Meat Run

[Sniper-T]

The time has come once again for my annual 'meat run'. This is that special time of year, usually around rememberence day, that the seasons collide.

A buddy and I will be heading out tonight, and start hunting tomorrow; for three days we have both Archery deer and muzzle loader deer open, Then they close and Rifle deer opens.

In addition, Both Upland and Migratory birds are open, Rabbits and Wild Boar are always open, and if we go for a couple hour drive, Elk is open.

Typically, this is a good week(end) for us, and *knock on wood* we'll be lucky again this year.

As I was packing up last night, I snapped some pics, and thought I'd share. First up is my carry bag... there are still a few stragglers not packed yet, but essentially here it is:

http://i605.photobucket.com/albums/tt140/Sniper-T/multiplicity/1109111747a.jpg

http://i605.photobucket.com/albums/tt140/Sniper-T/multiplicity/1109111747b.jpg

http://i605.photobucket.com/albums/tt140/Sniper-T/multiplicity/1109111748a.jpg

[Sniper-T]

Excuse the poor pic quality... All I had was my cell phone in a darkened room.

In addition to hunting, we often process at least a couple animals while we're out (long evenings), and for the past few years we've slaughtered a few cattle and pigs for family/friends. We have one cow and two pigs to butcher on this trip (they're hanging at a local butcher shop). For this job I bring along a few things:

http://i605.photobucket.com/albums/tt140/Sniper-T/multiplicity/1109111756a.jpg

And since it is sharp and pointy, I'll add this here too, although it has nothing to do with butchering, it is a gift from my buddy which is getting its hunting debut this weekend:

http://i605.photobucket.com/albums/tt140/Sniper-T/multiplicity/1109111805a.jpg

[Sniper-T]

So, now let's meet the players...

I picked up a 6.5X55 Swede last year, that has done nothing but punch holes in paper. It really wants to get out and kill something:

http://i605.photobucket.com/albums/tt140/Sniper-T/multiplicity/1109111801b.jpg

And of course it's with my chicken gun, my 20 Ga Mossberg

We also have my 'goto' gun, my .243 who has stepped back into a 'backup' roll for this year, followed by an SKS. My Chinese one made a great shot on a bear this fall, and now the Russian has something to prove.

And at the bottom is my Hawkin .50

http://i605.photobucket.com/albums/tt140/Sniper-T/multiplicity/1109111801c.jpg

Since a shoulder injury prevents me from drawing a tradional bow, I shoot a crossbow, an Excaliber to be exact:

http://i605.photobucket.com/albums/tt140/Sniper-T/multiplicity/1109111802b.jpg

http://i605.photobucket.com/albums/tt140/Sniper-T/multiplicity/1109111802a.jpg

[Sniper-T]

Then, of course we have the support team:

http://i605.photobucket.com/albums/tt140/Sniper-T/multiplicity/1109111812a.jpg

http://i605.photobucket.com/albums/tt140/Sniper-T/multiplicity/1109111812b.jpg

I had a few other boxes packed already and didn't want to pull them out again, but that'll do me for the week of hunting, and give me some play time in a couple pits.

I'll also be throwing in a .22, I just haven't decided which one yet, and as always, I'll throw in a 1/2 dozen traps.


Oh boy, Oh boy, Oh boy!!!

[eagle326]

MY My ; Aren't we excited. Don't hurt yourself jumping out of bed on the day you leave. Take a deep breath and calm down there all mighty hunter.Keep that testosterone under control. Hope you bag everything you're going for. Can't have enough meat stocked up.

Aim well and shoot straight. Keep us informed of you hunt tally.

[helomech]

Cool, good luck to you.

[Grumpy Old Man]

Wish I was going with you because it sounds like there may be a number of targets of opportunity. Be safe, good luck and keep your powder dry!

[Sniper-T]

Thanks... work has been so crazy for so long... the best part is just getting out of the bustle for a while. no cell service, no internet. My bosses can't contact me for anything!

*sigh*

It is going to be an interesting year, as this is an area that underwent serious flooding this summer, and there are still huge tracts that we typically hunt that are still under 3 feet of water. Luckily we have permission in some nearby 'higher' ground areas.

