Deer delight me. Let me count the ways. Soft brown coat. Dark, lustrous eyes. Waving white tail. Impatient stomping of one foot when curious or alarmed. Tiny babies, curled in the grass.
I am lucky enough be able to give a home to many deer of several species on more than 1,200 acres in Texas. In order for these deer to provide a home for themselves, they 'work' on the ranch. They give joy to visitors with their beauty and spirit; they reproduce so many can be sold to homes on other ranches; some give their lives for venison; and some old males give their lives for trophy fee income. It is an interesting phenomenon that the more venison people eat, the more acres will be devoted to raising deer and the more deer will be alive on this planet. For example, 25 years ago, there were no Axis Deer (native of India and semi-endangered there) in my county in central Texas. Now there are over 6,000. They are paying for a home for themselves so they have guaranteed their survival. And, their home is wonderful! Rolling hills of grass land with ever-green Live Oak trees and pecan tree motts (that's Texas for 'groves').
We'll share our deer stories and some recipes both here and on the website venison.com. Thanks for joining us!
