Shot my 4th buck Saturday morning with Solwaystalker and also decided to do things properly and take the carcass home for the first time. Word had gone ahead and the kids (2 girls - 8 and 5) were waiting on the driveway to get a close look.
There was a bit of squealing when they first saw it but from then on I had 2 constant companions for the whole process. Maybe self-interest as I had to cannibalise part of their swing to rig up a means of suspending it from the garage ceiling! Feet and head off, skinning, jointing and then butchering - they watched the lot from as close as they could get and fired question after question (including a pizzle-obsessed line of interrogation from the 5-year-old... "where's it's willy?", "did you cut it of?!", "did you keep it?!?!"...)
The best bit? Last night they both asked if they could have some of the venison instead of chicken! A tenderloin between them - cooked pink with red wine and redcurrant jelly sauce - clean plates and proud smiles all round.
There was a bit of squealing when they first saw it but from then on I had 2 constant companions for the whole process. Maybe self-interest as I had to cannibalise part of their swing to rig up a means of suspending it from the garage ceiling! Feet and head off, skinning, jointing and then butchering - they watched the lot from as close as they could get and fired question after question (including a pizzle-obsessed line of interrogation from the 5-year-old... "where's it's willy?", "did you cut it of?!", "did you keep it?!?!"...)
The best bit? Last night they both asked if they could have some of the venison instead of chicken! A tenderloin between them - cooked pink with red wine and redcurrant jelly sauce - clean plates and proud smiles all round.