And like they say... it's hunting, not killing! I'm hoping that luck is with us and we at least get something for the freezer; if not... it's always a good trip anyways. Good people, good eats, and good target practice.

cheers

[Sparrow]

Impressive.

When out on this 'meat run' get me a big salami. Thanks!

[mitunnelrat]

Sounds like good times to me. I'll have to consider setting up something similar with a friend next year. Thanks! And good hunting

[bacpacker]

Hope you have a great trip Sniper. I look forward to hearing about the hunt when you get back. Is the box you have your muzzle loader stuff in a Pelican box? I like the set up. Nice cross bow as well.

[ladyhk13]

mmmmmmmmmm....elk.....yummy!!!! sure wish we were going with ya! good luck and I hope you are blessed with as much meat as your family can eat until next season.

[JustAPrepper]

Good luck!!

[tranque]

My idea of a "meat run" is checking my snares, traps, and nets. :-) Quite often, as I "run" the lines, I see a critter to pop with my rifle, tho.

[Evolver]

Pack lightly, keep your powder dry and I'm Green with Envy. Good Luck!!!

[Stormfeather]

any updates??? :)

[Sniper-T]

as far as killing went... the trip was a bust. didn't fire a single shot at an animal. Weather was way too warm, the animals were only moving at night, no snow, the does and fawns were still packed together and the bucks hadn't even started the rut yet. :( Also several of our main areas (for the last 20 years) were either still submerged, or just a total write-off.

On the plus side... spent some great days outside wandering around in the bush, and trails. had some really enjoyable times watching a herd of does and fawns frollicking and playing and feeding in a field while I sat in my blind.

The locals have been working hard to 'cull' the coyotes, with one in particular having taken 140 over the past 3 weeks. 30 in one day, while he was cutting his wheat.

This was the first time ever, that I went deerhunting in late season in a t-shirt and sandles!!

I'll be going out again in just over a week, so hopefully the weather has improved somewhat by the time I get home.

more to come...

[Evolver]

As they say... A bad week of hunting is better then a good week at work.:)

[bacpacker]

Too bad there was no harvest. But like Evolver said, you can't beat time in the woods. I wish I had the time to get out for a few day's.
I am amazed the guy got 30 yotes the same day. Down here they scatter during times of pressure from what I've observed.

[Sniper-T]

he was cutting a full section of wheat, so on every pass, he'd open up a new swath, and the coyotes came running in to feed on the field mice. He just stopped the tractor and shot out the windows. then he'd pick that one up on the next lap, and shoot a few more. We stopped to talk to him when he was picking up his alfalfa bales (different field) and he had 4 that day at lunch time. Seems they're not too concerned about the farm equip... but mighty scared when a truck stops.

[bacpacker]

How large is a section up there, 160 acres?

[Sniper-T]

1 section = 640 acres... I would think that they are the same all over... 1 mile X 1 mile

[bacpacker]

Up where my wife grew up they have 160 acres set up in lots of areas. But 4 of them together would make a section. I gotta fins out what they call the 160's up there.

[Sniper-T]

We call 160's - a quarter section... and my 80 acres is an 1/8 section

[Sniper-T]

Another non productive weekend, The dang weather is just too warm. spent a day on the edge of a field that was devestated with tracks, didn't see a thing. go back the next day, and there are new tracks everywhere, including all around my blind. Be easier if we could hunt at night!

If this keeps up I may have to take a couple of my backyard deer!

[Sniper-T]

Heading out again today... another kick at the cat... hoping to get a couple more (with buddy's 2 already)

[Grumpy Old Man]

I hope the red gods smile on you Sniper. Keep your powder dry and mind your topknot!

[mitunnelrat]

Just wanted to say this thread has inspired me, Sniper. Michigan is separated into rifle and shotgun zones in the lower peninsula for deer hunting. I live and hunt in the shotgun zone, which is the southern portion of the state, but a buddy has access to his family's private land well north of here in the rifle zone. It hasn't been visited for years, and I'm already "campaigning" in an effort to get us up there for a week next year.

