Is deer hunting for food economically viable?

rboa98s165xzh3 · 06-07-2020 9:27am #1

Hi lads,

So, I'm just recently getting into shooting, 22lr target plinking at the moment.

Discussing the idea of getting a deer rifle at some point in the future, is it economical putting food in the freezer, vs just buying meat in the butchers etc? Assuming you had the rifle anyway and the associated costs (safe,licence etc) were covered?

Don't know any deer shooters in the local area so pardon the stupid question.

Thanks.

Rows Grower · 06-07-2020 10:04am

If you have everything needed it's basically free organic meat except for the cost of the bullet.

Feisar · 06-07-2020 11:43am

You'd need to learn to butcher the carcass yourself, to save on getting a butcher to do it for you.

What else is there, bullets, diesel, rifle maintenance/licence and of course a bottle for the landowner at Xmas!

The pigeon man · 06-07-2020 12:08pm

Processed, mass produced meat will always be cheaper than hunting.

It's more about the quality of the the meat, wild organic meat. It's worth the extra time and effort because it's delicious and the best food for your family.

So no hunting for me is always more costly and time consuming but it's rewarding and very satisfying when you know you're feeding your family the healthiest of meat.

06-07-2020 12:46pm

Short answer, no. As mentioned, when you take the cost of ammo, fuel, vehicle wear and tear etc into consideration. You’re not guaranteed to get an animal every time you go out. The only way to offset this would be to sell off an animal to a dealer to cover some costs. It’s not about economics to me, it’s about getting out and about and enjoying the experience

BryanL · 06-07-2020 6:36pm

Rabbit and Pigeon hunting would be a better way of getting cheap meat in the freezer.

Rows Grower · 06-07-2020 6:48pm

I can't understand how anyone can think it's not economically viable if as the chap said he already has the deer rifle, licence and safe.

kunekunesika · 06-07-2020 7:39pm

Far from a stupid question. Possibly the main reason you will use to your other half as to why you have just bought a coke fridge for 200e, a decent mincer for 400e because the Lidl one isn't up to it etc etc..... Don't forget your next car choice?????. Don't get me wrong, you can do it on a minimal budget. But a better question to ask is, is it worth it? Yes.
The best way to manage the economics is to keep the spend in check, until you're sure you really like it. Better still, try it with someone else a few times before you spend anything.
Good luck

kunekunesika · 06-07-2020 7:40pm

Far from a stupid question. Possibly the main reason you will use to your other half as to why you have just bought a coke fridge for 200e, a decent mincer for 400e because the Lidl one isn't up to it etc etc..... Don't forget your next car choice?????. Don't get me wrong, you can do it on a minimal budget. But a better question to ask is, is it worth it? Yes.
The best way to manage the economics is to keep the spend in check, until you're sure you really like it. Better still, try it with someone else a few times before you spend anything.
Good luck

cookimonster · 06-07-2020 8:01pm

With the exception of pork and bacon, I have replaced all my red meat with venison. Without over egging the reply if your weakly dinner menus ran like this : Shepards Pie on a Monday, Vindaloo on a Wednesday, Steak Sandwiches on a Friday and a Roast on a Sunday, well in my house that would all be covered by venison. The following week you could have Spaghetti Bolognese on a Tuesday, a mixed grill of chops and sausage with bacon on a Thursday, Chilli and Beer on a Sat and so on.

Think Bubba Gump and then think venison recipes.

The initial out lay can be expensive, but most of us get into stalking for the fun and experience of it. The fine eating is a good by product of a great hobby. So in reality don't count the cost its academic. By the way get yourself several freezers.

PS.

I'm being anal here, but 100% serious and correct.... I say this only to highlight the Bullsh1t that are our food regulations.
Wild food be it fish, game -fur or feather or plants can never be called Organic. In order to call food organic the history of the food must be known from start to finish and it must comply to a very strict set of rules. So there you go....

clivej · 09-07-2020 9:49am

Now that I shoot on a farm, then yes and if you can shoot enough deer.

Before then when shooting on a Lett then no. At €600 a year fees and maybe 5 or 8 deer shot then it works out expensive.

For me it's all about getting out in the fields and the house. Enjoying your time in the country air (and rain, wind and yes the snow)

Grizzly 45 · 09-07-2020 10:46am

Unless you can take a walk to your back 40 woodlot and you have a steady pouplation of deer,then no.
Taking in all your other overheads as mentioned on the thread ,not to mind a commercial walk in freezer if you are going to feed your Fam during the closed season on venison,depending on your meat consumption per head,and also venison has less calories than beef,so you will proably need more in venison to cover this if you are an active Fam. So say possibly 5or6 animals,even butcherd,thats alot of meat for a freezer...Thats already a big outlay.
Plus a pretty boring diet too.Eating the same type of meat day in and out.You have a better constitution than me...:P

cookimonster · 09-07-2020 2:19pm

If you take home a field dressed full grown Sika Hind topped and tailed at approximately 25 - 30 Kg then the average meat yield trimmed and boned out will be 12- 15 Kg of meat. That fits nicely into a 1/2 sized vegtable case ( simlilar to Tesco home deliver cases). In an average chest freezer you will about 6 of these. A deer a month for the off season.

The standard portions for most (not the healthy eating gudielines) are the following-

Stews/Curries/Pies - 4 oz/113g of lean meat diced or mince

Individual Cuts - Boneless 8oz/226g or Bone in 10oz/283g
this weight is on average for steak, chops are usually less 4-6 once.

Roasts/Braising/Pot Roast -Boneless 8oz/226g or 12oz/340g with bone in (legs, shoulders) per adult serving raw weight.

So work it out. Remember this is for an average Sika Hind the smaller of the Irish deer and the smaller of the sexes.

The reality is not could you do it, but more so can you do?
You would need to knock enough deer in the season to guarantee meat in the freezer for 12 months? So for a faimly of 4 ideally you need 8 or more deer, ( remember bigger animals yield more food) per season.

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Is deer hunting for food economically viable?

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