We have hosted as many as 9 hunters on our land in the past. This year we were down to three: Michael’s brother John, Michael, and me. Johnny shot his doe Saturday morning of opening day. Michael discovered on three different deer that he can no longer hunt with iron sights...and after changing rifles mid-day, shot his doe at about 4 PM on Saturday the 17th.

I went and got the Suburban my dad left us and helped Michael tug her up the hill. We could barely swing her up into the truck! After we got her hung in the walnut tree, we had a quick dinner, put the birds away and went to bed. I think we were both asleep by 7 pm.

I harvested my doe the next day at about 4:20 PM.

Such a pretty girl. I took time to thank her and admire her before starting on the grisly part of the harvest.

My doe was not quite as large as Michael’s. He took the hide off of mine and quartered her on Monday. I worked on the livers and hearts while he was skinning.

The chickens vacuum up any odd scrap that Michael lets fall.

Due to the weather, he didn’t have a chance to part out his doe until the Friday after Thanksgiving.

We love the meat grinder attachment for the Kitchenaid. Beats grinding by hand!

We save out the backstraps for steaks, and carve out several roasts from the back haunches. We also make stew meat from the thighs. Most of the rest goes into burger. This year we made breakfast sausages out of the hearts. My daughter, who will not eat liver or the “icky” parts, had to agree the sausage was very tasty.

They were fat deer. Layers of fat between muscle attachments is becoming more common. We used to only find fat on the thighs and in the abdominal cavity. Now it is everywhere. This is what comes of living off of corn and soy rather than tree browse.… — They were fat deer. Layers of fat between muscle attachments is becoming more common. We used to only find fat on the thighs and in the abdominal cavity. Now it is everywhere. This is what comes of living off of corn and soy rather than tree browse. We will make soap from the rendered fat, which came to almost 18 pounds. We turned the hides in to a local collection box for a charity. The rest of the carcasses we will burn on New Year’s Eve and return the bone minerals to our garden.

I love hunting season. I love watching the birds while waiting for a deer to step into my sights.

The woodpecker would shoo away the chickadees and nuthatches.

I love watching the sun move across the field.

Mostly, I love living and working with Michael to make things...even meatloaf. It seems to mean more when you have stroked the neck of the animal you eat and have been able to thank her personally.