LOL! Mark, I grew up in Austin and have hunted all of my life and have hunted from the hill country, south Texas, Colorado, Utah, Idaho, Canada and even Mexico.. I know just a little about managing deer populations. Its been my experience that when deer are starving it's usually because the rancher puts them in severe competition with sheep and goats. Beyond that, keeping the doe population managed prevents starvation anyway. I am good friends with the game warden and I allow him and some of his family to hunt my property, just to keep the deer population and hogs in check. He, in turn, keeps me informed of what he has harvested and how healthy the herd is.
I have a little over 3,500 acres on my ranch that is surrounded a very expensive game fence. And it still doesn't control my neighbors deer population from entering mine.
I'll disagree with you about the value of meat and how venison is so much better than government inspected meat. Although my small population of Longhorns are never butchered for meat, I am in constant dialogs with my friends and neighbors that DO raise cattle to be sent to market. Besides, deer meat can be wormy and, what is worse, infested with ticks that can spread Lymes disease.
I will also argue with you about the price comparison between prime rib and venison back strap. Venison, by the time you factor and amortise in the lease, gun cost, gun range, ammunition, travel, camp food, butchering, alcohol and a hotel you are probably looking at about $150 - $200 lb. for venison. (dependng on the cost of the lease and whether the hunter services the feeders and/or buys or leases them or if they are electric). This cost can go up, exponentially, if the hunter is required to maintain the blinds or even supply them.
And don't even engage me as to which meat tastes better. You know the answer to that.
So I always chuckle when I hear a hunter trying to justify deer hunting by saying he does it for the meat. It's always better if he just admits he does it for the experience and the venison is just a side benefit - assuming he likes the taste of venison which I would wager that half of all hunters do not as they disdain the gamey taste.
The hunting experience has to be the reason - even for the bow hunters - for what is the sport in setting up a feeder 50-100 yds. from a blind and blasting a 125lb., semi-tame, little deer with an 8mm cannon?
If he was a real hunter, he would hunt polar bears, that are at the top of the food chain, with a knife. That would help even the odds a little, don't you think?
Doc, if there are two people on this board with whom I am almost always in agreement with, it's you and Mark.
Much of what you have stated is true, but those last four paragraphs are out of character for you. You make statements as facts, when they are really just your opinion based on your own personal experience. From an experience standpoint, I will gladly match mine with yours. I have hunted South Texas, West Texas, Central Texas and East Texas. I'm sure that Mark will agree with me, that hunting the National Forest in East Texas requires as much stalking skill as anywhere in the world. I hunted deer and elk in Colorado and Idaho for thirty-five years. I have had close encounters with bears and with bull moose while carrying only a single shot muzzleloader, and no, sir, I would not want to face either with just a knife. LOL
In my experience, gamey meat is the result of improper handling of the game. When handled correctly, it is excellent table fare IMHO, and I know many who would agree to the point of preference over beef. I process my own game, and would never take anything to a processing plant that I planned on eating. By the way, I have never found a worm nor eaten a tick in all my 65 years of hunting (I started at 8, too, Java). Many people will agree with you as to the taste, Doc, but IMO, that is mostly due to improper presentation. My wife has changed many a mind in that regard.
True, when I first started hunting, it was for the challenge, the thrill, and wanting to please my father. The thrill of the kill has long been gone, and as most true hunters know, once you pull the trigger, the work begins.
The real thrill for a true hunter is not the kill, but rather the enjoyment of the beauty of nature, the camaraderie of friends...as you said, Doc, the experience, but perhaps not as you implied.
You also argued against your own argument by admitting that you had a game warden control your deer population. Did he just ask them to leave? LOL
My heart doctor vehemently disagrees with you about whether venison or beef is better for you. No problem with me there, but I do wish he had not taken me off salt and butter (and bacon!!!). LOL
Your cost estimate is probably pretty accurate though!
