Do you eat all the deer?
By reinydawn
@reinydawn (11643)
United States
December 2, 2007 9:39pm CST
My husband hunts and so far this year we have 3 1/2 deer in the freezer. I love having deer meat, I use it in place of beef all year long - unless we run out like we did last summer.
The first time he went hunting after I met him, I asked him what he did with the rest of the deer - fur and innards. He left the innards in the forest and the fur with the butcher, assuming they threw it out. Well, I asked the butcher and they said they collected them all and sold them in PA to people that made things from it.
As for the innards, I like beef liver and turkey/chicken hearts, so I wanted to try them from the deer. The liver didn't turn out too well last year, but I'm going to try again this year. I just had a heart today and it was AWESOME! My sister also likes the turkey heart - we used to fight over it when we were kids - so I'm going to have my husband save one for her next time he goes hunting.
5 people like this
12 responses
@Adoniah (7513)
• United States
3 Dec 07
Try boiling the liver first and then roasting it. My Uncle did it that way. Deer meat used to be all the meat they could get.
Have you ever made green chile? It is awesome made with venison. No beans! Just meat and lots of tomatoes cooked down nice and slow and green chiles to taste. However spicey you like it. Man I can taste it now. By slow cooking I mean, Cook it today, put it in the fridge, cook it tommorrow, put it in the fridge. You get the idea! That way what ever you put in it the flavors blend nicely.
@reinydawn (11643)
• United States
3 Dec 07
We use the ground deer in our chili, with beans, and it's just as good as hamburger.
We usually take the roasts and put them in the crock pot with barbeque sauce. It makes GREAT barbeque sandwiches!!!
I'll try boiling the liver first, I haven't really found a good way to cook it yet.
1 person likes this
@BlackBay (584)
• Canada
3 Dec 07
This year we have One Deer and One Moose in the freezer. My daughters FAVORITE is Deer Chops done anyway. We usually don't keep the Heart or Kidney's but have friend that usually want them. With Half of each animal we have proceesed into Smokies,Legion Sausage, Salami, Keilbasa and one of our Favorites is Deer Pepperettes. We also make alot of Jerky out of Moose and Deer. I had made some Moose Jerky and our daughter had friends over who were eating it and didn't know it was Moose. They said it was the BEST jerky they ever had.
2 people like this
@reinydawn (11643)
• United States
4 Dec 07
We don't have moose around here, but that sounds good too!!! I'm going to have to see if we can have some of the next deer we get done into jerky.
@marciascott (25529)
• United States
3 Dec 07
No way I eat any kind of Deer, My father use to cook it on the grill when he had Barbeques. I suppose if I didn't know what it was I woukd eat it, I was about to eat some when some one said it was dear.
@reinydawn (11643)
• United States
3 Dec 07
A lot of people wont eat it because it's a poor helpless animal and these awful men go 'hunting' it.
I didn't like it when I was a kid because my mom really isn't a good cook and it tasted horrible. Now that I know to cook it just like beef, I like it.
1 person likes this
@nancygibson (3736)
• France
3 Dec 07
We eat a lot of venison too, most of it is shot on estates and the regulations here mean we rarely get the offal, but we do use the kidney. I have had venison heart, its nice, but very rich. I love making venison pastrami, thats a very good way to make cold cuts from venison.
2 people like this
@reinydawn (11643)
• United States
3 Dec 07
Hmmm.... pastrami??? I'll have to ask my husband about that. He likes pastrami. I know he had one deer done into jerky once. That was before me, so I have no clue how it was.
1 person likes this
@sojournseeker (1244)
• United States
3 Dec 07
Venison meat is awesome and you have my mouth watering . . . until you mention innards and that ruins all appetite. But seriously it is healthier than beef and if innards are your thing, go for it !
Hey with venison tending to be more tough how do you keep your roasts succulent ?
sharing the light and happy holidays,
Miss Erica Hidvegi, the Enlightenment_Advisor, B.A. Psych/M.A. Transpersonal Studies- Cnslng/Author, Artist, Photographer, Entrepreneur & Freelance extraordinaire
2 people like this
@reinydawn (11643)
• United States
3 Dec 07
We cook it just like we do beef - mostly broil or grill. Just like any meat, if you cook it slow it's usually not tough.
1 person likes this
@reinydawn (11643)
• United States
3 Dec 07
Since there are only the two of us, we don't usually eat the roasts. We save that for when we have a family gathering and cook it in the crock-pot with some barbeque sauce. It makes great sandwiches!
