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 stable for storing, and usable for making soap. I haven’t bought soap in many years since the “fat from the forest” can be used to make a nice, hard bar of soap. Some animals have more fat than others. Bucks normally have less since they expend most of their energy reserves chasing does. Dominant does seem to have the most, since they seem to occupy the best habitat. Healthy forests seem to make fatter & healthier animals, which have the best chances of surviving winter.
Ryan Trapani
Director of Forest Services
Catskill Forest Association