Leaderboard

Fresh smoked Alaskan salmon

Back in the mid 1960s, a boyhood friend of mine ( whose father was a notorious poacher and probably never cut up a "legal" deer in his life) taught me the basics.... I have done my own since then...For many years several of my friends and I would "pool" our deer and often cut up several together in a day...I probably have participated in cutting several hundred deer over the years... When I started doing out of state hunts with friends, we did the same with caribou, elk and moose...I have personally killed 13 caribou, but have helped process perhaps 30 others, plus half a dozen elk, 3 or 4 moose and a few pronghorns.. Other than that, I don't have experience in the process..

Daughter requested my smoked chicken nachos before returning to college this weekend. Labor intensive as each scoop chip gets its own piece of bbq chicken ( chicken was seasoned with bionic poultry rub ) , then pinch of taco cheese , dab of mighty taco sauce , oven to melt cheese and dab of sour cream but so good. Threw a few 4 cheese stuffed banana peppers on the smoker too.

I don’t remember who I’ve really extended this offer to before in the past I know @turkeyfeathers is one of them but for any of the WNY guys that want to learn my garage is always open to hang a deer, drink some beers and learn how to do it yourself. I am by no means a professional but I can get the job done. It will usually take me 6 hours by myself to do a deer from start to finish but that’s broken up between 2-3 days including vacuum sealing. Larry I know your well versed in processing so it would be cool to have you along as well as I’d probably learn a thing or two from you. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Biden is now begging the terrorists to give us more time … all the while dodging questions from reporters . He lies thru his teeth !!! Anyone that thinks this would have happened with Trump at the wheel is only kidding themselves ! Biden and Harris are a huge joke !

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

Had a club meeting last night, so I decided to go early and hit the archery range. First time shooting this year for me. I shot really well at 20 and 30 yards!! And was able to shoot 50 arrows or so! Had some guys watching, that didn't believe it was my first time shooting since last winter. My grandson has me doing some light weight training, that seems to be helping my shoulders. Real happy about my first shots of the year. A solid foundation to build on for the season. No pic's as I was being watched. You'll have to trust me...

She can’t be any worse than Cuomo was. We will see though.

Mast crops are a big one,mostly red oak and white oak if you have them. White oak is preferred by deer but those acorns don't last long on the ground. Beechnuts are good too but I think a lot of those drop early,not 100% on that. Another good thing on public land is browse,young trees from a recent logging operation regrowth. The first 5 years after the cut are best. That also provides cover and creates edges of habitat in the woods. Deer are creatures of the edge because of the plant diversity found there. Blackberry bushes make pretty good browse too,generally you find those in recent cuts too. When you are out scouting look for nibbled on tips of branches. That is where the most tender leaves are. Deer also like apples if you have any wild apple trees on the public land. Those can be gone fairly early too,depends on the tree and year.

Put nephew on a deer so he can take his 1st Put friend on a deer so he can take his 1st at 49 years old. Put guests on good stands so they can get deer. Put friends kids on good spots for youth hunt so they can have chance at a deer.

I have had the misfortune of butchering hundreds of deer for the family and a few friends me A few bear... some pigs and a few cows . I learned from my uncles and my gramps . I do it because its the cost of doing bussiness. While I can't say I enjoy it any more , I would rather do it myself than pay someone else . Always get my own carefully handled and clean meat back . Back in the day we had large groups processing deer . Now its just me and the wife. I butcher she packages. I have taught more than a few how to butcher. Most decide to pay in the end . I always offer to help but I won't butcher someone else's deer anymore . Last year my son shot his first deer in many years . He thought I would butcher for him . He was surprised when I said no . I made him come up and we butchered it together while his mom pacckaged it up . Probably the most fun in many years doing it . Drank a few beers and enjoyed fresh backstraps on the grill.

Finally, some hunting talk, lol. Thanks @Belo I still have 3 stands to put up (will have a total of 5). I may only put up 2 and use the climber in the 3rd spot. This one is a new to me spot, 10 minutes from work. Great for the "occasional" Saturday after work (every other). I've only been in there twice and have only a general idea of where to post, so I am thinking use the climber until I am more familiar with this spot. But this raises the problems of trimming and finding the "right" tree in the "right" spot, not to mention the sweating my calzones off after my climb. No cameras for me this year. I had them all over last year until 1 disappeared. Going back to doing it the "old fashioned" way.

Threw some bluefin on the Blackstone for lunch Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

Anything but my truck or my wife's car...

I don't suggest people get into Cuddelink for the first time, at this time of year. I sell alot of Cuddelink and I'll steer my clients off based on experience around Aug 1. The system works, but people need to learn how to use and get it just right. Anyone who has critiqued the platform that bought from me has bought during or just before the season. That has been very consistent.

Its unbelievable to me that his approval rating is still in the high 40's %. The media sure does a good job propping this guy up. I was sure this presidency would be a disaster. Its been that x10

Just pulled cameras to see what's running around. These are from 2 different properties. I'm guessing all 2.5 yr Olds for my area. Not sure about the spike or 4 pt whatever it is.