I'm envisioning something of a multi-game hunt of deer, small game, and maybe a wild boar if one presents itself - all out of an "old fashioned" deer camp - something that seems to be dying away in these parts.

[Evolver]

May the game gods shine down on you. :)

[Sniper-T]

Got a nice buck this morning!

:)

[Evolver]

Nice!!! I'm not sure what the deer are in your area so was it a Whitetail or a Muley?

[Sniper-T]

Whitetail. We do have some Mulie's pushing their way in from the West, but as of yet, there is no season on them here.

[Evolver]

:cool: I like the flavor of Whitetail better.

[Sniper-T]

Uploaded a few more pics. My rig:

http://i605.photobucket.com/albums/tt140/Sniper-T/moose%20hunt%202010/DEER%202011/1110111633a.jpg

what's left of a favorite alfalfa field:

http://i605.photobucket.com/albums/tt140/Sniper-T/moose%20hunt%202010/DEER%202011/1113111103a.jpg

and another:
http://i605.photobucket.com/albums/tt140/Sniper-T/moose%20hunt%202010/DEER%202011/1113111103c.jpg

and another:
http://i605.photobucket.com/albums/tt140/Sniper-T/moose%20hunt%202010/DEER%202011/1115111056a.jpg

I could do this all day

http://i605.photobucket.com/albums/tt140/Sniper-T/moose%20hunt%202010/DEER%202011/1115111056c.jpg

[Sniper-T]

a hay field that I like:
http://i605.photobucket.com/albums/tt140/Sniper-T/moose%20hunt%202010/DEER%202011/1204111449a.jpg

This years donor:
http://i605.photobucket.com/albums/tt140/Sniper-T/moose%20hunt%202010/DEER%202011/1204110915e.jpg

loaded up:

http://i605.photobucket.com/albums/tt140/Sniper-T/moose%20hunt%202010/DEER%202011/1204110926b.jpg

Dont forget the goodies:
http://i605.photobucket.com/albums/tt140/Sniper-T/moose%20hunt%202010/DEER%202011/1204110915b.jpg

Hangin out with his friend:

http://i605.photobucket.com/albums/tt140/Sniper-T/moose%20hunt%202010/DEER%202011/1205110452a.jpg

[Grumpy Old Man]

Dog my cats Sniper!That looks to be some prime eating!! I'm a big fan of organ meat. Do you ever save the tongue? Boiled like beef tongue it has a delightful flavor. Slice it cold with horseradish on rye and it can't be beat. I like to shred red cabbage and dice the heart and put in about 1/2 cup of sweetened apple cider vinegar (add 2 Tbsp of brown sugar) in a casserole dish. cover and bake at 275 for 1-1 1/2 hours until the heart is tender. I typically serve that over rice. Anyway, nice buck! Congrats my frosty pal!

[Sniper-T]

Thanks grumpy... I've never really aquired the taste for tongue, but they do often make it into the grinder pile. My dad was a freak for moose tongue, but personally I've always prefered the heart. Especially stuffed and baked.

Sounds like an interesting recipe for the heart... I think I'll ave to try that. My wife will NOT eat organs, so I'll wait until she's away the next tiime and try it out

tx.

and what do you mean br 'Frosty'?? It was a Balmy -20F when I got up this morning. It's Just starting to get to a nice winter temp. Still be another 10 or 15 degrees colder before I start plugging in the truck. lol

[JustAPrepper]

Well done!!

[Evolver]

Thanks grumpy... I've never really aquired the taste for tongue, but they do often make it into the grinder pile. My dad was a freak for moose tongue, but personally I've always prefered the heart. Especially stuffed and baked.

Sounds like an interesting recipe for the heart... I think I'll ave to try that. My wife will NOT eat organs, so I'll wait until she's away the next tiime and try it out

tx.

and what do you mean br 'Frosty'?? It was a Balmy -20F when I got up this morning. It's Just starting to get to a nice winter temp. Still be another 10 or 15 degrees colder before I start plugging in the truck. lol

Here too... 75F and dry today due to our cold front that rolled in. I do miss the freezing temps and dry snow though.

[Sparrow]

Impressive! I would love to acquire hunting skills, and butchering. Looks like you are butchering yourself?

