My hunting partner, his son and dad came over today. We took down all the tree stands. Then got out the grinder and ground all of our venison burger, about 35-40# between us. Good people, good times, fresh air. Altogether a very satisfying day. Now I have to pattern my new turkey choke and get back to brushing up my calling.
Still have most of the month of February here. I have to admit I will, as usual, be happy when it is over. Love to get out, but the constant desire to wrap up work a little early is tiring.
Our zone ended yesterday. I gave it one last shot and sat in that bitter wind yesterday afternoon. Saw a couple of doe's outside of bow range but it was nice to be out one last time. I do wish our area ran through feb but the mrs is glad it doesn't!
You guys are lucky my wife makes me hunt everyday of the season here. And makes me go to N Y and R I if the freezer is not full by the end of the seasons I am in BIG trouble
Your wife "makes" you hunt!? That's awsome! Now don't get me wrong, mine supports my hunting addiction and loves to have a freezer full of meat we didnt buy at the grocery store. But after all the hrs i spend in the woods she starts to wonder if the end is near.
I have loved bow hunting for 30 years now and have had some great times. My wife never liked venison till a few years ago after a Montana hunt that I brought back some hamburger mixed with pork fat and some with smoked bacon . Now she pressures me to fill the freezer ever year. The things she makes me do.
Is that a MA buck on the loader? Is that a 3 year old? Not field dressed yet; do you butcher them right away and not open the cavity? I have seen this on a couple shows now. I guess it works if you don't want to hang the carcass and can dump a complete carcass somewhere. I personally will hang them as long as possible. Last year around this time, I hung two deer for over a month. The longer was 6 weeks. Some of the nicest looking meat I have ever processed. Ate quite well too.
That is a R I deer I bring them home whole and clean them in the back of my property. It was to warm to hang so cleaned him then butchered and I freeze whats left of the carcass to use as coyote bait after deer season ends. If you freeze it sold in the bottom of a trash can with a cable in it then it can be anchored to a tree and they can't get away with it. They will come back for days and chew at it till it melts or is eaten.
I heard of a similar trick with beaver carcasses. Take them out onto a frozen lake with an ice auger. Drill a hole and insert the tail into the hole. In a few hours that tail is frozen in place and holds the beaver fast. They can't get the beaver out of the hole and are out in clear view on the ice. Good shootin' scenario there.
Finished our season here this past weekend. A friend and I ended it on a good note and bagged a few more deer for the freazer. I'm sad to see it over but like said above I'm glad to not have that urge to wrap up work and go hunting all the time. Now I can focus on work and getting a fe more things done.
Wish we had hogs up this way. I had a great time hunting them in Florida a few years ago. Then had a pig roast out at a island camp in the Everglades the ranch owners family has rented from the gov. for years. That was a fun way to end the week.
