

I had previously taken an additional batch of venison to Marchant's Meats in Sturgeon Bay to have brats and regular summer made.  Much faster turn-around.  And by the time you read this all but the shares belonging to a couple of hunters will have been distributed and likely found its way to a summer grilling session. 

In case you're wondering about the economics it works out like this:

Four deer skinned, cut and wrapped was $520; split six ways is $87 a hunter.  Everyone received a generous helping of steaks, chops and burger.  On top of that there was another generous selection of brats, wieners, snack sticks, summer sausage and bacon.  $560 total ($381 Miesfeld's and $179 Marchant's) split six ways is $93 a hunter.  All-in that comes to $180 a hunter.  And if you've been paying attention to the price of meat lately this is a decent deal; considering the overall yield.  (Note to self - take photos next time). 

I take payment by check or Zelle®.

Fun Fact:  Three additional deer were donated to the food pantry network of northeast Wisconsin thru DNR's deer donation program. 

Renewable Resource

Our group of five hunters killed nine whitetails last year.  We processed four for ourselves and donated the remaining five to the food pantry network here in Door County.  Venison burger is wholesome and popular fare with needful families. 

I'm certain my neighbors had successful hunts as well.

Anyway, it would appear that we didn't make much of dent in the local whitetail herd as there have been ample images of does, fawns and a few dandy bucks continuing to show on the trail camera trapline.

It is the gift that keeps on giving.....

 

Deer Camp Recap

Yesterday was a day of rest with everyone here at camp sleeping-in to 7 AM.  After a delightful breakfast of strong black coffee and Shit On A Biscuit...

We off-loaded seven whitetails from the meat pole and loaded-up the pick-up truck.  

Four deer to be processed into steaks, chops, burger and bagged scraps along with the three remaining deer donated to the Northeast Wisconsin Food Pantry Network.  

There is also the following;

Deer camp wine - courtesy of my neighbor and his wife who happen to be wine-making enthusiasts 

Deer camp bread - second loaf pictured after the hungry crew devoured the first loaf in one sitting

Deer camp homemade biscuits - the vessel for the creamed chipped beef (above)

Deer camp fish fry of wild-caught perch, walleye and crappies

Deer camp homemade clam chowder

Deer camp flag
 

Deer camp dog

And a deer camp sunset 

All in-all more fun than a barrel of monkeys.  We reconvene in December. 

Deer Camp

Things have been quiet here at the blog the last few days.  That's because deer camp has sucked all of the oxygen out of the blog.  In a word it has been too busy to blog. 

Nevertheless, this has been another deer camp for the archives. That makes 25 consecutive years of fresh air, exercise and a bunch of yuks.  

As all things on the continuum of life’s journey the players have evolved over time.  It’s all good.  

click on the image for a better look at this handsome bunch

We dropped seven does at Marchant’s for processing - including two for Northeast Wisconsin food pantry distribution. 

Coincidentally, since the deer donation program began in 2000, hunters have donated over 90,000 deer which have been processed into over 3.7 million pounds of ground venison. 

Raising a toast to good friends, scientific herd management and stemming hunger in Wisconsin.

Cheers!

Eat More Deer

20 years.

92,000 deer. 

3.7 million pounds of venison.  

I have often said that if people ate more deer we could solve hunger in this state - and bring the deer herd down to a manageable number. 

Deer hunters in Wisconsin have been providing venison to community members in need for 20 years through the deer donation program. This year, over 50 processors have already signed up to accept deer donations!  You can enjoy the sport of deer hunting and make a difference in your community.  
 In celebration of the program’s 20th anniversary, hunters donating deer this season will receive a free hat while supplies last. 

Learn more about Wisconsin’s deer donation program here.

Feeding the Hungry - One Deer at a Time

Wisconsin’s deer donation program helps feed thousands of low income families in northeast Wisconsin.  Since this program began in 2000 - hunters have donated over 90,000 deer which were processed into over 3.6 million pounds of ground venison.   Hunters sharing the blessing of their success afield as food providers for others less fortunate. 

Yesterday morning my pal Six Deuce and I saddled-up the pick-up truck and shuttled six deer to a processor supporting this program. 

Science-based deer management where needed and assisting local food pantries with their mission.  Thanks to the guys in the crew and their commitment to doing the right thing.

Learn more about this righteous and noble effort here:  http://www.paulspantry.org/hunt-for-the-hungry

Deer Camp Recap

It is hardly a secret that southern Door County has a burgeoning deer population.  It is a routine fact that anyone driving around here is going to have a close call dodging a running deer or a whitetail that materializes suddenly from the roadside ditch.  The damage to the forest is stunning in its scale.  There's hardly any regeneration of anything that the deer prefer to eat.  They've even taken to browsing the landscaping in the yard and tasty veggies grown in the garden.  My pal New Guy calls them the Antlered Menace. 

Nevertheless, there is a flip side to this - deer hunting.  Unlike some parts of northern Wisconsin where discouraged hunters are happy to just see a deer - the deer hunting around here is pretty darn good.

click on the meat pole for a better look

This weekend New Guy, Six Deuce, Braumeister and El Diabla Roja teamed-up to slay five additional deer in an antlerless only hunt.  That brings the total for the year to fourteen.  A camp record.  Our freezers are full, El Diabla Roja returned home with three deer for her hungry family and five of the deer have gone to Paul's Pantry in Green Bay for needful hungry families in the community.

The recent tally shapes-up as follows:  

2017 - 14

2016 -   9

2015 - 12

Anyone see a pattern forming? 

I'll post some additional highlights this week of the weekend fun.

Fruits of the Hunt

Last Monday we dropped eight deer at Marchant's for processing.  Ordinarily we'd process them ourselves but circumstances left us shorthanded in the skinning and butchering department.  $75 for skinning, cutting and wrapping was a good solution to our shorthandedness.  Burger is extra.  We donated three of the deer to Wisconsin's local  Hunt For The Hungry program.  

Made a Marchant’s run today to pick up our deer. Two bushels of steaks chops and roasts, a couple of big boxes of burger, and four humongous bags of trimmings.  $395.

Add to that Six Deuce's bow killed deer and the freezers are at capacity. 

The processing costs spread among ten deer camp guys for six deer is $51 a person.

A fair dollar value.  I think.

For a boatload of organically-grown, free-range, hand-carved, all natural venison.

The December hunt is on deck....