Deer Processing for Idiots - GRAPHIC PICS

[PurpleChicken]

This is an extention of https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=111628


OK, the other night we had a deer get hit by a car on the backside of
our property. A police officer pulled up, told me a deer was in the woods
somewhere, and was hurt. I pulled out a spotlight, went up on the snow
covered slopes, and found a doe with a bad back leg. I called the
officer over. He euthanized her. She was not roadkill. She was an
injured deer that was put down in front of me. The officer, who's a cool
guy and has chickens too, said I could keep her and gave me a tag.

SO, I've never processed a deer before but wasn't gonna let this animal
rot on my hillside. Heck, I never even had venison.

The first thing I did was come to BYC and scream HELP!!!
So many of my friends here came to my aid and gave me the confidence
to process this animal. I've done hundreds of chickens but this scared
me. I admit it. My kid(Drumstick) was ready to do it himself. He stopped
setting up the Christmas tree with his mom to come outside and help
me and take pics.


So here are some pics. Please understand I had no idea what I was
doing. If anyone finds themselves in a similiar situation just take a
deep breath and go for it. It was an amazing experience.


The doe:

Gutting Pics:

I then skinned it. Sorry, no good pics. This was a lot of work. I
should have hung it but I didn't.

The next night, after leaving the carcus on ice, I butchered it.

Day 3 - Trying to fit all this iced meat in the freezer.

1Much steaks:

A brining pot of little cuts. Thursdays dinner:

Again, I'm new at this so be gentle. I know many of you are deer experts.

Thanks again for all the help from so many of you. My freezer is full of
deer meat and I still have the ribs, sectioned backbone, and neck on ice
out back.

 

[silkiechicken]

Totally awesome! I want to try deer some day!

 

[Redfeathers]

Having never done that myself, I can only applaude you and tell you that I'm very happy that doe didn't go to waste. She will feed your family well. Now go have a cup of that Keurig and give yourself a pat on the back for a job well done.

 

[moodusnewchick]

This is gross.
Your arms are hairy.
I'm not working this weekend and I expect some venison stew. Or maybe some venison steak, grilled.

Way to not let bambi go to waste.
Oh, and nice alchi in the background.

 

[bluey]

Not too bad, PC....

Hanging it upside down makes the skinning so much easier. Also it it alot easier to skin when the body is still warm (which wasn't really much of an option for you i guess). You can start at the hind legs and literally peel the whole thing all the way down to the neck like a banana.

Once the carcass is cooled down, the thin tissue connecting the hide gets much tougher to cut and doesn't peel away as easy.

Also, it helps to sponge down the skinned carcass with water to get rid of most of the hair left behind and use a small propane torch for burning away any stray hairs. This makes the final butchering nice and clean!

Overall, good job considering the circumstances!

 

[RickiHupp]

Awesome Job!! For your first ever time that is great!!

Here are just a few pointers that I have learned from helping out woth my grandpa that might just help you out in the future

1. When you are gutting it, start out a little lower on her belly, closer to her teats. that makes it much eaiser to split there and then drag out the innards than trying to pick them up out of the hole

2. When getting reaady to skin, start at the back legs make a little slice just above the knee and peel it down until you reach her thigh on both sides. Then get a heavy stick or something to wedge between her legs to hold them open, get 2 hooks and hook them up to chains. Put the hooks right thur her lower leg on each side right between the two tendons just above the hoof. With the chains, Pull her up to hang upside down. This works best in garage over rafters or beams. When you have her securly hung grab the hide that you peeled down and keep peeling until you come to the middle of her neck ( you may have to slice a little here and there to keep it going) once you get the hide pulled back to the neck take a saw or something and slice the head off with the peeled back hide.

3. After she is skinned take an electric saw and while she is hanging cut right down the middle spliting the deer into 2 identical sides, after that you can cut and trim the excess fat off and keep the meat that you want

Always a good thing to remember is......Its MUCH eaiser when the kill is still warm. After it is left overnight and freezes the skin will be MUCH harder to get off.

For your first time ever that looks wonderful!!! Maybe these tips will make it eaiser in the future

 

[PurpleChicken]

Quote:
Ya know, it's sorta like processing chicken, just a big chicken. At the rate
my turkeys are growing it will be the same.

Biologically it was so cool. I wish someone like you was there to help
identify organs.

 

[PurpleChicken]

Quote:

It was a first. Never underestimate yourself.
The Kuerig doesn't make coffee strong enough. I had to add gin.

 

[coffeelady3]

Ok, in regards to the pic of you with your gloves and hoodie on holding the knife....did anyone else get a creepy, serial killer vibe???

 

[PurpleChicken]

Quote:

Stop picking on me.

I had to pull everything outa the freezer tonight, cut it down more, clean
all the blood outa the freezer, and then repack.

Have you ever tried venison? If it's good we'll bring some over for ya.
Opa's olive oil laced steakes sound yummy.