What to do with the carcasses?

[VSS]

But again brings me back to my point that @wytonpjs found so funny … how many cases of food poisoning were there before we had all these regs ? I’ll wager virtually zero and if the regs are so beneficial why do we have skyrocketing deer numbers and a general public who don’t really eat venison? The system doesn’t work . Myself I sell to a butcher and game dealer about 50 a year then butcher about 50 myself and give away to family friends and landowners ( tend to sell the reds and fallow more than anything) I’ve introduced many friends and work colleagues to venison which I’ve gifted but on the whole the public aren’t bothered about eating venison

I don't think rising deer numbers are in any way a direct result of venison marketing (either past or present), although I acknowledge that marketing issues may be exacerbating the current situation.

The massive rise in deer numbers is, in my opinion, is largely down to the following:

- An unexpected spin-off from the large-scale agri-environment schemes of the past 2 decades. (Think of setaside, uncultivated field margins, wild bird cover crops, woodland creation schemes, restrictions on hedgecutting etc etc). These have created fantastic deer habitat, not only for feeding and breeding, but also for colonisation of new areas.
- The culture among stalkers of shooting male deer in preference to females.
- The huge rise in recreational stalkers "managing" deer on small areas, understandably in a way that maintains or even increases numbers, rather than reducing them. Why would they want to reduce numbers and ultimately lose their sport?

I don't suppose for a moment that there are any more cases of food poisoning associated with the consumption of venison now than there ever was, but with the "relaxation" of the rules (or the "new" rules, if you prefer to call them that) that enable more people to butcher carcasses and sell the venison, comes a greater level of responsibility and a greater level of risk. And in order to preserve the fortunate situation in which we find ourselves we need to acknowledge that risk and ensure that we do our utmost to mitigate it through responsible carcass preparation, and be able to demonstrate due diligence by undertaking proper training. Provided that we do this voluntarily then we will hopefully avoid having it foisted upon us.

 

[Sheamus]

Your probably all bored with feck all else to do. Other than write long winded posts.
That have got nothing to do with the guy who owns a Passat. Looking for his first Red and what to do with it...

 

[shakey jake]

It's only quarter past nine and I've already learned two new things today. It's going to be a good day.
I didn't know about the CWD in the U.S.

Could be confussing having chinese water deer and chronic wasting disease having the same initials

 

[Tim.243]

Offer a free hunt to a fellow shooter provided they take the carcass and eat the venison. Great experience for him. Make you feel good. One deer less on your property, no transporting, storing, skinning, butchering, etc. One less carcass to keep prices down at the game dealers. What is not to like ?

That idea is a big can of worms for a one off.
1 Many don't have the sporting rights.
2 The person will need to demonstrate they have the ability to put the round in the right place
3 And if they don't meet point 2 what then?
4 Do they have the kit/cold space to store it.
5 Will their wife/partner let it in the house.

 

[VSS]

Could be confussing having chinese water deer and chronic wasting disease having the same initials

Perhaps that's why they're now generally referred to in the UK simply as "water deer" in documents, magazine articles, research papers, etc?

 

[shakey jake]

Perhaps that's why they're now generally referred to in the UK simply as "water deer" in documents, magazine articles, research papers, etc?

I assumed that was just a woke thing.

 

[VSS]

I assumed that was just a woke thing.

I don't think so.

 

[shakey jake]

I don't think so.

You are probably correct, ive noticed that about you, you think logically and sensibly

 

[Mountain Bug]

Not according to some US SD members my hobby total for last year Jan 3 to Jan 3 was 128
Not sure if a person in the US could have 128 tags?
@Mountain Bug might shed a bit of light on the subject?

I'm not sure what the real question is Tim, but if you are looking for validation I'll tell you that your yearly total has outpaced my lifetime total and yes, I'm jealous of the UK system. I however would not be at all jealous if I were a UK hunter with no permissions and trying to get my foot in the door.

One must keep in mind however that our system's origin was developed after market hunters nearly shot our big game animals to extinction. For decades after, the mentality arose that shooting females was wrong and only bucks were shot. Not as trophies but just to let the numbers recover. Now we are once again facing overpopulation in many states, especially those with intensive farming. In these states there is great availability of tags. I started hunting in Illinois and there you could buy (its been 25 years so not sure anymore) unlimited archery doe tags, so technically you could shoot 128 deer in a season.

Scott

 

[Tim.243]

I'm not sure what the real question is Tim, but if you are looking for validation I'll tell you that your yearly total has outpaced my lifetime total and yes, I'm jealous of the UK system. I however would not be at all jealous if I were a UK hunter with no permissions and trying to get my foot in the door.

One must keep in mind however that our system's origin was developed after market hunters nearly shot our big game animals to extinction. For decades after, the mentality arose that shooting females was wrong and only bucks were shot. Not as trophies but just to let the numbers recover. Now we are once again facing overpopulation in many states, especially those with intensive farming. In these states there is great availability of tags. I started hunting in Illinois and there you could buy (its been 25 years so not sure anymore) unlimited archery doe tags, so technically you could shoot 128 deer in a season.

