This have been slow around here so maybe I can speed things up a bit. I pucked up the last deer I shot ealier this week (wife won't let me do it myself) and the processor told me that the little button head only weighed 78#. I had to laugh, I knew he was small when I shot him but it was the end of season and the freezer was empty. So tomorrow night I am going to make a venision pot roast and have some tender vittles.

What is the smallest deer you ever shot?

goodie eating isn't it

Hey Ruger.

If you are referring to screwing up the processing of your deer let me give a little advice? If you want to hear my novice opinion. Cut out the loin and buy yourself a $99 grinder and grind the rest. I love steaks but find that my family eats a hell of a lot more burger. No need to add suete.

Its hard to screw up burger as long as the cleaning, cooling, etc. is done right which im sure it is.

I suppose it doesn't take much more to cut a deer, steaks and roasts and everything else, I just find that this is what works for me.

When I hunt out of state (SC) I have it processed and will get some different cuts but for the local blacktail this is what I do. I hope this helps and saves you a few bucks. I also find it adds to the experience when you process your own animal. Plus the wife likes to help.

If I'm off base to your dilemma I apologize.
-Jammer

Sorry I got off your original question. The smallest deer I ever shot was a 95# doe in South Carolina.

Mine still had faint spots.

My smallest deer and biggest 'trophy'

39 pounds live weight was my smallest that I shot. In our high density enclosure without supplemental feed. In December. Still had small spots.
But one of my better "catches" was these four back in college. All buck fawns, just kicked off of their mommas, when I dropped the net and called for the processing crew, I couldn't hog tie them all fast enough, so the last one in line flopped around for a little bit under the net til he had a heart attack. Still good eating though as our scientific harvest permit only said the ones we shot had to be donated. The others are being released outside the enclosures, not blind folded for execution.

55# button buck with milk still in its stomach (late December in Arkansas). Walked in front of mom at the last second.

I honestly don't know. I could pick it up with one hand though so it must have been some less than 50 pounds.

BCR

This little dude isnt the smallest deer Ive shot, but he was the smallest mule deer Ive shot...
The meat is unbelievable .......




Ingwe

Back in 95' when I first got out of the military my Uncles dad and I went on a mission to thin the herd to make our camp a worth while hunting place. We had densities in the neighborhood of 55-65 per sq mile. We had a lot of crop damage permits and we shot small does, late fawns and deformed bucks only. Anything healthy or big was left for stock. We shot them in October through december with both archery and rifles and we got some small ones. I remember some dressed near 45#. I know it sounds horrible to some of you who would only shoot a big buck but this was needed. Now today we have some beautiful deer. All our does we shot last year were 130+ dressed which makes for a 165+ on the hoof animal. Not to mention are bucks are around the 200 lb mark again. The small ones that you shoot in the fall don't usually make the winter in my neck of the woods. Why let it suffer through the winter to take up much needed food that a healthy deer would need to feed the coyotes and wolves. And they do eat good. Hard to beat tenderloins you can cut with a fork.

I can do it myself and have on several occasions but alass my wife isn't a country girl and dead animals aren't aloud on the propery with out a fair amount of grief. Last year I caped out a der skull in the garage and she nearly divorced me. She is coming around though but a couple weeks ago I cut a pig up in the woods and BBQed it. She found a few hairs in the sink from cleaning up at the house and she nearly throw up. Thank God she's pretty.

my first deer was my smallest, he weighed 45lbs field dressed, I don't ever remember being so happy

Another Tender Vittles shot from last season..

When ND saw it, he said " Get in mah belly!!!"



Ingwe

Back when I was in school, the state (IA) had too many deer in this state park and you were issued two tags...but if you went in and shot a fawn, you could go back to the front gate and they'd give you another tag, so that is what I did. Changed me forever, as eating those bambis was oh so fine. Every year since, I make sure and shoot at least one bambi. It's become Christmas tradition around my house to have leg of bambi for dinner...just cook her up whole like a leg of lamb and have at it. Draws rave reviews every year.

+1 to that Whip....I always save the "trim" meat and make burger...this year the trim from 3 "dinks" is absolutely the best burger Ive ever eaten...I hate to use it in things like tacos. All three were 1.5 yrs. old, one mighta been less....
Really superb .....


Ingwe

We didn't weigh it, but my smallest was a little nub buck that couldn't have been more than 65 Lbs.

If one of those small ones, particularly a button buck, came off of my club's lease the meat would be pricier than Kobe beef.

The smallest deer I ever shot was a button buck, that was without further inspection interpreted to be a doe haha It weighed 50 or so pounds, and was oh so much better tasting then any other deer shot!

Our caribou hunting guides in northern Quebec said they prefer to shoot a cow and calf. I have done it, though there are still plenty of pricks around that will persecute [sp] you for it from some sort of imaginary high ground.

[/quote]

I can do it myself and have on several occasions but alass my wife isn't a country girl and dead animals aren't aloud on the propery with out a fair amount of grief. Last year I caped out a der skull in the garage and she nearly divorced me. [/quote]

Wow! I hope your exaggerating man!

Just a bit but she was really pissed for two day and would barely talk to me.

But she is warming up to the idea of wild critters. She loves BBQ'ed wild hog and the venison pot roast was a big hit, leaving her wanting more. She is already planning on getting a deep freezer so I can fill it up with deer next year.