Surviving Minnesota!

[I Love Layers]

@I Love Layers
, your Dad got a nice buck! Did he get a weight on it? I made the mistake of conversing with a  family member who has been spending time at my Grandpa's cabin. I told him I've been seeing signs of a big buck near my stand and my Grandpa's stand, but I haven't seen him follow the does through yet. He went up and sat in my Grandpa's stand (ours are about 200 ft apart) and got the dang buck. I know I technically can't be irritated because it's a deer and, well, deer roam. He could have been shot by anyone in any stand/blind. I just wish I hadn't told him the buck has been hanging around our stands. My Grandpa doesn't have many years of hunting left in him and I would have liked to see him get it. Eh, but that's the way it goes. Two years ago, a cousin was sitting in my darkhouse and speared a 27lb northern. I would have liked to see that on my wall instead of his =) You snooze you lose.

I just want to add that we have a 130lb Rottweiler who is dumb as can be. He's more interested in chicken poop than chickens, but he'd pounce on them if he got close enough. To train him, we watched from the back porch and lightly shocked him when he got too close to the birds. I know some don't agree with shock collars, fencing, etc., but that's how we keep a balance around our mini farm. Now just putting the shock collar on him is enough to get him to behave.

I don't remember. We grind everything up, but there's about 50 pounds when mixed. That's without the ribs

 

[I Love Layers]

http://www.wideopenspaces.com/big-buck-sheds-antlers-immediately-arrow-impact/?utm_campaign=inline
For those of you hunters.

 

[KlopKlop]

I don't remember. We grind everything up, but there's about 50 pounds when mixed. That's without the ribs

Interesting to hear this. I was curious what was normal. I ended up with about 38lbs ground plus the loins (7-8lbs maybe?) since I was working alone and in the dark on processing I know I didn't do as well as I could have at salvaging everything I could. I wasn't sure how much i should have ended up with. I took the carcass right out to a wide open area with no farms near and left it for the critters so I don't consider anything 'wasted' just a different part of the circle of life.

 

[holm25]

I don't remember. We grind everything up, but there's about 50 pounds when mixed. That's without the ribs

Do you keep the ribs??? I think we ended up with over 300 lbs. Of burgers and idk how many chops and loins.

 

[KlopKlop]

Do you keep the ribs??? I think we ended up with over 300 lbs. Of burgers and idk how many chops and loins.

I kept the ribs on the first deer I ever processed and haven't since. Too tough and gamey. The membrane is thick on them too

 

[holm25]

I kept the ribs on the first deer I ever processed and haven't since. Too tough and gamey. The membrane is thick on them too

We throw the ribs in the gut pile for the eagles along with the guts and heads. We turn the hides in at the Hides for Habitat box that most gas stations have.

 

[duluthralphie]

Why don't you throw the ribs to the little dinosaurs to clean? My birds love picking bones.

 

[holm25]

Why don't you throw the ribs to the little dinosaurs to clean?  My birds love picking bones.

Cuz they are on strike! They are being spoiled little brats! Guess how many eggs I have gotten in the past 3 weeks! About 4-5!

 

[I Love Layers]

Why don't you throw the ribs to the little dinosaurs to clean?  My birds love picking bones.

We give ours to the yotes for bait

 

[I Love Layers]

I kept the ribs on the first deer I ever processed and haven't since. Too tough and gamey. The membrane is thick on them too

Yep. We did with out first deer to but it was to much work for that little of meat