Scott

Thank you Scott, as we don't have use of a bow/xbow, my question was based on a member posting about Deer tags so I was quite sure I would get a balanced answer from you. But it seems you could buy a large number of bow tags but not for a rifle which over all gives you chances way past a bow.
Re permissions you could take on a lease or syndicate or buy some stalking, I and many others started off ferreting rabbits with nets then pigeons then foxes with shotgun then foxes with a rifle then the Kings Deer but it takes time but you get to learn %90 of what you need to shoot deer lol

 

[VSS]

. In these states there is great availability of tags. I started hunting in Illinois and there you could buy (its been 25 years so not sure anymore) unlimited archery doe tags, so technically you could shoot 128 deer in a season.

What would you do with 128 carcasses?

 

[Sol]

What would you do with 128 carcasses?

Quite a few states have donation programs even though the sale of venison Is prohibited, dont quote me on this one but I believe some states even accept processed meat as well e.g receiving muscle cuts deboned.

 

[Mickeydredd]

What would you do with 128 carcasses?

Start a thread on the SD......

 

[Kalahari]

Start a thread on the SD......

 

[VSS]

Start a thread on the SD......

You read my mind...

 

[Mountain Bug]

What would you do with 128 carcasses?

I would have no outlet for that many deer and the fact that those 128 tags would have been purchased by me would make the thought even less appealing.

Quite a few states have donation programs even though the sale of venison Is prohibited, dont quote me on this one but I believe some states even accept processed meat as well e.g receiving muscle cuts deboned.

We do have donation programs but they vary widely between states. Some of the state donation programs have subsidised processing and others expect the hunter to pay for processing the meat which will be donated.

There are some states that do allow the sale of wild harvested game and once again these vary by state. Vermont allows for the sale (with restrictions) of non-inspected native game meat. Texas also allows for the sale of harvested wild game but it must be inspected and processed in a USDA inspected facility or the state equivalent. I'm not familiar with all the rules of different states and there may be more examples.

I do know that Colorado does not allow the sale of wild game meat at all, but we once had a thriving industry of farmed elk that were raised under tight state and federal controls to be sold commercially. This was stopped completely when CWD became a problem.


Scott

 

[VSS]

I would have no outlet for that many deer and the fact that those 128 tags would have been purchased by me would make the thought even less appealing.

We do have donation programs but they vary widely between states. Some of the state donation programs have subsidised processing and others expect the hunter to pay for processing the meat which will be donated.

There are some states that do allow the sale of wild harvested game and once again these vary by state. Vermont allows for the sale (with restrictions) of non-inspected native game meat. Texas also allows for the sale of harvested wild game but it must be inspected and processed in a USDA inspected facility or the state equivalent. I'm not familiar with all the rules of different states and there may be more examples.

I do know that Colorado does not allow the sale of wild game meat at all, but we once had a thriving industry of farmed elk that were raised under tight state and federal controls to be sold commercially. This was stopped completely when CWD became a problem.


Scott

I think we're very lucky over here.

 

[dryan]

I did mine in 2004 with dave stretton , mine hasn't got large game hygiene On it

I did mine around that time with David and it has listed on the cert towards the bottom “large game meat hygiene”

 

[big ears]

I don't think rising deer numbers are in any way a direct result of venison marketing (either past or present), although I acknowledge that marketing issues may be exacerbating the current situation.

The massive rise in deer numbers is, in my opinion, is largely down to the following:

- An unexpected spin-off from the large-scale agri-environment schemes of the past 2 decades. (Think of setaside, uncultivated field margins, wild bird cover crops, woodland creation schemes, restrictions on hedgecutting etc etc). These have created fantastic deer habitat, not only for feeding and breeding, but also for colonisation of new areas.
- The culture among stalkers of shooting male deer in preference to females.
- The huge rise in recreational stalkers "managing" deer on small areas, understandably in a way that maintains or even increases numbers, rather than reducing them. Why would they want to reduce numbers and ultimately lose their sport?

I don't suppose for a moment that there are any more cases of food poisoning associated with the consumption of venison now than there ever was, but with the "relaxation" of the rules (or the "new" rules, if you prefer to call them that) that enable more people to butcher carcasses and sell the venison, comes a greater level of responsibility and a greater level of risk. And in order to preserve the fortunate situation in which we find ourselves we need to acknowledge that risk and ensure that we do our utmost to mitigate it through responsible carcass preparation, and be able to demonstrate due diligence by undertaking proper training. Provided that we do this voluntarily then we will hopefully avoid having it foisted upon us.

Agree with all of this but will add.

Those who hold large tracts of land and guide clients wanting a population of deer for their clients and not thinking about population reduction.

Won’t be popular but sadly the truth. Too much stalking is held by too few people.

 

[Mike1979]

Tried that , “ I’ve no freezer space , I’m busy , I can’t take any beasts “ invited 5 guys for a collab cull in November 2 showed up , never again easier to do it myself

I have to be honest ... this is absolutely crap.....and those who were kindly invited should be ashamed of themselves.

There are lots of comments about "effort" ...lets be honest taking the shot is the easy bit its what comes before and after that takes the skill and the time. I adore the entire process of deer stalking (and all forms of shooting really)...maybe extraction isnt one I adore....you are always learning and every situation is different.

I have very few deer local to me and jump at any opportunity my friends are kind enough to offer....alas this tends to be 4+ hour away ...but that increases the enjoyment/excitement/anticipation. I still get a massive buzz just seeing deer...long may that continue