1 person likes this
@marciascott (25529)
• United States
3 Dec 07
No way I eat any kind of Deer, My father use to cook it on the grill when he had Barbeques. I suppose if I didn't know what it was I would eat it, I was about to eat some when some one said it was dear.
1 person likes this
@teapotmommommerced (10359)
• United States
6 Dec 07
Is there a limit on deer in your state? In California you can only get one deer a year unless you also get doe tags. At least that was the law when my dad use to hunt.
My sister has a deer in the freezer she is in Idaho her husband always buys elk tags but has never gotten an elk. Hopefully he will get one this year.
I am glad the butcher sells the hides so they can be used. By leaving the guts in the forrest you know that they will be consumed by some animal.
Happy eating your vension.
I do not eat liver from any animal I do not like the taste. Liver is one of the meats that is higest in cholesterol if that is a problem for you.
@reinydawn (11643)
• United States
8 Dec 07
There is a limit here, but I have no clue what it is. My husband hunts on his family's property, so I think that makes a difference in some things, but not sure about the limits. I think it's you can get one of either the doe or buck and unlimited of the other, but I can't remember which is which.
Cholesterol isn't a problem for me - yet - which is good because I have always LOVED liver (yeah, I'm strange!).
@terri0824 (4991)
• United States
3 Dec 07
I like deer meat. And I like the innards too! It's been awhile since I have had it. Don't know anyone that goes hunting anymore. When I was growing up my dad and brothers use to go hunting. I've had squirrel, and rabbit too!
1 person likes this
@reinydawn (11643)
• United States
4 Dec 07
Never had squirrel or rabbit (yet), but I have had goose and duck. I really want a wild turkey, but my husband can't seem to get one of those... Maybe this year!
1 person likes this
@terri0824 (4991)
• United States
4 Dec 07
I have had duck but to me it was a bit to greasy and not much meat.
1 person likes this
@BayleighGray (4334)
• United States
3 Dec 07
Hi Dawn,
As you know, I do like deer meat. But I'm pretty picky about what I will eat from the deer. I don't think I would like the "innards" yuck! And I don't like deer-burger either. I just don't know of anyone who seems to do it right or something, it always has that "wild" taste too it and I'm not sure if it's supposed to be that way or not. I don't like it. I will eat steaks and I like to make stew or Italian beef like meals with deer meat. That's really about it.
So what did this deer heart taste like?? Chicken? LMAO
Bay Lay Gray xx
1 person likes this
@reinydawn (11643)
• United States
4 Dec 07
Actually, the heart tasted just like turkey heart! Me and my sister would aways fight over the turkey heart on Thanksgiving, so I had to call her up and tell her that if my husband gets another deer this weekend I'll get the heart for her.
I've never had just a burger with deer meat, although I use the ground deer in meals.
I need to try the jerky - hopefully I'll remember to ask my husband about it if he gets a deer Saturday.
1 person likes this
@BayleighGray (4334)
• United States
4 Dec 07
I will eat the liver and the gizzards, but I have never even thought about eating the heart of a turkey or a chicken. I've heard of it though. Yuck! lol
Yes you should try some jerky. This guy I would get it from would make like teryaki type jerky. Don't know if I spelled that right or not. lol
Bay xx
1 person likes this
@BayleighGray (4334)
• United States
3 Dec 07
How could I forget Deer Jerky!??!??! OMH! I'm not sure what part of the deer they make it with, but it's the best! Again, if you know someone who can do it right! LOL
Bay xx
1 person likes this
@blueunicorn (2401)
• United States
3 Dec 07
Oh, I have to say I am glad my husband is not a hunter. I don't do well at trying new things. I love beef liver, but the idea of eating one from a deer doesn't sound too appealing to me. I know, it's just a perception thing. I do know that when we lived in IL my family used deer meat in place of beef just like you describe. I remember it being really good in home made spagetti sauce.
1 person likes this
@reinydawn (11643)
• United States
4 Dec 07
Most people don't even know they're eating deer unless you tell them. Mostly I like that fact that I'm saving money - $60 to have the deer butchered gets me more meat than at the grocery store!
@jintodelhi (136)
• India
3 Dec 07
Not till now, I heard that deer meat is very tasty, but I didn't get a chance to try it. If I got a chance then I am not going to miss it.
@reinydawn (11643)
• United States
4 Dec 07
It does taste different, but I don't think it's "gamey". It's kinda sweeter to me.