Back log of stuff. - Multiple nights of sliders ...ground vension bacon mix, chopped sautéed onion, blend of cheese, seasoned, and mayo on sweet rolls. - steak multiple nights from eyeround to backstrap (yes still have some left) - vension sweet Italian cheddar sausage and peppers with sweet corn (last of the cheese stuffed sausage, only plain left) -last of my bluefin tuna belly seasoned and smoked pretty low over hickory. Sent from my SM-G781V using Tapatalk

Andrew not Mario ya lugnut

Whole mess of back straps!!! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Drop it off , go home sit in hot tub with a cigar and a few strong beers , just like Ishi did .

My Dad taught me, if I remember correctly my first was when I was 9 or 10 . We had a old hand crank grinder and I thought it was fun till about a 1/2 hour in.

Have grinder, knives and cutting board-will travel.

I have never paid to have a deer butchered. First one I shot, a buddy of mine who grew up working in his parents meat market walked me through the process. Done it myself ever since. I am no knife ninja like my buddy but like you said, you can’t really screw it up too bad. Culver taught me a few things over the past couple of seasons too. It did become a bit much during seasons with 5-7 deer but I am now limiting what i shoot so maybe I will enjoy the process more.

Bow: My 2004 PSE Nova that I got as a 14th birthday present from my dad. I never saw a reason to upgrade. It kills them if I do my part. Gun: I got a new to me Ruger Super Blackhawk this year. I decided not to carry a rifle until I kill something with that. Muzzleloader: Still trying to fill a tag with my TC Hawken for the 8th year in a row. There are years I certainly wish I didn't get rid of my scoped inline ML. Sent from my Pixel 3a using Tapatalk

I grew up on a farm so I was used to butchering cows and pigs. When my father and I started hunting we just treated them like small, quickly processed cows. Iv probably cut up 50+ since then and make little tweaks each time. I still prefer to gut them while they are hanging if it’s logistically possible instead of field dressing… I guess that’s the farm influence.

I don't even have a clue how many deer and other animals I have butchered or been part of a group butchering. My father showed me how to skin and quarter before I was even old enough to legally hunt. I like the fact that I know there was no hair touching the meat, and it is definitely the right deer. I am also a firm believer in getting the backstraps out and in the house for someone to prep and get cooking while the deer is being quartered, so we can have some great eats before the final cutting gets done.

Yes!!!!!! Might be my favorite part of hunting!!! MAKE MEAT! The first deer i shot I brought to the only show in town and had him make hot Italian sausage and ground and some steaks. I thought He did an awesome job! Then my buddy got a deer up in Dutchess and brought it to a butcher would does cows, pigs, etc…wow- my guy was a hack in comparison. Still people (some on this very forum!) use “this guy” for convenience and it boggles my mind. Paying $125+ a deer is not quit in the budget so I had to learn and YouTube was my teacher. Here is my favorite that I still watch pre-season to bone up(get it) on my skills! I’m still a freezer paper guy for my meat since it’s gone within the year(unless it’s gone earlier due to a freezer/“kid flipped the breaker where the deer meat was” failure). Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Nice! I think everyone should butcher their first few deer. It's part of the whole process..

My goals now are pretty modest. They amount to just being able to place one foot in front of the other and climb that "killer hill" out behind the house .......lol. I won't be worrying about counting points or scores or anything like that. I just want to keep a strong bow arm and participate and, add another year of hunting to the others. Keep 'em coming!

The prestige of winning this contest on the Hunting Forum will far exceed the winner of a 12 man football sausage party! Its red carpet vs artificial turf. And by red carpet i mean this! lol

Thought we could all share what we are using this year to hunt with . Bow - Hoyt faktor 34 , 65lbs , 458 grain beman hunter with 125 grain black hornets . For firearms I rotate - 44 mag Super Redhawk ,going with hand loaded 270 grain Speer deep curls over 17 grains of 2400 / 300 Savage 99 with hand loaded 165 grain Speer hot cores over 41 grains of RL15 M/Z - cva optima v2 lr - 100 grains of 777 crush harvester sabots 44 mag xtp’s So whatcha using this coming season ?

I have the Axis II gun, just SS with adjustable trigger, i get a clover group at 100yds but with Winchester Powerpoint 150gn ammo.

Oaks are definitely a major food source for deer. In particular, ones growing on a south facing, side hill bench. Another lesser known one is sumac. I have seen deer eating it many times near the end of October! I once took a nice bow buck, while set up on the thicker side of a sumac stand, that led to bedding. I was originally set up 100 yards farther away, and kept seeing deer in that sumac. I moved in closer and sealed the deal. Good luck with your scouting. And for the season as well!

I liked using my climber on public land to hunt/scout. But you're absolutely right about noise, time and sweat. Eventually when you find a tree that you keep climbing, it's a good idea to just stick a ladder or hang on there. That's what I'm doing with one of my spots this year.

A days worth of drinking ,half a bottle of jim beam and that's what I get . But it was probably because the kids were playing Mario cart when I saw it . One of those days.

