Now, I know some of you might raise your eyebrows to see that I intentionally killed a doe fawn ... but killing every deer seen on the property (within legal limits) is the landowner's preference, and the farmer's request. And, since I'm the landowner and the farmer pays me lease money, I decided to do just that.
I don't usually post every deer I kill, because I know most readers aren't interested in my meat collection, especially when it's a rifle kill ... but I thought I'd put this one up to press a point: Deer hunting is many things to many people.
Some hunt for trophies. Some hunt for numbers. Some hunt for bragging rights. Here on my farm, I usually hunt both for herd reduction and to collect the very best quality meat ... and that dual purpose is best accomplished by shooting young deer, because I don't like eating older ones all that well in comparison.
So when this young doe stepped out as I hunted from a box blind 200 yards from my house, I quickly put one through her lungs. She died right away, right on the spot ... about 40 yards from where I was sitting.
And yes, I'm not one bit ashamed that she's a little ol' deer ... because I like 'em that way. One less deer to rocket into the side of my truck as I drive along our dead-end road at night ... and the very best of venison eating.
She was alive on-the-hoof just near the end of shooting light, and within an hour of the shot she was in the skillet, cooking up with some onions, peppers and mushrooms, waiting for gravy:
Soon after, plated up on a bed of rice and headed for my belly:
Now, I by no means intend to suggest that I won't shoot a big buck if I see him. I have, and I certainly would again. Indeed, sometimes I actually hunt for a certain one. In Indiana, that's what I focused on ... I was out there estrus bleating, grunting and rattling with the best of them. But, by and large, I hunt because we need to kill deer around here and because I like to eat 'em ... so when I go gunning, it's often with a preference for young antlerless deer.
Like this one.
Every deer hunting pursuit is a worthy one, but I say that there is something to be said for picking up a rifle that's like an extension of your arm, stepping out your back door, leaving the truck where it sits, walking down your lane to a blind you built yourself, and waiting for what you know will likely come:
SUPPER!
Jay, you can count her in on Team NC's score.
We'll let Tyler contribute the big ol' deer.
(brown the meat, add mushroon soup, let simmer while the biscuits bake - couldn't be easier and it tastes great!)