WARNING: This is a post about hunting which includes the shooting of animals. Please only proceed if you are comfortable with such things.
For those of you who are newer to steemit, @papa-pepper didn't really grow up as a hunter. In fact, I never even went deer hunting until last year. If you'd like to check out the posts that I made last year to document my first deer hunting adventures, here are the links:
As last hunting season came to a close, my "stats" were that I had fired a total of three shots and killed a total of three deer; two bucks and a doe. For us, deer are a great potential meat source, and I appreciate the connection with my food supply that hunting provides just like I do with gardening, foraging, raising animals, and fishing.
THIS SEASON
So far, I've only been out "hunting" once this year, and that was only for about ten minutes. Truth be told, it is quite a peculiar story, so I thought that I should share it. Trust me, it's not exactly what you'd expect.
Lately I've been finishing up clearing a bit of woods for some projects related to the upcoming building of my house. While I was chainsawing and using the backhoe attachment on the front end loader to eliminate a few trees, my oldest boy "Monster Truck the Pepper" was enjoying feeding our sheep some snacks and also helping by stacking branches for me.
As our work for the day neared an end, we began our short drive back to where we are currently staying. As we passed the top of our property, I had an idea.
Often, there is a spot where deer like to hide near there, and I figured that I might as well take a peek. A few of my neighbors already harvested four bucks in the immediate area this year, so I thought it would be best if I could at least get some meat this hunting season.
I pulled the truck up next to the top of the woods and got out, instructing my four year old to be quite. I walked a few feet to the edge of the woods, and sure enough, a few deer got up and began to run off. I walked back to the truck, put on my orange hunting gear and grabbed my 30.06 out of its case.
I opened up some of my ammunition and loaded a round into my rifle. This wasn't really a calculated move or a chance for me to try to get a deer with only one shot, it's just that I needed a bullet to fire if I got a shot, so I put one into my firearm.
With my boy waiting quietly, I rustled off into the woods through the new fallen leaves. Most of the deer took off in an unappealing direction, but one had turned the other way. The more I walked, the farther it moved. I knew that a clearing ran perpendicular to the field where I parked, so I exited the woods and entered that clearing.
As I walked down the opening, I could see where the deer was. It looked like it wanted to stay put, because it would lie down whenever I stopped moving. After a moment I would inch closer until it stood up again, and then I would stop until it lied back down.
Soon, I was close enough that I felt confident in taking the shot.
The deer had stood up and was looking straight at me. It was a doe that was at least a few years old, and I clearly remember passing on this deer last year. This time, I wasn't going to pass.
I'm not sure whether I lined up the shot left-handed or right, but either way I raised my rifle and lined up the shot. When the cross hairs reached their mark, I gently squeezed the trigger. The gun blasted and the deer fell over, right where it had been standing.
I walked over, grabbed a leg and began to drag it out of the woods back to the truck, calling to my boy as I came. Since the place where I normally dress my deer is nearby, I tossed it on the hood of my truck and grabbed a leg out the window. My hand was cramping by the time I got where I was going, but I held on and made it.
CLEANING AND TEACHING
After a bit of heavy lifting, I had the deer hung up and ready to clean. Since no one really knew that I was "going hunting," @mama-pepper and the rest of the @little-peppers were surprised at the news. Soon, I had the "usual crowd" observing my activities.
Though not everyone believes in eating meat, for the time being we do. Personally, I'd rather harvest an animal like this and use as much of it as I can rather than buying the questionable, carbon-monoxide laced meat at the grocery store. At least this animal was able to be free and live in the real world eating what it normally would, rather than being grown in some sort of over-packed meat factory eating who knows what.
A lot of the scraps sent straight to the chickens, guinea fowl, and Muscovy ducks. The bulk of the remainder went to the pigs. I'm still allowing the meat to cool and hang for a bit before I cut it all the way up, but we have what we will be using and the rest mostly went to the animals.
NOT EXACTLY YOUR TYPICAL HUNT
Growing up, I'd often hear all sorts of great hunting stories. Men would take a week off of work, head out to the cabin with the buddies, and hunt all week, hoping to get some big bucks. I'm not really in it for a trophy, and I don't want to take a week off of my life either. Some may even argue that I didn't really even "go hunting." But, I guess I did go in the woods and shoot a deer, so I'm sure that it qualifies.
