looking for someone to go hunting with.

so i know this is an unorthodox place to ask for hunting companionship, but i figured it couldn't hurt.

i am interested in deer hunting and i am trying to find someone who wouldn't mind me tagging along on a hunting outing to see what it's all about. i've read a fair bit on the subject, as many would say it's probably enough to get myself hurt. i have a lot of experience with the outdoors, canoeing, hiking, and the like and i have a lot of patience. i also have quite the open mind. i've thought of trying to read a lot more on the subject then going on my own, the reading i still plan on but i know that hunting is one of those things that deserves an apprenticeship.

any and all suggestions, connections and ideas are welcome.

thanks,
Nick

I had a lot of luck on this site. Hunting section. http://chicagolandfishing.com/forums/index.php
I posted something like you did and they were a big help. If you were born after 1980 you'll have to take a free hunter safety course.
http://dnr.state.il.us/SAFETY/Hunt.htm
I'd take it anyway even if you are older. I did. Convincing other's you are safe will go a long way to hunting with them.
I have access to land (200 acres) that while we could not hunt on it...we could shoot guns and or a bow...if you ever don't mink the trek to Rockford.

Good luck. Let me know if I can help or answer any questions at all.

I'm very curious about hunting and would love to try it, but have decided that fishing is quite expensive enough. However, I'd love to learn to field-dress a deer (and love venison, as well) wish I could tag along.

I've always wanted to get into hunting too, but for some reason it never happened. Have done a lot of fishing though

Can you imagine a newbie hunting expedition, though? With like 20 people in tow. That would be a site to behold!

By the way, the Hunter Angler Gardener Cook blog is really inspiring:

http://www.honest-food.net/

Hi,

Driving on 173 on the western edge of Antioch, a sign stating 'Deer Processing' caught my eye as I sped by. I turned the car around to collect information:



They had just finished processing two deer when I arrived. I naturally inquired if I could buy venison, which I was declined because it wasn't allowed by law. If I should find some roadkill deer, they advised they could process it though it needed to arrive field dressed.

A few items on their deer processing menu were beyond my experience:

- Skull cap: this is where they help your preserve the portion of the skull with the antler's attached.
- Arrow heads found: If you do not disclose you killed your deer with an arrow and the arrow is found during processing, then it is $10 per arrow found. If you disclose the presence of any arrows, then they carefully look for them before processing. The issue is the bandsaw used for cutting does not react well when it finds an arrow. It may even cause injury to the butcher requiring stitches.

Nine months of the year, Grainery Meat processes beef. For the three month deer hunting season, they are almost exclusively deer.

Grainery Meat Company
25433 Route 173
Antioch, IL 60002
847/838-6328

Cathy2 wrote:I naturally inquired if I could buy venison, which I was declined because it wasn't allowed by law.

Free venision.
http://chicagolandfishing.com/forums/vi ... hp?t=63411

Hi,

Are you going to obtain a deer? I have a really full freezer presently. I could probably find room for a portion of a deer, I am not sure I am up to a full deer. I have the feeling MHays could be interested as well.

Share a deer?

In the same vein, are there hunters looking for homes for Canadian Geese?

Regards,

Wee-hoo! Free deer - you betcha! Can I have the drumstick?

I have another quarter cow coming in November, so my freezer space will be somewhat limited, but for extra meat at that price, I'll make space.

Nickydubs - glad to hear you are interested in the deer-hunting experience! I am a central Illnois hunter and probably too far away for you to consider tagging along (also, my stands and blinds are only large enough for one person at a time) but hopefully the DNR can point you in the right direction. I do know some of the state hunting areas have larger deer blinds built for adult/youth hunting parties and disabled hunters so maybe one of these could work. I would also suggest Whitetails Unlimited (there are chapters all over Illinois) as a good resource since the organization is aimed at promoting and growing the sport.


MHays- should I be fortunate this season I will try to photographically document the field dressing experience. It's no real substitute for doing it one's self, but as close as one can come to it, I think.

Davooda

Thanks, Davooda - the links you provided earlier were very informative.

I'm curious - do you save the hides for leather as well?

