If you are jumping deer and can't get a look at them a fawn distress or doe call will some times stop them and make them curious enough to hang around. As for hanging deer in the middle of the day, once the hide is off hanging the animal in a shaded hollow or creek bed will sometimes be enough for the first day, but keep the flies away from it. If the first night is cold enough to harden the outside wrapping a sleeping bag around it before the heat hits helps keep the meat from spoiling. In the old days, and even now on some horse packing trips deep in the wilderness, quartering the animal and building a makeshift smoke house to hang it in can preserve the animal, but in stops the enzymes that help naturally tenderize the meat so it will be a bit tougher chewing. You can also bone it out and drop the meat in buckets of brine if you have access to lots of salt.
For the last few years I've not been able to get any deer, they have evaded me very well. I find it easier to wait for a bit of snow, to see their tracks and figure out which areas they prefer to hang out in.
I think a wild animal that has had a free life and is killed is a way better alternative to the many farmed meat options. However, being close to some local cattle farmers, I know their cows get treated well and roam around freely as well. So if anything, I buy from them direct and use a local butcher to deal with it. Supporting local economy. I know over your way you have less option for that.
In my area right now a cow from a farmer, hanging weight, is anywhere from $5.50-$6.50lbs and then you have the butcher fees.
Until I can have my own, I buy local.
I too have noticed less wildlife in recent years. The effects of forest fires, logging, increase in hunters, and changes in weather patterns all contribute. Also I have not been very determined. It's more like an occasional thing when I get the time. This year I will try a bit more.
I too usually get the same tags, although if a bear becomes a problem and is attacking your livestock, you can shoot it without a tag. Do confirm with your local CO, in the Cariboo that is permissible. Personally, not a fan of bear meat unless it gets mixed with something else for sausage.
I'm from Montana and also find hunting to be an ethical grey area. It's probably more ethical than grocery store meat, but at the same time we are already facing a lot of biodiversity problems mostly due to human overpopulation. So I struggle with actively entering wild places to hunt, as there are increasingly few of those places left in this world.
To be clear, I don't consider living like you do to be unethical. It's actually the most sustainable life choice. I struggle with normal folks like me who live with our creature comforts and continue to hunt. But, as mentioned above, I grew up in Montana so I get it. Hunters are very rarely a significant problem.
If you are jumping deer and can't get a look at them a fawn distress or doe call will some times stop them and make them curious enough to hang around. As for hanging deer in the middle of the day, once the hide is off hanging the animal in a shaded hollow or creek bed will sometimes be enough for the first day, but keep the flies away from it. If the first night is cold enough to harden the outside wrapping a sleeping bag around it before the heat hits helps keep the meat from spoiling. In the old days, and even now on some horse packing trips deep in the wilderness, quartering the animal and building a makeshift smoke house to hang it in can preserve the animal, but in stops the enzymes that help naturally tenderize the meat so it will be a bit tougher chewing. You can also bone it out and drop the meat in buckets of brine if you have access to lots of salt.
For the last few years I've not been able to get any deer, they have evaded me very well. I find it easier to wait for a bit of snow, to see their tracks and figure out which areas they prefer to hang out in.
I think a wild animal that has had a free life and is killed is a way better alternative to the many farmed meat options. However, being close to some local cattle farmers, I know their cows get treated well and roam around freely as well. So if anything, I buy from them direct and use a local butcher to deal with it. Supporting local economy. I know over your way you have less option for that.
In my area right now a cow from a farmer, hanging weight, is anywhere from $5.50-$6.50lbs and then you have the butcher fees.
Until I can have my own, I buy local.
I too have noticed less wildlife in recent years. The effects of forest fires, logging, increase in hunters, and changes in weather patterns all contribute. Also I have not been very determined. It's more like an occasional thing when I get the time. This year I will try a bit more.
I too usually get the same tags, although if a bear becomes a problem and is attacking your livestock, you can shoot it without a tag. Do confirm with your local CO, in the Cariboo that is permissible. Personally, not a fan of bear meat unless it gets mixed with something else for sausage.
Good luck on your hunt!
you amaze me girl.. How you can do all you do.. Good luck on the big hunt...
I'm from Montana and also find hunting to be an ethical grey area. It's probably more ethical than grocery store meat, but at the same time we are already facing a lot of biodiversity problems mostly due to human overpopulation. So I struggle with actively entering wild places to hunt, as there are increasingly few of those places left in this world.
To be clear, I don't consider living like you do to be unethical. It's actually the most sustainable life choice. I struggle with normal folks like me who live with our creature comforts and continue to hunt. But, as mentioned above, I grew up in Montana so I get it. Hunters are very rarely a significant problem.
We used to settle under some brush hidden from view and up wind from the area we were scoping. Sometimes paid off, sometimes not.
Mocassins are nice and quiet. The leather sole type. Lol
Fashion issue with the shoes? ;)