What to do with the carcasses?

[RCS Deer Management]

We really are getting soft as a nation. Yes reds are heavy, but so what? Enjoy the process, experiment and learn. In other parts of the world people are killing animals that make reds look like bunny rabbits and packing them out in multiple journeys miles at a time. Yes processing big deer can be a faff when you are new but it’s perfectly achievable and once you get good it’s not a massive task. I’m glad that I didn’t listen to the naysayers at the start of my career, just because others can’t hack it doesn’t mean that you can’t. I would experiment with burgers ect. For your family. They can be used as a gateway drug for getting people onto venison

 

[One on top of two]

I did mine some decades ago and it included the LGMH but I never realised my DSC no was what went on the carcass label as I never sold any.
D

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

 

[Will the chippy]

When me and a mate shot our first red on his estate we were vastly under prepared for dealing with it. It was massive compared to roe and munty we usually shoot. We ended up skinning it in the field and quartering it to put it into his truck and make it small enough for hanging in his fridge. No mean feat and it takes plenty of time.

 

[RCS Deer Management]

When me and a mate shot our first red on his estate we were vastly under prepared for dealing with it. It was massive compared to roe and munty we usually shoot. We ended up skinning it in the field and quartering it to put it into his truck and make it small enough for hanging in his fridge. No mean feat and it takes plenty of time.

My first few large deer were a similar experience, but as much as we were under prepared it lead to some great experiences and funny stories. You soon learn!

 

[Tommy_gun]

I am looking at this a learning opportunity, I know it’ll be hard work and a bit of a faff which ever way I go about. I think I just need to get stuck in and see what works and what doesn’t. I’m keen to have a go at butchery so for the ones I do take home then I can quarter them in the field to make them more manageable. For the rest that go to the game dealer, I just need to come up with a system that makes it doable.

 

[Jelen]

Fair point, I’ve never processed a whole deer myself, I just know the size of a red deer and looking at my freezer I thought I wouldn’t fit many in. But yeah, by the time it’s in sausages and burgers I may fit one or two more in.

I’m happy to to try and process as many as I can myself, it’s just the time and effort to do it when it’ll just be me eating it, I can’t imagine the missus or kids will touch it but you never know.

And there's the problem if it's just you eating it. At least you can get steaks off a RED to freeze singly. As for those that say get it out to friends, family etc. When i tried it in the past everyone wanted it skinned and just the loins/boned haunch vac packed. What do you do with the rest as a lone consumer. I just got them to a game dealer in the end which gave me more time stalking as opposed to processing. It's not the money, it's culling enough numbers that counts in the end.

 

[Norfolk Deer Search]

I am looking at this a learning opportunity, I know it’ll be hard work and a bit of a faff which ever way I go about. I think I just need to get stuck in and see what works and what doesn’t. I’m keen to have a go at butchery so for the ones I do take home then I can quarter them in the field to make them more manageable. For the rest that go to the game dealer, I just need to come up with a system that makes it doable.

That’s the way I learned - the hard way!

 

[Will the chippy]

It’s quite the learning curve. You’ll make a balls of it at some point, it’ll be hard work, and some times it’s bloody hilarious and wonder why the hell your even there. Get stuck in, my butchery skills go from surprisingly presentable to some kind of hatchet job. Just be aware of how you might look to the public if you have to go to the petrol station covered in blood.

 

[VSS]

And there's the problem if it's just you eating it. At least you can get steaks off a RED to freeze singly. As for those that say get it out to friends, family etc. When i tried it in the past everyone wanted it skinned and just the loins/boned haunch vac packed. What do you do with the rest as a lone consumer.

You mince it and freeze in meal-sized portions for home use. It's so quick and easy to cook up into a whole range of different dishes.
If you're talking about giving away the loin and the haunch from a chest shot deer then that isn't going to leave you a stupidly large amount to mince anyway, by the time you've written some off due to shot damage.