It does remind me of one similar hunting experience that I am aware of. Growing up, I had a brother who bow hunted. One day after his wrestling practice at school, he came home to find a deer in our front yard. Quickly, he grabbed his bow and an arrow and went to the front porch. Soon, he too had successfully harvested a deer.
Hopefully soon we will have some venison jerky to enjoy! We will have to see if I get any more this year, but either way, I'll keep you posted.
As always, I'm @papa-pepper and here's the proof:
proof-of-my-first-deer-this-season
Until next time…
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I totally agree with the free living animal as food vs those in groceries
Glad to hear it. If I'm going to choose to eat meat, this is the way that I prefer to do it.
Are you familiar with Joel Salatin? "A really good life, one bad day." That is how I raise my chickens and beef. Too lazy to hunt... ;)
Its a type of hunting - We have free range chickens and I have to hunt them, I prefer inventing box traps when I can be more clever than them, but that is not always the case ;p
Yeah, we have had several chicken round-ups that we refer to as "rodeos."
Oh that sounds like a lot of fun, for you and the girls! Fun 'until'.
That is one of the better hunting stories I have read. As a papa you don't really need to go wondering off in the wilderness for a week when you can keep track of where your food is. That's really awesome you were able to load up and have a deer that quickly and after a day of work too. You sure know how to keep yourself busy as the story started with you headed home and here you've given yourself more work to do.
I really like that you let the little peppers there while you dressed and hung the doe. Dressing a deer with my father is one of my most vivid memories as a child and I recall it every time I do the process myself with a smile.
Carry-on @papa-pepper
Thanks so much for the encouragement and sharing the memories. You are right about that time too, I knew where they were, I just had to go get one. No need for me to wander around hoping to see one!
Thanks again @erodedthoughts!
To be honest it would not surprise me to read a post next year about how you have collected a few fawn's and are now raising your own deer on the ranch.
One fact I forgot to point out yesterday was kudo's to you for using the extra parts to increase those animals you already have on the farm. Have you started to dry hides yet as part of the "use as much as you can" lifestyle?
Inspiring for sure. I wish I learnt how to clean a deer after you caught it when I was younger.
At least my @little-peppers can learn when they are young if they want to. I had to have a guy half my age teach me how to last year!
I hope someone shows up in my life who could teach me sooner then later, we got a goat we should eat probably
When the student is ready, the teacher will appear. Have you tried the local butcher shop?
indeed, and I have not yet, though I have a friend who is a butcher
LOL Half your age! Youngin the age of the teacher should never matter, remember Yahweh was a very young man and just look at the learning he laid down that the elders despised.
There will be many times in your life where you will be the teacher or the student.
As a teacher always remember that you have been the "student" first.
Well done. I think that all meat eaters should experience something like this. When you complete all the steps from a living animal to food on your plate it gives you a new sense of connection with your food. Next up you gotta hone your archery skills and test out bow hunting
I should give the bow a try one day, you're right. I think that there is too big of a disconnect between many and their food, no matter what they choose to eat. For us, this instills a deep appreciation for our food. Thanks @jasonshick!
I love me some venison.
Other people can't stand the taste of gamey meat, but I've never found venison to be too gamey. And it tends to be a bit leaner and more flavorful than a lot of beef, as well.
Wish it was easier to get.
I think that "gamey" may just be a code word for "lack of growth hormone, GMO feed, and antibiotic overdoses.
Perhaps that is where the "domestic" flavoring comes from...
Venison is really lean and good meat! I hope to hunt for deer one day to bring perspective of hunting for my own food and understanding nature better.
It is very good meat. I hope that you do get to experience that one day!
this cool, a reliable hunter, a friend of the heart do not get hit,
I will try to be safe and careful! Thank you @jasonmunapasee!
You're welcome.
I hate killing animals!
All animals die. Most for no purpose at all. This way, we get some good meals out of it. I understand that many people are against it, but I am not.
Hay I not it any way funful. To kill someone who don't have any thing to prtect themselves. What you find interesting to kill animal. They are like you, you must take care of them , you human have responsibly to protect those who are not able to protect them self. Killing a deer is not ethical anyway .
To eat plants we must kill them too.
Hay sir plants are made for eat , that why talk to protect trees . Not plant , do you know all the creature is made to contribute to balance the ecosystem . And if you are human it's not meant you have right to play with the nature .
