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WHAT’S GOING ON IN THE FOREST? What it “all boils down to” after harvesting 3 does this deer season is 3 containers of rendered fat. Spent about 4 hours last week rendering deer fat. Rendering removes water–and other undesirable components–from raw fat, so that it will be cleaner, more stableContinue Reading

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WHAT’S GOING ON IN THE FOREST? I hope it lasts, but the kids’ favorite food is venison steak. They’ll choose steak over nuggets any day. When I was a kid, I probably would have gone for the nuggets. In any case, the bucks are chasing the does pretty well rightContinue Reading

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WHAT’S GOING ON IN THE FOREST? My first case of “dumpster-diving” in the Catskills. I have witnessed deer on the eastern slope of the Shawangunk Ridge in Ulster County (Town of Gardiner) browsing Norway spruce trees one other time. The needles of Norway spruce are extremely prickly and deer stayContinue Reading

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WHAT’S GOING ON IN THE FOREST? Yes, I see plenty of deer out there, but this was a first, especially considering where it occurred. I was hiking over near Kelly Hollow when I saw a deer about 40 yards ahead of me on the trail. I figured since the windContinue Reading

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WHAT’S GOING ON IN THE FOREST? Been away for the weekend at my in-laws in Rockport, MA near Gloucester. Rockport & Gloucester sit on an island called Cape Anne or the North Shore. Every time I’m there I occupy most of my time walking about 4 miles from Rockport toContinue Reading

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WHAT’S GOING ON IN THE FOREST? It’s that time of year already. Summer is closing and some signs are more obvious than others. Take this doe I snapped a picture of last week near Smallwood, Sullivan County. She refused to move and continued to chew her cud comfortably. Her coatContinue Reading

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WHAT’S GOING ON IN THE FOREST? Are deer hungry? They sure are. John & I finished pruning these 2 apple trees and moved to the other side of the yard when 3 deer popped out and began browsing the fresh apple buds. They must have been patiently waiting for usContinue Reading

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WHAT’S GOING ON IN THE FOREST? Learned a great tip @ last year’s Deer Processing Demonstration from Jake Rosa that I used this year while cutting up my deer. After skinning the deer, take a small blow torch & lightly burn away all the hair that sticks to the frontContinue Reading

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WHAT’S GOING ON IN THE FOREST? “Don’t kill deer daddy; that’s mean.” How does a father respond to such a statement from his 4-year old daughter? I empathize with fathers who give up hunting to placate their children. But, I think to myself she’s 4 years old & besides, sheContinue Reading

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WHAT’S GOING ON IN THE FOREST? Went out October 1st for the Opening Day of bow season. Saw a spike and a button-buck about 50 yards away & nothing else; that’s okay. Wasn’t really in the mood to harvest anything anyway. If nothing else, just hanging out in a treeContinue Reading