Three years ago on Thanksgiving, A. and I butchered our very first deer ever. As the MiL ran around like a maniac trying to prepare for 25 people coming to our house to eat Thanksgiving dinner, A. and I stood ankle deep in freezing cold mud in the shed and cut up a deer. It took us forever and was an incredible pain in the ass.
The next year, I had a Thanksgiving blessedly free of deer remains. Last year, I had to clear up the decomposing innards the dogs thoughtfully dragged home for Thanksgiving. And this year? Well, this year A. went hunting (again) yesterday morning. With functioning shotgun shells this time.
He drove off at five in the morning in my old Nissan, because his truck was out of gas and the turn signals no longer work. So when he shot a four-point buck (that's a young one, for those of you not familiar with hunting terms), he had to stuff it into the trunk of the Nissan, like some kind of mob hitman or something. It was pretty amusing.
He got home just as the rest of the family was leaving for the family dinner at the MiL's sister's house. So while the rest of the family sat around at Aunt Barb's eating stuffed mushrooms and drinking wine, Cubby and I watched A. wash the deer out and hoist it into a tree with a Come-a-long. We also got to watch Mia chow down on the deer's windpipe.
It's a wonderful way to whet your appetite for a big meal, let me tell you.
So now we have a deer hanging right next to the driveway in front of the house, to be butchered in a few days. Since we did two of our own lambs this year, this deer will be the third animal we've butchered in the last month or so. And it will be the last, that I will insist on.
Maybe next year I'll get lucky and get to have a Thanksgiving that does not involve a dead deer. That'd be nice. But I'm not counting on it.
8 comments:
After reading the story its really nice to see the fall picture of Cubby. I feel better now, however, knowing that y'all won't go hungry during the long winter.
You are complaining a tad now about all the dead deer but through the winter I'm sure you will be sharing some wonderful recipes for venison.
Skinning and butchering a deer is exactly why I don't deer hunt. Can't handle even the thought of it. Ugh. We did however spend Thanksgiving Day hunting pheasants instead of eating turkey. After hours of pushing through reeds I feel like I've been hit by a truck this morning. Happily there will be turkey tonight. Have you ever made venison sausages?
Don't feel sorry for you.... venison is gooooooood stuff. Enjoy.
Hey, that come-a-long on Amazon is on sale!
There is potential for Cubby to become an expert on animal anatomy. He could become a vet - or better, apply that anatomy knowledge and become a doc for humans. He could support you and Blackrock in the manner to which you'd love to become accustomed.
That is some kind of welcome mat! Here in Texas,it is thrilling!
Lana
Everyone else left such cheery thoughtful comments, but all I have to say is Holy shit, man.
Also, Happy Belated Thanksgiving, deer windpipe and all.
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