20 replies to this topic

[Bennie]

Well today was the opener for D3-5. I always get two tags and shoot the first legal Buck I see for meat and then Horn Hunt with my second tag. Most of the time I eat my second tag. Here is one I got this morning hunting public property. I was pretty lucky. Jumped him out of his bed and killed him at 30 yards. This was the only deer I seen today.Nice little meat buck.Close up of his whopper antlers. But good eating.Picture after the dirty work was done. Not much left of his lungs.Made it to the pickup. Had to drag him about a half a mile to hit a road, so I felt like I earned him. Oh Yeah sometimes I eat my first tag too. So it is a good year for me.

[Braz]

NIce going Bennie. First off, it is better to get a little one than nothing at all. And that size is good eating. Good going.

[rabiddog]

I see a legal buck I'd of shot him....good going

[4RHUNTS]

Congrats on the deer, nice going.

[trn2kill]

Good job, I'm sure it will taste great!!!!

[Thumper Dunker]

Way to go. Thats a trophy to me. He should be great eating.

[Shoot-it]

nice buck you can't eat the horns plus this is Ca we don't have that much deer so don't pass anything up.Did you keep the heart?

[andy1621]

Good way to start the season, Bennie. Good luck on filling that second tag!

[Bennie]

Thanks Guys! I went again today with my girl friend and two other friends. The more the merrier when trying to get bedded bucks up and moving Seen three legal bucks between us today and two Coyotes. One of my friends got a running shot at a buck and killed an oak tree that got in his way. Passed on the first Coyote at the beginning of the hunt. Did not want to drive the deer off of the ridge we were hunting. This pup teased us a little bit to much at the end of the ridge where we were all meeting up at the end of the drive. We opened up on him while he was running by and connected. Here is the picture of the pup and one of my friends sons that made a heck of a walk today for a little guy.

[Bennie]

nice buck you can't eat the horns plus this is Ca we don't have that much deer so don't pass anything up.Did you keep the heart?

Yes I kept the heart and liver. I love them both. My mom would give me a spanking to this day if I did not take her the liver of the first deer I kill every year. She and my dad no longer hunt, but do expect the liver and a little deer meat every year. I have gave them the liver of the first deer I kill for so long now it is like a tradition in our family. Some of my friends will stop by and take them the liver and some meat too. They deserve it for taking us hunting when we were little. Now I am taking little ones hunting. Maybe one of them will bring me a heart or liver when I am to old to get it done.

[whatjeffhunts]

Congrats. How much meat (lbs) did that little guy give you?

[Bennie]

There was 63 lbs of hanging meat. Not much left after you get them gutted, skinned and head cut off, although the biggest deer I have killed in CA went well over double that. Most of the deer our group kills usually weighs in at 75 to 110 lbs of hanging meat. There will be a lot less meat than that after deboning and processing. A lot of people accuse the butcher of taking meat from them. But the truth is there is not a whole bunch of meat left when all the processing is done. Every thing that is left will be eaten and enjoyed. I love deer meat.

[Frank]

Very nice, Bennie, & Congratulations on slaying that nice looking buck. And you are right about not much meat left, especially if deboning AND especially on a Calif deer. 63 lbs is a lot of meat after all that. Way to go!Too cool on your friend's son with the coyote. Someone should frame that picture. It's always amazing how far little guys can go like that. Great looking country! Frank

[ShooterJohn]

Nice one Bennie. Lots of hunters would be happy to score one like that. You don't eat the antlers.

[Air Rifle Hunter]

Nice deer Bennie! Shoot... I'd be happy with that deer any day.

[zippy1970]

Congrats on the hunt . I would love to get something like that . I was buying Deer sausage from a Meat guy that was getting from a " farm " . Got me & my GF wanting more . I was wondering about the weight after gutting . getting one back to Vee hickle is one of my bigger concerns . Has anyone ever seen the " Deer " steaks that are for sale @ some of the " Mexican " markets ? They want 12 buck for a 8-11oz piece of a buck . And I am sure it's from a farm . Have not bought one yet . GF wants to . Andy

[BullsEye]

Congrats on your buck Bennie!I don't know the prices but I would go to Harmony Farms in La Cresenta. ( http://harmonyfarmsonline.com/ ) They have Elk, Antelope, Alligator, Kangaroo, Venison, Rabbit, Snake, Buffalo, wild boar and just about anything else in steaks, sausage and patties. I bought some antelope sausage and it was amazing. I have also tried there Kangaroo tenderloins and that was really good too.

[TonyS]

Andy,There are plenty of places that sell venison locally. I think one of the gourmet grocery stores has the New Zealand stuff. Or you can order it online.But the best way is to go get it yourself. My little buck I took last year was about 140 lbs and I got about 60 lbs of meat. I boned him out as I was at least 3 miles away from the car. But he does taste good. Oh and back-straps are Awesome!

[Bennie]

Congrats on the hunt . I would love to get something like that . I was buying Deer sausage from a Meat guy that was getting from a " farm " . Got me & my GF wanting more . I was wondering about the weight after gutting . getting one back to Vee hickle is one of my bigger concerns . Has anyone ever seen the " Deer " steaks that are for sale @ some of the " Mexican " markets ? They want 12 buck for a 8-11oz piece of a buck . And I am sure it's from a farm . Have not bought one yet . GF wants to . Andy

I am not sure what he weighed after gutting. This was a pretty small deer so I would say the head, hide, and four legs weighed 30 to 40 pounds. So he probably weighed 90 to 110 as I drug him out. I will drag one up to a mile, if it is not all up hill by myself. I am 48 years old and work construction and am in pretty good shape. It is hard dragging them by yourself. I will skin and debone in the field if it is farther than a mile. You leave the skin, lower legs, bones includeing full rib cage, and guts in the field, just bringing out the meat. If I would have done that to this buck the pack would have weighed less than 50 lbs. I did not do it this time because it was only about a half mile to the truck and it takes me a little while to debone one in the field and keep the meat clean while doing it. I have used a wheel barrow to get them out before if there is a good trail. It works pretty good too although I have had some guys laugh at me for having a deer in a wheel barrow.

[huntking]

Any buck on California public is a trophy

[Bennie]

Been hunting pretty hard trying to fill my second tag. Seen one great buck two days ago, but it did not present a shot I thought I could or should make. Gut shot at two hundred yards was all that was presented. I could have shot it there, but did not know if I would have been able too find it after I did. So I passed on the shot and tried to sneak closer. He beat me this time and my hat was off to him. Still trying though.