It's just a matter of time right? I think the most deer I saw on a previous sit this year was 2 so it was a welcome surprise. It really was kind of wild because I think 90% of them used the exact same trail. First time I ever sat there and I hit it perfect............except the no show from the horned creatures. Something blew out when I left and of course a guy's imagination runs wild thinking the spot is screwed because the ghost in the dark HAD to be a 170" monarch. HA!
Yes, yesterday I went out at 11:00 just to look for him. Found him in about 30 minutes. Walked straight to those beds to check first. There was a set of beds about 100 yards down a hill, no one home then went up the hill to check those, there he was. I knew he should be there, spot no one goes to hunt. Definitely some relief when i found him. I sat on a log and over looked the river while i ate my lunch. Just letting it sink in. Probably spent a hour there before i packed him up and left. Sent from my SM-S901U using Tapatalk
Is it getting harder to find a reliable processor? Or do most of you guys do your own? Of the 2 guys i used in the past, 1 quit because it was too much for him and the other only takes deboned meat now if you want sausage or sticks or something. One guy I called hands out like 200 tickets for the year. If you didn't get a ticket, he won't process your deer. He doesn't advertise when he gives tickets out and he is out of them now. Always wanted to try but my wife would divorce me if I hung a deer in the garage and processed it in the kitchen. Started asking around about others who might be pretty good. Hate to take a doe (or buck) and not have someone lined up.
My wife met me when my neck was already red. I do all my own butchering. I used to hang them in the garage but now I have a shed with a walk in cooler. Just tell your wife you need a shed and a cooler and that should solve all your issues!
I wish i could. Being a city guy, my development does not allow sheds or any other detached buildings in the yard. Pools must be in ground, no clothes lines outside.....a bunch of little stupid things like that. I don't pay HOA fees or anything like that. I don't know, the developer just wanted to keep the neighborhood "neater". Oh by the way, he lives right across the street from me
The people I go to tell me it’s going to be their last year every year. They said they are only doing it til gun season this year. Other processors are either insanely expensive or just absolutely terrible. I usually just do my own but I find myself in the early season taking it to the processor if it’s warm. Sometimes when I get a buck I like to treat myself by having it butchered hahah. Sent from my iPhone using Bowhunting.com Forums
I’ve butchered them in a basement more than once hahaha Sent from my iPhone using Bowhunting.com Forums
Holt , way to stay with it, yes I thought you’d find it! Sent from my iPad using Bowhunting .com Forums
Is great you were able to find your buck, Holt. Closure is always nice to have. It's remarkable how quickly nature takes its course and devours the flesh off the recently deceased. I had one a few years ago that was mostly consumed within 26 hours of the shot. It's just unfortunate that you won't get to properly enjoy the spoils of your efforts. Sent from my SM-S918U using Tapatalk
Tell him you're building a sex dungeon. He'll understand and the wife probably won't mind either. Kind of like a his and hers treat. I mean a walk in cooler kind of looks like something with swings, whips and chains. My last house was in a development like that. No dues or anything but a bunch of rules. The lots were big and it was in the middle of the woods but I felt trapped because of where I grew up. The places were nice but just now for me. When we bought our new place I only had one criteria. Can I pee outside without worrying about anybody seeing me?
Being on the edge of town, I live on the city limit line. Legally, I CAN'T shoot my bow in my yard... but i can coyote hunt with my elk rifle across the street if I wanted to (and had permission). Now, I've got permission from my neighbors to target practice in the yard, and I can stretch it out towards the lake and shoot 70 yards for practice. We've got two sheriffs and a state trooper in the neighborhood, all of whom have driven past me while at full draw... so i think I'm safe, but I know that could all come to a halt with one dipshit making a complaint. I didn't make it out last weekend as I thought I would be able to as it was too warm and windy. My wife and I leave for Colorado tomorrow night for an elk hunt, so I won't be back out in the deer woods until at least the 18th or 19th. Plus, if we end up coming out heavy, I'll probably take that time for butchering. I'll probably be away from cell coverage most of the time, so it'll probably be radio silence from me after tomorrow until next Thursday. Sent from my SM-S918U using Tapatalk
The foxes, coyotes, eagles and vultures ate good. Everyone needs to eat. Still tares me up though. I truly do enjoy the meat just as much as the rack Sent from my SM-S901U using Tapatalk
Good luck. Elk are some of the best meat. We will be here waiting to hear the storys! Sent from my SM-S901U using Tapatalk
I do all my own. Not hard once you learn. Youtube has videos on the process. You can get by with just a sharp knife and a grinder. Break the deer down into quarters, put in cooler and take it to the basement. All you need is a small table and cutting board. Maybe a couple bowls to put clean meet into. Then i just use the cheap 1lb freezer bags for ground meat, and put all the cuts into them. Simple. Oh and sharpie to mark the bags. Sent from my SM-S901U using Tapatalk
Last year, we saw a pile of deer but no elk. Perhaps in the coming years, I'll head back to that GMU for a deer hunt. But for now, my out of state hunts are for elk... probably until I'm successful. Two years ago (my first out of state big game hunt), I got a small mule deer buck on the last day and a decent pronghorn buck in Wyoming. A success this year would be to lay eyes on elk, even if they're a mile or two away. Thankfully, my tag is either sex. I'm not out trophy hunting. Sent from my SM-S918U using Tapatalk
My Amish/Mennonite processor is good but they aren't open late or on Sundays. I always end up killing my deer outside of their hours and have to pay $1.35 per field dressed pound at another place. I'm in an HOA (was actually on the board for a couple years) so there's no yard processing for me!
It's going to be 80° this weekend but I might try to get out Sunday evening. I will probably have the 6 year old with me to make things more difficult.
Do my own, have for years. If you can't hang them in the yard or in the house, you can always take all the meat off in the field. Youtube can show you how. Just throw the meat in gallon bags and get it home. Then you can set up a table and cutting board and take your time processing it right without having a deer hanging outside or in the garage/house.
