First deer at 8. He did really well waiting for the right shot. Off to see Foxtrapper in a bit.
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On those who processor their own deer and/or quarter in the field (though is thing processing your own is good enough for suggestions) what about this knife.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0000CF94L/ref=ox_sc_act_image_3?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&psc=1
I’ll get a knife protector. Not sure if I will carry it in my pack along with a heavy trash bag and paracord or if I will leave it in my car and plan to strap the quarters to my game cart. Greenridge kind of stinks for carts as steep as it is.
Or I might haul the deer back to my car and quarter it there if it is smaller.
Also I understand a dedicated grinder is best, but this attachment for a kitchen aid gets good reviews and all metal.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B07DLN448F/ref=ox_sc_act_image_1?smid=AVE1BKL3QOZ43&psc=1
My thoughts were get the knife and protector. If the quartered deer will fit in my cooler (it’s only like a 28 or 32qt) grab a bag of ice on the way out of Greenridge it the nearest place that has some and throw the bag in with the deer. If it won’t fit, do the same, but just throw the bag of ice in the bag with it (then split it between my coolers when I get home (I’ve got a wee bitty 16-18qt cooler also)).
Next day debone it and slice up any steaks and vacuum seal them. Mostly cube it and put it in gallon bags and in to my freezer. Once frozen, grind it. It grinds better frozen, right? Or do I want it cold, but not frozen?
A bit of it is to save getting the grinder, ground meat bags and a sealer for if I actually get a deer. Cubed meat isn’t going to take up much more space than ground meat will.
If I don’t have the freezer space, keep it on ice in my cooler for the couple of days it takes to get the grinder and bags. most of my next deer is going to my neighbor. After loading the chickens we got back from the butcher in my freezers (11 of them and ate one last night) I’ve got maybe room for backstraps and another 8-10lbs or ground meat.
Any thoughts? I am a bit stingy and would rather only drop the $70-80 on the grinder attachment, sealer and bags for if I do get a deer. The knife I am sure I’ll use on tons of other stuff even if I am not quartering a deer with it.
For me Greenridge is a bit unique. CWD area and the closest certified butcher is 2.5hrs round trip for me. Also steep hills/mountains. If I get a deer near me unless it was some monster I could drag or cart it out and take it to the processor near me (20 minutes from my house and they do an awesome job). Eastern shore I’d likely do the same thing, just drive it home (with some ice) and drop it at my processor. So Greenridge is almost certainly quartering deer from now on. But if I don’t get one, I’ve got no reason to get a grinder and bags.
I mean, some day just to try it I’ll quarter a deer. But I don’t have a burning desire to.
As for the Kitchen Aid,
First deer at 8. He did really well waiting for the right shot. Off to see Foxtrapper in a bit.
View attachment 248159
Been chasing this dude all season. Lots of trail cam pics and finally got it done this morning.
Congrats! It's fun chasing one particular deer throughout a season. I did that last year and finally connected on Dec 29th. No better feeling.
What's funny about me, I see a big buck headed my way and I know I'm going to get a shot at him, I'm cool as a cucumber. I'm on autopilot. No buck fever.I've found that it's the only real way I have excitement for a hunting season anymore, which kinda sucks for me. I don't get as excited as I used to, so cameras go out late, don't get out for the first month (or two this year), but if I have a big guy on camera, I'm all gung-ho.
Bagged me a doe last night. It's my first harvest of the year.
Hitchcocks in SevernHeatseeker - where did you get the Euro mount done? Thinking of doing something similar with some antlers from last year.
Hitchcocks in Severn