If you love animals, why do you eat their source of food? Now they have to compete with you for a food source when clearly you have the advantage. That's not fair to them. You should learn to just live on air alone. Become a breatharian. and leave the plants for the animals.
You can't counter stupid with logic or use big words like breatharian. LOL.
Hay and I know many here always support you what so ever you do no matter , as I can see here in comment section.
Nice thought
Truthfully, caring for the deer population means becoming a predator. There are too many deer and they affect each other, they become weak and sick, they wander out into traffic. Its really sad, probably because there aren't as many bears or wolves, but we must now become the apex predator and help the deer live sustainably.
Its an awesome event
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Nice one and glad you don't don it just for sport and put it to good use. Sadly we got one with our car 2 weeks ago! ouch
Cars get a lot too.
the result of the auction is @papa-pepper.
Thank you @sury!
you are welcome
Hello good Morning here bro and Also tell me how I can earn good.And tell me the way you are working.Taking a good hold of you in the same way.I'm new to everything I do not know so much to tell me everything. Thank You.
Nice job, guy! Glad to see that you had a successful hunt.
I'm gonna go ahead and forward this to PETA now for a bit of fun. ;)
Thanks man!
For forwarding it to PETA? Uh...You're welcome, I guess! lol
I am a card carrying member of PETA. That is People Eating Tasty Animals!
BOOM!
yummy I love venison and I am all for hunting for food. So much better than carbon monoxide packaged meats. ( I buy from local graze farmers to avoid that)
Good call on "shopping around" for meat!
Nice read.
When you said you didn't know which shoulder you shot from, my mind was imaging it one way and then the other
Which is your favoured side?
I should shoot right handed, but I prefer left. Sometimes you can only make a shot a certain way, but with this one I could choose, I just don't remember which....
Craving some venison now. Havent had it in months!
For my dads birthday last month I got him an 'exotic' bouquet of jerky. I tried everything from kangaroo to bison.
It was interesting. I couldn't finish a couple. Texture was too weird.
Interesting. Bison sounds good!
It tasted like beef.
Researching the jerky. I saw I could eat lion meat from their sister company .
Several years ago, one of colleague was driving (somewhere near Kansas City) and hit a deer. The deer walked away. His Nissan Sentra got totalled.
Later, we were told by other colleagues that had the deer died, he's supposed to get to keep it. Don't know if they are pulling our legs.
I know quite a few people who have hit deer with vehicles and then eaten them.
Oh, it is true then. :-)
Its been long since I last had some nice venison mate! The hunting season is over here...I have to wait till June next year now!
Nice shooting! My dad, in Arkansas, too, goes up on the roof. Then he has my mom drive off somewhere for awhile. The deer think everyone has left and they come out. And then they go into the freezer, lol. Enjoy all your venison!
So glad you take the time to teach the kiddos. If you're going to take a life to sustain for your own, I believe the process should be as pain free as possible and the resource used with respect for the life that was taken by as you said, using as much of the animal as possible, the way mother nature would.
I reluctantly clicked because I can be a bit sensitive to things like this but I really appreciate your approach and respectfulness. :)
well donePapa, why spend a week tramping through the bush, eating rough, living rough when you can use your observations and pick up an easy kill.
This way you were able to use most of the deer, had you been camping you would have left a lot of scraps and less favoured meat behind.
Man has been a meat eater since he learned to throw a stone.
That's a sustainable harvest. It doesn't get much more direct from forest to table than that! Enjoy all your venison!
Great story! I was waiting for this one - having the land to hunt is spectacular. Deer are overpopluated and controlled hunting (like doing it only in winter) is actually really important in the US.
Now that we live in Colombia - we have to take a different tact on hunting. Almost every species worth shooting has been hunted to or close to extinction. It is not responsible to hunt wild animals here, which I why I only hunt my own free range chickens.
This example, along with a few others in my life, has shown me that the black and white, cut and dried views really don't exist. Is hunting good or bad? Yes, sometimes.
Blessings to you Papa - would love to see an article on jerking that meat!
Enjoy those tenderloins ;p
Being the shepherd of your family there will be times when and where you have to take the shot where ever you are.
Feeding your family is being the shepherd and providing for their needs.
Well done on having the family present so they understand the connection with the foods they eat.
Thank you for that! It's another blessing!
Blessing come in many odd ways. Up to us to see them.