[bacpacker]

Nice job Sniper. Good deer and a very sweet area to hunt in.
The temps sound decent to. It's been in the mid/high 60's here all weekend. I love cold weather.

[Sniper-T]

Still hovering around -20C... so last night I closed off an area around the deer (plastic on the ceiling, and a tarp circle), and threw the herman nelson underneath. By the time I get home today they'll be ready to butcher. You cannot see in the picture, but I have a 6 foot countertop that is dedicated to butchering. And yes... I do everything except make sausage myself. Although a sausage stuffer is on my x-mas wish list.

[Sniper-T]

Impressive! I would love to acquire hunting skills, and butchering. Looks like you are butchering yourself?

Hey Kiddo, here's an article that might help you along...

http://www.offthegridnews.com/otgN451/Meat_Hunter.pdf

[Sniper-T]

Got the first one butchered last night... when I wasn't too bloody, I snapped a couple shots.

The hoarding I threw up to thaw them enough to cut:
http://i605.photobucket.com/albums/tt140/Sniper-T/moose%20hunt%202010/DEER%202011/1206111727a.jpg

Another:
http://i605.photobucket.com/albums/tt140/Sniper-T/moose%20hunt%202010/DEER%202011/1206111728a.jpg

My butcher counter, with a pile of ribs to be trimmed, packages of backstraps, pile of grinder meat, and the fat/sinew scrap pile:

http://i605.photobucket.com/albums/tt140/Sniper-T/moose%20hunt%202010/DEER%202011/1206111850b.jpg

The motivational corner: (or is it d-motivational? - lol):

http://i605.photobucket.com/albums/tt140/Sniper-T/moose%20hunt%202010/DEER%202011/1206111850c.jpg

I'll fire up the saws-all tomorrow and cut these down... but here's some scraps for the dog:

http://i605.photobucket.com/albums/tt140/Sniper-T/moose%20hunt%202010/DEER%202011/1206112037a.jpg

[Grumpy Old Man]

Looks good Sniper! I'm glad at least one of here has made meat.

[Sparrow]

COOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[izzyscout21]

nice

[Evolver]

The motivational corner: (or is it d-motivational? - lol):


LOL It's got to be cold when you can store your cocktail ice in Tupperware. :D

[Sniper-T]

lol. and that tupperware has been sitting there since then, and we took some more ice out yesterday - lol

Went out again this past weekend. cleared some trails, pushed through a couple new ones, cut and hauled some wood...

and still managed to shoot 3 grouse, and 8 squirrels. Wasn't enough to make it to the freezer, but made a nice meal one night.

[Sniper-T]

got the last one butchered last night. Pulled out my meat slicer and cut most of it up into Jerky. I snapped some pics, but forgot my phone at home. :(

I fill a large ziplock about 3/4 full, and then add my spices as a dry rub, shake everything up to coat it well. label the bags with what seasonings I used, then toss em in the freezer until I am ready to make the Jerky. I kept one bag out, and put 3 away for later on.

mmm. I love Jerky!

[Sparrow]

Sniper-T is the man!

I bet that jerky must be yum! What spices do you use?!

[Sniper-T]

Most times it's different. whatever happens to strike my fancy.

The batch I have on the go right now, I have nothing but cuban spice on (from Epicure), it's a really nice spice blend, and since I was talking about cuba with a couple people on another forum, I got reminiscing.

For the other 3 batches that I froze:
1. is with a medium-hot blend of cayanne, paprika, chili, garlic, and ginger.
2. is ketchup (powder), BBQ, thyme, Rosemary, and onion.
3. is roasted garlic, mushroom, black pepper, cumin and sage

[Sniper-T]

Turned out awesome! I generally package a bunch up to store right away, or there isn't any left to package up. lol

I'll get a few pics up probably tomorrow.

I left it in the spices for 3 days in the fridge, mixing it around a couple times a day.
Then I put it on the dehydrator for about 4 hours at 135 deg.

Then I put it into the smoker, and blasted it with a combination of Oak and mesquite for about 4 hours (low temp)

Then I put it back in the dehydrator to firm up a bit more. about another 4 hours at 110 deg.

result is a nice chewy tasty treat.