Jerky pieces are in the bowl. The plate of backstrap butterflies is for tonight! Everything else will go into the freezer. I really enjoy breaking down the rear leg. I don’t know why. Really interesting to see how the muscles separate.
This whole process of hunting is humbling and I am grateful for everything it offers

Looks like a good job. Enjoy those butterflies.

Like

… looks good Smasher

Looks good from here!

I’d eat that. Eric

Got part of my jerky finished up ready to snack on while hunting and setting traps

Good job

Ashley do you just marinate your jerky meat in chunks and dehydrate or do you use a smoker to cure it

I marinade and I dry it in the oven on a rack!

I use dehydrator for years but in process of building me a white oak stand up smoker if it don’t do the jerky the way I like I can put hams and turkeys in it I guess

Doing mine tomorrow,aged 5 days 28 to 45 one day was 52 should be prefect...

Yep its fun cutting them up. We do all our own butchering also.

vacuum packed like that they keep well I found some 4 year old ground venison vacuum packed in the freezer cleaning it out and it was good as the first year.

The vacuum sealer was a good investment. It is easy and rewarding !
This young deer doesn’t stink at all .
I’d like to get another one so I can share more

Yes it is,most years we cut up 12 to 15,I think the most we did one year was 23 that was getting too many....Two of us do all the work,every once in awhile one other person helps us.

Very nice job Smash. I vacuum seal too. What I do is cut everything up to the sizes I want to freeze. Then place those cuts on a couple of poly cutting boards (18” x 24”) and put in the freezer for 30-45 min. It firms them up nicely. Take out, slide into vac bags, and seal. No blood etc pulled out of the meat into the bag or vac. When I take out to thaw, I clip a corner of the bag with scissors so the pressure in the bag doesn’t pull all the juices out of the meat. Works great.

Proud of you Elsmash0

I can break down 3 a night then I am spent

if I have a couple I will start at noon Sunday and let the kids keep hunting
that way I can do them in the light rather than by headlamp.

a meat hook specifically a Dexter S193H makes life much easier
this is a 4 inch meat hook
I tried ordering 6 inch when I did beef and they have me too far from the work the 4 inch was still right.
I tried the 2 for 16 dollar cheapies and the point doesn't last geometry was off

Dexter just nails the geometry and the metallurgy they run around 20-25 but you buy once and use for decades
it cuts hand fatigue, moves your fingers away from the blade and keeps your hands warmer.

Looks good young lady. If you're wanting more practice, I have one that needs put up.