From: CBARNES@tamvm1.tamu.edu (Chris Barnes)
Subject: Re: Questions from a lurker
Organization: Texas A&M University
Date: 14 Dec 92 07:35:09 CST
Originator: hunting@osnome.che.wisc.edu

In article <1992Dec11.075425.14316@doug.cae.wisc.edu>
   rewald@stsci.edu writes:
 
>Hi,
>   It's your friendly lurker again!
 
re-hi!
 
 
>I like reading your trip reports and am really amazed at how well you
>all seem to do in tracking and finding your way around in the woods,
>even carrying out what sound to be pretty large animals.
 
Well, I wouldn't know.  The biggest I've had to worry about is
125 lb field dressed deer.
 
 
>   I do have a question though, for the deer hunters (well, maybe a
>couple of questions).  I hope they don't sound like flames; I'm just
>wondering.
 
Naw, they're good questions!
 
 
>One: Does the meat from bucks and does taste the same?  I would think
>that buck meat would be tougher and stronger tasting. (or is that a
>good thing?  I haven't had a chance to eat much venison...)
 
*Usually* the meat from a doe is slightly less gamey/strong/wild
flavored that that from a buck.  But, there are several things
that can affect that.  Probably the most important is how careful
the meat is handled after the kill.  Making sure to not get "gut-
juice" on the meat is very important, as well as keeping the meat
clean and free of debris before it's transported.  There is a
well propagated myth that it is better to not wash the carcass.
But this is NOT TRUE.  Bacteria grow much better on dried blood, etc.
than they do on water (do you think Doctors would wash their hands
with water if it made infection worse?).
 
 
>Two: It seems like everyone is going for the bucks, and will settle
>for does if they *really* have to.  Given the current over-population
>of deer in many places, would it make sense to harvest more does for a
>little while?  Then there would be more food for the bucks, and the
>young ones that are produced would be bigger, stronger, etc.  Or are
>these just naive thoughts?  Or is this all taken care of by the folks
>who issue the tags?
 
It does depend on the individual areas, but as a rule, bucks ARE taken
more frequently than they should be (as a proportion of bucks vs. does,
not in absolute numbers).  Again, we run into the old problem of old
habits are die hard.  And then there is the simple matter of economics
- bucks are bigger and therefore you get more meat by killing one of
them than you do by killing a smaller doe.
 
 
>   I'm the one who was asking about safety in the woods for
>non-hunters a couple of months ago.  I'm pleased to report that so
>far, so good!  We haven't been shot at :-),
 
it's always good not to be shot at!   ;-)
 
 
>although I'm still a
>little nervous when the lighting is less than optimal.  I have
>definately quit wearing a white helmet (too much like a deer's
>behind), and I wear as much hunter orange and I and my horse can
>manage (I'm making a kind of orange cover to put over his mostly white
>rump.)
 
Keep on posting here, it's good to hear from the non-hunters that
aren't raving maniac animal rights people!
 
      -----------------------------------------------------
Chris Barnes            |   President - Bryan/College Station
cbarnes@tamvm1.tamu.edu |         Retriever Club.
(409) 846-3273 (home)   |   "Dedicated to the betterment of
(409) 845-4437 (work)   |               the retrieving breeds"


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