 

[Tommy_gun]

And there's the problem if it's just you eating it. At least you can get steaks off a RED to freeze singly. As for those that say get it out to friends, family etc. When i tried it in the past everyone wanted it skinned and just the loins/boned haunch vac packed. What do you do with the rest as a lone consumer. I just got them to a game dealer in the end which gave me more time stalking as opposed to processing. It's not the money, it's culling enough numbers that counts in the end.

That’s what I was concerned about, spending all that time processing the meat and having way more than I can deal with. Having the odd one for myself and offloading the rest to the game dealer seems to be the best solution.

 

[Norfolk Deer Search]

It’s quite the learning curve. You’ll make a balls of it at some point, it’ll be hard work, and some times it’s bloody hilarious and wonder why the hell your even there. Get stuck in, my butchery skills go from surprisingly presentable to some kind of hatchet job. Just be aware of how you might look to the public if you have to go to the petrol station covered in blood.

Been there, clean hands (wore gloves) sleeves rolled up looking like the Texas chainsaw massacre

I remember I had a guy stalking with me and he had an absolute hormonal meltdown because I went into Sainsbury’s to get some tobacco, knife on belt blood up to my elbows but I did have clean hands

Two hinds and a calf in the back of the truck,

I said to the guy, don’t panic, they know me

 

[beef1986]

Sounds like a great opportunity, the only struggle I can see is getting them into the back of a Passat, a change of vehicle might be in order, a truck and small winch would be a good investment

 

[brandon]

Go and shoot 1. You’ll figure it out, you will struggle and it will be hard work but it will be worth it and the second one will be easier!

 

[Tommy_gun]

Sounds like a great opportunity, the only struggle I can see is getting them into the back of a Passat, a change of vehicle might be in order, a truck and small winch would be a good investment

Yeah I think it might only work if it’s a modestly sized deer and I remove the head and feet. Failing that there is a pickup, mule or tractor on the farm, just no winch.

 

[beef1986]

Yeah I think it might only work if it’s a modestly sized deer and I remove the head and feet. Failing that there is a pickup, mule or tractor on the farm, just no winch.

I’m sure you will figure it out, I ahot my first spiker with a guy off here recently, his truck was kitted out with winch/tray etc and it made it easy work at his end.
When I arrived home with the carcass minus head and feet at home I still had to get a mate to give me a lift out of my truck and then I had to quater it to get it into the chiller, I still enjoyed it though and the meat was really nice

 

[Norfolk Horn]

Sounds like a great opportunity, the only struggle I can see is getting them into the back of a Passat, a change of vehicle might be in order, a truck and small winch would be a good investment

If you have a tow bar a single axel trailer will do just fine and save the mess in your car.

 

[Tommy_gun]

If you have a tow bar a single axel trailer will do just fine and save the mess in your car.

Yep, good shout.

 

[Tommy_gun]

Thank you for all the replies guys, I really do appreciate it, it’s given me a bit more confidence. I got the rifle zeroed in this afternoon so all that’s left is to shoot a deer and get stuck in. I’ll report back!

 

[Klenchblaize]

And there's the problem if it's just you eating it. At least you can get steaks off a RED to freeze singly. As for those that say get it out to friends, family etc. When i tried it in the past everyone wanted it skinned and just the loins/boned haunch vac packed. What do you do with the rest as a lone consumer. I just got them to a game dealer in the end which gave me more time stalking as opposed to processing. It's not the money, it's culling enough numbers that counts in the end.

Spot on and at the risk of further labouring the point you're stuffed with regard to the numbers game if there's no Game Dealer willing to take your in-fur beasts.

K

 

[Norfolk Deer Search]

Thank you for all the replies guys, I really do appreciate it, it’s given me a bit more confidence. I got the rifle zeroed in this afternoon so all that’s left is to shoot a deer and get stuck in. I’ll report back!

After you shoot the first one, you’ll walk up to it and look

“ why the **** didn’t do that!)

Once you’ve got your foot in now hole and you’re getting into the swing of things, don’t do a stupid thing like I did once and shoot six all in one go