Deer Processing for Idiots - GRAPHIC PICS

[justusnak]

PC, I have to say....ABSOLUTELY BRAVO!! You and drumstick did a great job!! I would like to think I could do it...but DH would NEVER help. Heck, he wont even clean a chicken! Yeah...he is a city moma's boy TO THE MAX. But, let me find a fresh deer...I would love to give it a try. Way to go.

 

[Darin115]

I generally process 5-10 deer per year. I have found that young deer are a snap to skin. If you have an older deer the hind does not want to come off as easily.

I take a sharp fillet knife and make a small slit in the hind leg of the deer near the main joint. Insert the nozzle of the air hose in the slit. Blow up the deer. It will blow up like a balloon. Keep blowing until the entire deer is swollen from the air. If you keep the air on too long it will pop. That does not matter.

Doing this helps to seperate the skin from the meat. It make process a old deer much easier.

I hang my deer up from the back legs. It is just easier for me to do this. Another good tip is not to cut the skin from the outside. Stick the point of the knife in and cut outward. This helps to prevent cutting the hair and getting it all over the meat.

I quarter the animal and place in a stainless steel bowl. I then place it inside a trash bag and press as much air as I can get out and then tie it off. I let it sit in the fridge for 3-4 days. This lets the blood drain from the meat.

When I am ready to process I take the meat out and process. if I am making deer burger I cut away all the white tissue. I will ahve a big bowl of red meat left. I then grind it with fat. I then let it sit in the fridge overnite. I will patty it out the next day and freeze.

It is hard to describe the process. I really need to take pics and post them.

You did a great job on your first deer.

Darin

 

[buck-wild-chick]

Yea yearlings are much easier to clean and they taste better too !

 

[Fudgie]

Quote:
What's their names, the wenches that is!

Sorry couldn't help myself, been to the renaissance festival too much I guess!

Great job PC on the first try at this. By the way if you don't like the WILD taste, you can ship it to MO and I will take care of the disposal for you! LOL

 

[menageriemama]

Bravo PC

 

[becky3086]

I found this whole thread quite helpful. Phil is hunting this year for the first time since I met him and I have been trying to learn as much as I can about processing deer myself.
Becky

 

[Bammony]

Great job PC! We love deer meat. It makes the best jerky. Let us know how you liked it after dinner!

 

[Pullet Pimp]

Quote:

That is the first thing that came to my mind too when I read that.

I'm such a pig!

 

[PurpleChicken]

Quote:
Thanks Deb! It sounds like your DH and my DW would get along fine.

 

[PurpleChicken]

Again I will

to all the deer experts here. I have read every post
5 times. You folks amaze me.


Everything is now cut up and in the freezer. I've been throwing tasty
looking pieces in my brining pot and am going to try a few things tonight,
now that all the work is done.

My freezer is packed. I don't have a grinder so I may try using my food
processor to make ground meat.

One of my friends came by tonight and left with a load of venison. He
doesn't know much about it other than he eats it and likes it. He's
gonna make a stew.

I wish I could process and cook some of this meat along with each of you.
I'd be your happy helper.