Totally Agree on harvesting your own food as much as possible. My daughter inlaw just laid down an Elk 2 weeks ago. my first experience with that. quite a haul on meat compared too a deer I must say.
Wow! That would be quite a haul!
A FEW THOUGHTS:
1. TO ALL YUPPIES, HIPPIES, HIPSTERS, ANIMAL-WACKOS, ETC.: Papa Pepper did all that he could to warn anyone that doesn't agree with hunting to pass on this article, yet you still feel the need to interject your opinion...So, here's mine: I too (and pepper) agree that senseless killing of animals is egregious, and against the will of The Creator. We, as the top species, have a responsibility to act in the best interest of the overall ecosystem. As part of that effort, a periodic culling of the herd is desirable and necessary (as evidenced through many University-backed wildlife management programs) . Most people agree that having natural predators (ie wolves and mountain lions) running around town is a bad thing
2. TO ALL HUNTERS, WILDLIFE MANAGERS, AND PEOPLE OF COMMON SENSE/RATIONAL THOUGHT: We will all encounter people that disagree with our views and opinions. No matter what precautions we take in life (or Steemit), someone will always "come of of the wood work" to voice their little-ole opinions. This is perfectly fine and natural. I have heard many times throughout my life, from rather successful people, "If you don't have haters, then you aren't doing anything of consequence." I think Papa handles his haters with grace and restraint; more than I can say for myself :) Cuddos to you @PapaPepper.
3. TO @PAPAPEPPER HIMSELF. ON BEHALF OF ALL THE OTHER HUNTERS OUT THERE IN STEEMIT LAND: Screw you dude! That's cheating! I have to drive several hours just to get to the woods! Setup my camp, hike through the woods in the cold at 3 or 4 AM, HOPEFULLY bag a deer, drag it back to camp, clean it, pack it away, then drive several hours back home...ITS JUST NOT FAIR! (He said green with envy).
Best reply EVVA!
Thanks man
Based on number 3, you have some room for improvement.
Yes indeed, I need to move to the woods and have them running around the road willie-nillie!
While I don't personally have a problem with eating meat, it's tempting for me to feel that hunting is brutish, or unintellectual. I think I've evolving from that point of view after reading pieces like this. It's made me realize hunters are way more mindful about wastefulness, and nature than my carnivorous fat ass is.
Thanks for sharing that, and being honest!
What a beautiful doe and great shot, @papa-pepper! This should provide a bit of meat for the winter. Do you freeze the meat, smoke it or can it? We used to all three, but I need to build a new smoker for the smoked sausage...
All three for now!
Good hunting , nothing like fresh venison tenderloin in butter an onions!
Thank you my friend!
Great story... I had a friend that used to hunt like this when the opportunity arose and he made his own venison jerky too.
Love deer hunting! Check out my latest post if you on the off chance want to read a sonic rant 😂
Good job on bagging a deer. I am not instituting a 2 oz venison jerky admittance fee to the wells homestead. Keep that in mind next time you come over. 😉 I know a guy in our area that has got to the point where he doesn't shoot unless he can bag 2 deer with 1 shot. Now THAT is game conservation.
Glad to hear that you are "not instituting a 2 oz venison jerky admittance fee to the wells homestead."
If you were "now instituting a 2 oz venison jerky admittance fee to the wells homestead" that would be a whole different scenario.
Drats! My dastardly plan to score some delicious deer jerky just got ground to a pulp by a typo!
great post..........
Nice harvest @papa-pepper! I am still waiting for my time to get out and harvest a deer. I am not too concerned about whether it is a buck or doe. I just want to have meat in the freezer. And maybe try canning it like @mericanhomestead does. I have a few posts about the deer on my farm and one we lost on Saturday. My girls have named all the bucks but two new additions and they are literally fighting/arguing over who gets the antlers if I get a buck. Gotta love their passion.
Again, you got a good harvest there! Congrats.
Kenny
Pfeiler Family Farm
Seems like you are a great hunter :) Nice that you are enjoying your time that way and the kids also seems to be excited about it.
Thank you for sharing your experience with us :)
You might be surprised to know just how often deer and other critters are harvested due to convenience and/or circumstance. Living in rural America for the majority of my life, I and most of the folks that I know have done it. Squirrel and dumplings, because you had a .22 while cutting firewood, is a good example. When you haven't filled your deer tag yet, and one walks across the drive... its pretty normal for a lot of folks.
Good job with your "grocery shopping".