Indeed, I have often skinned, salted and frozen hides and sent them to WB Place in Hartford, WI:

http://www.wbplace.com/WBPlaceHideTanningHunting.htm

I have several pairs of moccasins and gloves from deer taken over the years.

BTW - one of the most overlooked parts of the deer are the ribs. Everyone raves about the backstraps and tenderloins (and they are delicious!) but deer ribs are a delicacy in the Davooda clan. Dry-rub and cook low and slow untilt the meat is nearly separating from the bone - a slightly gamier taste treat than beef or pork with a depth of flavor that is unique, IMHO.

Wonder if the moderators would consider adding a wild game sub category?

I've been thinking the same thing as the OP, even before this thread started. Over the weekend, I was saying that I'd rather for my initial effort, to be for ducks or turkeys. It seems easier and not quite as, well direct. As my wife notes, you point the gun up in the air, you shoot, the bird hits the ground, maybe it was the impact that did it in. Likewise, throwing a spray of shotgun pellets up seems a lot easier than aiming a rifle (and I'm a terrible shot). And the deer takes not just a shot but a good shot (leaving aside the need to "fix" a bad shot), a shot in the wrong place can just leave one limping deer in the wild. The other thing about bird hunting is, the idea or taste of wild duck/wild turkey seems more intriguing to me. It seems more, not wild, but elusive?

So, yes, I'd love to hitch along with a deer crew one day, but first I'd like to find a generous bird guy.

VI - I also hunt ducks, turkey and upland game but I am in central Illinois (well south of I-80O so again, probably too much of a drive. We are blessed with an adbundance of upland game and waterfowl (seasonally) in central Illinois.

Let me caution you about how "easy" you may perceive it to be to shoot birds, particularly doves, ducks, pheasants and quail. They are moving targets - in some cases flying at expressway speeds - and it is very "easy" to miss them! One must "lead" the bird by the proper distance in order to make a killing shot. If you wanted to try duck hunting or upland game hunting, perhaps the local chapter of Ducks Unlimited or Pheasants Forever could hook you up with someone.

Shooting a deer, as opposed to birds, is typically done while the deer is standing still. When one shoots a deer, it is typically within 100 yards distance, though many times much closer. Also, in Illinois one cannot use a rifle to hunt deer unless is is a black powder rifle. Illinoisans must use rifled slugs shot through shotguns with a rifled barrel. Many hunters have scopes atop their slug guns, but not always. It makes for a more accurate shot.

DAvooda

Davooda wrote: Everyone raves about the backstraps and tenderloins (and they are delicious!)

My neighbor gave me backstraps for the first time and they were wonderful, I've always had roasts or tenderloin. This year he is going to give in venison bacon!

Wow - that's a new one on me. I've not heard of venison bacon - venison jerky, yes (which is much tastier than beef jerky IMO). Which cut of the deer does he use and how does he cure it?

In a culinary manner of speaking, the versatility of Illinois deer meat is wide-ranging. These animals are corn-fed and don't miss many meals so the meat is generally much more tender and less gamy than their counterparts in the western U.S. As long as you are careful not to overcook (no marbling, so it gets very though, very fast) hunters routinely are able to enjoy jerky, bratwurst, hotlinks, carpaccio, ground venison for burgers and/or chili, sirloin tips for stir-fry, ribs, all manner of roasts and chops, stew meat. etc from the same animal. And you can use the larger bones for stock and/or dry them out low and slow in the oven for dog treats.

The Davoodas haven't bought beef in any measurable amount for years - and only for guests who can't get past the thought of "eating Bambi" or when we need hamburger meat for summer cookouts.

Or when we're at Primehouse and only beefsteak will do

Davooda

Hi,

Is there anything remotely like a brisket on a deer? I recently bought beef bacon at Peoria Packing House that seems to be a brisket cut. I haven't tried it yet.

Regards,

Cathy - there is "something" located where brisket is on beef it hasn't looked to me like anything you could use for a purpose other than stew meat. Whereas a beef brisket has some heft to it, this cut on a deer is thin and not very large. Maybe I'm missing something, though...

Davooda

Hi,

I was thinking out loud that maybe a bacon-type product could be made from a deer's brisket. I am largely wondering how bacon could be made from venison which is generally lean. In addition, some fats on wild animals can be overpowering in their flavor making them unattractive to some people.

