The Cost of Deer Meat
#3686
11/24/2013 07:29 AM
11/24/2013 07:29 AM
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Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 1,338
John Scifres
OP
Hoosier Hunter
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OP
Hoosier Hunter
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 1,338
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I often see it written that deer meat is the most expensive food per pound that you can buy. I understand that it is meant in jest as we hunters spend a lot of money on stuff and often are not successful in bringing home meat. Of course most of us do this for intangibles that we can't figure into the equations. I consider myself frugal and hunt to fill my freezer. I pay a great deal of attention to hunting expenses. Here is an example from yesterday's hunt. My brother and I hunted in Parke County. We were a little late in getting set up about 10 minutes after first legal light. No matter though as a deer showed up 10 minutes later and I killed it with a double lung shot that just grazed the front of the off side intestines and tainted the insides. It turned out to be a button buck. I weighed the pieces. Here are the results: 10# of offal (does not include bowel and stomach contents) 32# bones and hide (rib meat and tenderloins were not recoverable and are included here, This also includes a bit of fat trimmed from the meat). 30# boneless meat. Total weight 72#. Of the boneless meat, 18# were steaks and roasts. Assuming average beef price of $5 for good cuts and $3 for ground or stew meat, the deer is worth $126. My expenses for yesterday included 4 gallons of gas at $14 (I drive a Toyota Corolla at 37 mpg) and one slug at $1. Grand total is $15. Net value of yesterday's hunt to my freezer is $111. The glory of spending a day in the woods, hanging with my brother, and providing for my family are worth the expenses alone. The meat is a bonus. But a tasty one Thanks be to God. Happy Thanksgiving to you all!
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Re: The Cost of Deer Meat
#3687
11/24/2013 11:59 AM
11/24/2013 11:59 AM
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Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 144 porter county
countryboy
Hoosier Hunter
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Hoosier Hunter
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 144
porter county
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Knowing where your red meat comes from...priceless
life is over when your dead until then you have more pain in store so take it like a man and give some back!
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Re: The Cost of Deer Meat
#3688
11/24/2013 12:31 PM
11/24/2013 12:31 PM
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Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 6,376 Indianapois, IN, USA
delaney
Hoosier Hunter
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Hoosier Hunter
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 6,376
Indianapois, IN, USA
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John, you are fortunate to live close to where you hunt. My cost of deer meat would be alarming if I were to put a number to it. But, as you suggest, its about the other things that matter to me.
"Fishing is like a one night stand, unless you're fly fishing, then you've encountered the romance of your life"
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Re: The Cost of Deer Meat
#3689
11/24/2013 02:31 PM
11/24/2013 02:31 PM
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Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 3,063 Richmond (Webster)
bean
Hoosier Hunter
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Hoosier Hunter
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 3,063
Richmond (Webster)
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Nice information to share.
Spent 2 hours w/ Luke in a blind and had a mouse jump from ceiling and run down my back.
Giggling kid: priceless
Fishing and honeybee time
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Re: The Cost of Deer Meat
#3690
11/24/2013 04:20 PM
11/24/2013 04:20 PM
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Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 252 hour away
skeeterowner
Hoosier Hunter
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Hoosier Hunter
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 252
hour away
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And priceless. Great post
Rip some lips and shoot some sticks
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Re: The Cost of Deer Meat
#3693
11/25/2013 08:50 AM
11/25/2013 08:50 AM
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Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 11 SE Indiana
gfyoung3
Junior Member
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Junior Member
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 11
SE Indiana
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Cost of meat goes way up if you add the cost of the weapon, clothing, boots, stands, blinds, binoculars, etc. If you figure the cost of everything, its hard to justify the cost to put meat on the table. If you figure the enjoyment, time alone, personal satisfaction, etc. it makes it all worth it ... at least to me.
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Re: The Cost of Deer Meat
#3694
11/25/2013 10:29 AM
11/25/2013 10:29 AM
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Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 1,338
John Scifres
OP
Hoosier Hunter
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OP
Hoosier Hunter
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 1,338
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Trust me that old 870 has been fully depreciated for a long time  I suppose it's killed 30+ deer. It cost less than $300 new and is still worth close to that I bet. But let's assume it's only worth $200. So my per deer cost for the gun is $3.33. Nearly everything else, except the 4 stands I've purchased (mostly on clearance)in 30 years, is not hunting specific. I would own it anyway so it isn't really counted. Even if I had to tally the equipment, it would total very little and if pro-rated, would maybe count for $50 per year. I kill 4-5 deer per year so worst case, $12.50 per deer. I can spend $12.50 on a nice 6 pack of porter But your point, and all the others, is that the intangibles make it all worth it. Happy Thanksgiving!
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Re: The Cost of Deer Meat
#3695
11/25/2013 12:03 PM
11/25/2013 12:03 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 7,595 Indpls,In US
jbwhttail
Hoosier Hunter
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Hoosier Hunter
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 7,595
Indpls,In US
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I always figure I am going to deer hunt as my recreation/hobby, the added meat is a bonus. Our farm was bought for recreation with investment being secondary, if I added that in the cost per deer the price per pound would skyrocket.
When science meets tradition there will be sparks.....
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