Got Nature? Blog

A Venison workshop recently conducted in Noble County. Photo credit by Jonathan Ferris.

Agricultural & Natural Resources: Hunting is a way of life for many citizens of Indiana. In 2022, 121,812 deer were harvested across the state. While some of these deer end up at commercial meat processing facilities, many are butchered by hunters at home. Of those who choose to process their harvested animals themselves, few have formal training about how to properly process a wild game animal and must rely on practices that have simply been passed down from relatives or learned from friends. In addition, commercial processors are often concerned by the dirty, spoiled deer carcasses that end up at their facilities.

In response to this need, Purdue Extension educators Dave Osborne and Jonathan Ferris conducted a series of venison processing workshops in Wayne, Noble and Tippecanoe counties. During each workshop, the educators discussed the proper techniques for field dressing and aging of deer; skinned and quartered the deer; discussed proper storage and preservation methods; cut up the meat and prepared it in a variety of ways for participants to taste. Extension wildlife specialist Jarred Brooke also presented information about proper meat handling and safety, and provided an update about deer health issues in Indiana. At the conclusion, participants had the opportunity to sample venison products prepared that evening as well as some donated from local deer processors.

FNR Extension Wildlife Specialist Jarred Brooke is part of the Venison Processing workshop team. Photo by Jonathan Ferris.

Survey results showed that 78 participants representing 25 Indiana counties, as well as one county each from Michigan and Illinois, attended the programs. All respondents indicated they learned field-dressing tips that would help them keep the carcass clean and free of contamination, while also learning something about food safety. And 98% responded that they had learned butchering techniques that will allow them to make better use of the meat. Also, 96% of respondents indicated they planned to change how they handle their deer meat after attending this workshop, 100% indicated they would like to see similar workshops that focused on additional upland game and fish, and 66% indicated this was the first Extension program they had ever attended. When asked about the most valuable part of the program, one participant said, “I feel fully equipped to fill my freezer and provide for my family this upcoming deer season.”

Check out the Purdue Extension – Forestry and Natural Resources Calendar to view upcoming late summer and fall workshops.

View this article, along with other current extension projects, by visiting the December ANR Newsletter.

Resources:
Ask an Expert, Playlist, Purdue Extension – FNR YouTube Channel
Handling Harvested Game: Episode 1, Field Dressing, video, Purdue Extension – FNR YouTube Channel
Handling Harvested Game: Episode 2, Hanging & Skinning, video, Purdue Extension – FNR YouTube Channel
Handling Harvested Game: Episode 3, Deboning, video, Purdue Extension – FNR YouTube Channel
Handling Harvested Game: Episode 4, Cutting, Grinding & Packaging, video, Purdue Extension – FNR YouTube Channel
Introduction to White-tailed Deer Impacts on Indiana Woodlands, Got Nature? Blog & The Education Store
Purdue Extension Pond and Wildlife Management
Understanding White-tailed Deer and Their Impact on Indiana Woodlands, The Education Store
Monitoring White-tailed Deer and Their Impact on Indiana Woodlands, The Education Store
Managing White-tailed Deer Impacts on Indiana Woodlands, The Education Store
How to Build a Plastic Mesh Deer Exclusion Fence, The Education Store
Managing Your Woods for White-Tailed Deer, The Education Store
Deer Harvest Data Collection, Got Nature? Blog, Purdue Extension – FNR
Handling Harvested Deer Ask an Expert? video, Purdue Extension – FNR YouTube Channel
Subscribe to Purdue Extension-Forestry & Natural Resources YouTube Channel, Wildlife Playlist
A Woodland Management Moment – Deer Fencing, Purdue Extension – FNR YouTube Video

Agricultural & Natural Resources (ANR), Purdue Extension

Jarred Brooke, Wildlife Extension Specialist
Purdue Department of Forestry and Natural Resources

Jonathan Ferris, Wayne County Extension Director
Purdue Extension

Dave Osborne, County Extension Director
Purdue Extension – Ripley County