I guess I am wondering about venison bacon, just like you!

Regards,

Hi,

I am still very intrigued about obtaining a deer. I called Grainery Meat for more information. They need to have the green tag that the deer kill was registered with the Department of Natural Resources. They hold this tag while the meat is being processed and will return it when you collect your meat.

They advised depending on the size of the deer the take-home yield may be 3-5 grocery bags with:

2 rump roasts
2 shoulder roasts
1 neck roast (not everyone takes it)
6-10 round steaks
20-40 loin chops
6-8 sirloin tip steaks
grindings: 10-30 pounds

Grindings will be reduced if you have them make sausage, which is mixed with pork.

I inquired about the bacon cut to learn it is the meat skirting the rib cages. He does not get too much interest in it. Only some hunters wanted the ribs. He advised the ribs are not always desireable to take for several reasons: 1) They may be dried out depending on how quickly they get to butchering, 2) Depending on where the deer was shot, could also make them less desireable.

I inquired if he acted like a meat locker, where we could store the meat with him to collect occasionally. He does not have freezer capacity for long term storage. He will freeze your meat with the expectation you come promptly to pick it up within 2-3 days (early deer season) or up to one week (November - height of deer season).

I inquired what did he do with the deer heads that nobody wants. They go into a barrel for collection once a week from a render who used to take them away for free. Now the render charges for taking the heads and other bits away.

Regards,

I'm not as interested as Cathy2 is in obtaining an entire deer, but am interested in buying some venison. Can someone give me a brief explanation of why it is not sold commercially in Illinois, or if it can be somehow purchased legally in Illinois? Or is it only available to hunters who pay to have the deer they shoot butchered at places like the one Cathy2 mentioned? And are the laws about selling/buying venison different in any of our neighboring states?

I've come to realize lately that, while I've never been hunting and am not personally motivated to go hunting, I have no problem with it. Where's the line, if any, between fishing and hunting, for example? I don't mean to turn this thread into a debate on the subject; I just mean to say that I don't aspire to go out hunting but I have nothing against folks who do. I've even watched a few episodes of those outdoor-channel hunting shows lately and learned a few practical things (such as how to keep a lookout for a deer bedding area) that have made my walks in the woods this fall more interesting.

Katie - I believe there are "farms" in northern Illinois that raise deer and elk for slaughter and sale, kind of like the ostrich farms I've seen in central Illinois. I don't have any names to share but I am fairly sure I have read about it at some time. I think "Farm-raised" venison would be legal to sell/buy but I am no authority...would be a good idea to research.

Or - if you can find a friend of a friend who hunts deer you can probably talk him or her out of some venison!

Davooda

Following up, I couldn't locate any Illinois sources for farm-raised venison but here's a Kansas outfit:

http://www.underhillfarms.com/venison/

And one in Colorado:

http://www.elkusa.com/venison_meat.htm? ... #WHITETAIL

Again, my experience is that deer hunters are willing to share the fruits of their labors, so if you can find a "friend of a friend" who hunts, give that a try.

Davooda

Katie - click the link in my first post; Have you asked him?

Also, in accordance with the IL Department of Natural Resources, hunters are not allowed to sell you their game.

Hi,

If you ever get the hunting bug so strong you feel compelled to get a wee hunting lodge, then consider this:

$5,000 Paper House is the World's Swankiest Hobo Pad wrote:...
This isn't mere papercraft—the Universal World House is a $5,000, 390 square foot modular home, outfitted with plumbing and boarding facilities to support up to eight (eight!) residents each. The secret of its construction is its "paper" shell; the resin-soaked cellulose, made from recycled paper, is shaped into honeycomb walls, which provide structural integrity and insulation to the houses.

Aside from having a convertible closed/open-air kitchen with table and benches, the Universal World House has a hidden killer feature:

It has been designed so that a family can slaughter an animal on the veranda, wash it in the shower and hang it, along with fish, on an integrated washing line
...

Just in case someone needs it:

Mingo Meat Locker
102 W Main St
Mingo, IA 50168
(641) 363-4284