After the Shot……Now What?
After months of waiting, deer seasons are upon us. Archery season kicked off on October 1, with gun season following in a few weeks. Hopefully, you’ll see the deer you want, take the shot, and find the deer on the ground at your feet. Now what?
Too often, a deer hunter, novice hunters in particular, goes afield with tunnel vision. He’s thinking of nothing except bagging a deer, and that’s about as far as his thinking goes – until a deer he’s shot is there on the ground at his feet.
Then reality kicks in, and a decision has to be made about what to do to get that heavy animal lying on the ground converted into packages of steak and hamburger for the freezer.
No plan prior to the hunt? Big mistake, says friend and long-time deer processor, the late Ralph LeCroy.
“Many hunters are simply not prepared to handle their deer once it has been shot. The result is often a poor quality of meat, and that’s a shame. Hunters sometimes bring me a deer that has been mishandled and expect me to ‘fix it’. If it’s dirty and spoilage has set in, there is nothing I can do. However, venison processed correctly is a fine quality meat and is delicious,” said LeCroy.
“One of the most common mistakes I see hunters making is to wait too long before field dressing a deer. No matter whether the weather is hot or cold, a deer begins deteriorating immediately after it dies. Therefore, for the best quality of meat, it is essential that the body cavity be emptied and cooled down as soon as possible.”
“To cool the meat rapidly, place a couple of bags of ice in the cavity. Most hunters don’t think to bring bags of ice with them, but it would enhance the quality and flavor of venison if you always remember to keep several bags of ice in a cooler back at the truck.”
“Skin the animal as soon as you can, and get it to a processor, or into a walk-in cooler. If you don’t have that, quarter it and pack it in portable coolers with plenty of ice until you can get it under proper refrigeration,” LeCroy continued.
Suppose you want to take your deer to a processor but desire to save some money by emptying the cavity and skinning the deer yourself? What options do you have for this?
Most hunting clubs have a “meat pole” and skinning rack that make the job fairly simple with the help of fellow hunters. This can vary from elaborate pulleys, cables, and chains to a sturdy four-by-four fastened to the ceiling of an old barn.
At my hunting club, we had a set of pulleys at our skinning rack, and it is a simple matter for one man to hoist the deer high enough to allow room for skinning and gutting.
For this process, you’ll need a couple of sharp knives, a whet stone or crock sticks to keep your knives sharp, a bone saw or hatchet for splitting the pelvic bone, and removal of the lower legs.
Unless your club has a walk-in cooler or the processor is nearby, cutting the carcass into manageable sections for cooling down is essential, as LeCroy pointed out.
Want to save yourself a few headaches? Answer the “now what?” question before your next hunting trip. Formulate a plan as to what you will do with your deer prior to the hunt, and remember to bring ice, portable coolers, and necessary cutlery.
By taking care of these essentials beforehand, the experience of bagging a deer will be fulfilling, not frustrating.
FISHING REPORT
CANEY LAKE – Bass are fair at night on soft plastics and dark colored crank baits. Some are caught early morning around the grass on topwater lures. Crappie are best around submerged tops in 16-18 foot water with shiners and jigs taking some nice fish. Bream fishing has slowed down. For information contact Caney Lake Landing at 259-6649, Hooks Marina at 249-2347, Terzia Tackle at 278-4498 or the Honey Hole Tackle Shop at 323-8707.
BUSSEY BRAKE – Bass fishing has been good flipping jigs with plastic frogs taking some early. Crappie are fair to good suspended over the flats. Shiners and jigs are working. For best.information, contact the Honey Hole at 323-8707.
OUACHITA RIVER – The water is falling and is quite low because of lock and dam problems down stream. Lots of smaller Kentucky bass are being caught in the cuts on shad imitation lures. Crappie are around the tops in the river and in the bayou. For latest information, contact the Honey Hole Tackle Shop at 323-8707.
LAKE D’ARBONNE – Bass are best fishing crank baits and soft plastics around structure. Crappie are fair on jigs and shiners as they are suspended over deeper water. Bream are fair. Catfish are good fishing off the banks. For latest information, call Anderson Sport Center at 368-9669 or Honey Hole Tackle Shop at 323-8707.
LAKE CLAIBORNE – Crappie fishing has been fair on jigs and shiners suspended over deeper water. Bass are around the banks and hitting topwaters early while later hitting hit spinners and soft plastics in deeper water. Night fishing is fair around lighted piers and boat docks on soft plastics and crank baits. Bream are scattered. For latest information, call Kel’s Cove at 927-2264 or Terzia Tackle at 278-4498.
LAKE POVERTY POINT – Catfish are good while better bass and crappie fishing is on the south end of the lake. For information, contact the marina at 318/878-0101.
LAKE YUCATAN – The lake is at pool stage. Catfishing is good while bass and crappie are rather slow. For info call Surplus City Landing at 318/467-2259.