Hahha….That fridge is in the shed and only used for deer (and butchering beer!) Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I got my start doing it myself about 12-15 years ago after I took a small doe and it seemed foolish to pay $80 to have someone do it for me. I made a phone call to a friend that lived around the block from me at the time and he was at my house the next day with everything needed to process including the grinder. We worked for 5 hours or so on a week night when we both had to work the next morning. I’ll forever be grateful to him for showing me the ropes. He unfortunately passed away a couple of years ago from cancer at an early age. Not to many days go by during the year with out me thinking about him. I still have 2 hangers he brought over that very first day and gave to me because they where his extras hanging in the garage right now just because it seems a shame to ever take them down. I’ll learned a bit more over the years from different people that make it easier or faster but I’ll never forget him coming over and helping me that very first time. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Not hot , otherwise he wouldn’t have gotten written up . I can’t believe they’re writing traffic tickets , it’s a free for all here . I’ll do 70 in a 55 and get passed on all sides by cars doing 80-90 . Cars all running reds , passing on double yellow lines , dirt bikes and atvs along with crotch rockets everywhere , sidewalks , blocking intersections , mad Max , was their training film , nobody pulled over , you can pass a cop and flip him off . If the cops try to pursue,it’s called off by a boss .

Well. I'm going to start out with my TC Encore muzzleloader hunting elk in Colorado. Shooting 297gr thor bullets with fffg powder. Then I'm going to break out my 75# Obsession m6 with 125 gr Rage broad heads. Couple weeks later I will break out the mzl again for a week. Then switch barrels on my TC to .300 win mag. Hunt for a few weeks Head to Letchworth using my bow and occasionally my Barnett whitetail for 1 1/2 weeks. Switching back to the muzzloader for the southern firearms opener and a few days. Returning home and breaking out the 300 again. Untill.... Late muzzloader season.. Wow! Breaking it all down , it sounds pretty complicated...lol

Heritage Outdoor Sports is the best archery shop I've ever found! Couldn't ask for nicer or more knowledgeable guys than the owners, Mike and his son Louis. They also do so much for youth, veterans, and many others to get them involved with archery. Very humble guys too!

This is the nice part about hunting public land: no preseason work to do. I will find new bedding areas during squirrel season and hunt them during deer season. This will be my first year in a saddle so I'm looking forward to being even more mobile than years past. I guess that's my only preseason task. Figure out how to use the damn saddle. Sent from my Pixel 3a using Tapatalk

We have material work left. One property here in NY needs several stands put up and or moved. The others are maintenance - straps, safety checks, and clearing. Ohio....alot of work left to do there. No stands up and I believe our philosophy is going to set up a few key stands and make moves from there. Two farms with very different terrain and land features. We have ideas of bedding on one but the other is an enigma still. Luckily we can assemble and store stands ready to go at the farm and move with purpose. Missouri - that is 100% hang and bang. Layout is good for it, and in rifle season, ground hunting has as much promise as sitting in a stand. We only set up four stands there last year and took them down; the second moves for two of them put us in the money. This year, our learning curve should be much shorter.

Yep and it's been passed down the line to another forum members child.

Yesterday was an interesting day for sure. It was nice meeting you!

I remember reading about parking wars at state forests between pheasant hunters and deer hunters…..

My knot tying is getting better .

I've got some simple goals this year. Oct 1st is my last day at work, at least as far as working a full time gig goes. After 45 years of squeezing in outdoors time in on weekends or on limited vacation time, I'm going to take my sweet time and just enjoy the hell out of the outdoors. I'll hunt when I want to, and not when I have to. There's been a number of years where I've just taken the first thing that walks in range because of limited time to hunt, but now I plan on being in no hurry at all to fill a tag. As a matter a fact, I may just hunt more with a camera than with a bow or gun (but obviously will always have a bow or gun at the ready). I'll fill a tag or two, but for the first time ever my mindset is that I want to enjoy my time in the fall woods much more than I want to just kill a deer. And I'm going to watch every damn Sunday afternoon Bills game without trading off hunting opportunities!

To wake up at 4am to have coffee, and breakfast while deciding where to hunt. To see the frost crystals glimmering in the moonlight, as I make my way out to my truck. Seeing and hearing the woods wake up in the morning, and fading to grey as night approaches. Watching the leaves turn color, until the woods are ablaze with the splendor of fall. Smelling the fresh fallen leaves, and hearing them softly crunch under my boots, as I try unsuccessfully to be silent. Observing the breathtaking beauty of sunrise and sunset. Seeing the woods creatures scurrying around, while I quietly watch unmoving. The first few gentle snowflakes, swirling on a stiff north east breeze. The smiles of my grandson, lifelong hunting partner, a friend, young hunter, or forum member, as we greet before a hunt. Having a deer pass so close, you could reach out and touch them, while hunting from the ground. Letting that deer pass without taking a shot. Meeting up with a friend, and or a forum member for lunch, and comparing notes. Taking a nap in the woods, as the early afternoon sun warms my face. Thanking the Lord for another glorious day, as I make my way home to a hardy supper that my beautiful wife has waiting for me. Just a few of my goals for this season. They tend to pretty much be the same now after half a century in the fall woods. Oh,........and every now and then, I will get a bonus, and perhaps take home a creature of the woods.