What Did You Do Today?

[JW_Halverson]

When I render deer fat I use a large roaster pan in the oven set at 250F with equal volumes of ground deer fat (smaller the pieces the more efficient the rendering) and water. I just let it go for 12 hours, adding water so that it never goes dry. Strain and let it cool outside in the cold of winter to separate tallow from water. I let the dog slurp up the deer flavored water, she loves it.

The remaining water rendered fat then goes into the dry roasting pan and back in the over at 220F to draw the last tallow out.

The first run is super clean and I use that for making soap because it has virtually no odor. The second run is a little darker and stronger in odor and flavor so it goes for grease/candles/bullet lube/leather dressing/etc.

[Pappy]

I usually do some every year if I get a nice doe with good fat, bucks seem to have  a stronger smell so I only use doe. I just put it in a pan and bring it up to heat, the chunks turn into cracklings , very tasty. I will keep dipping off the wast off the top until the whole pot is at a low boil and kind of let it simmer that way, lifting out the cracklings as they get brown, If you let it cook to hard or long it will be darker, still good but darker. If you pour it off at the right time it is white as snow, I pour it off through a small strainer into cups, I do the same with bear fat, good stuff for all kinds of things. 
 Pappy

[Eric Krewson]

My flintlock has been loaded since Dec 1, I decided to empty it out yesterday to see how fast it would go off and to compare my normal mink oil patch lube with the deer fat I rendered a while back.

My gun went of like it had just been loaded, I shot 4 shots with the patch lubed with mink oil and 4 or 5 more with the patch lubed with my rendered deer fat. Both loaded the same and grouped in the same place with no swabbing between shots required.

I guess I have a lifetime supply of patch lube now.

[Pat B]

48 years ago today Marcia and I got married and we celebrated today by voting and sharing a box of Puffs because we've been sick for almost a week. On the mend now but not quite there but the marriage is still strong. 

[Pappy]

Congrats Pat, hope yall both get to feeling better soon. Been under the weather myself for a few days but all seems to be coming back together now. Yep Eric rendered deer fat is very good stuff. I do quite a lot each year when I get the right deer[fat doe] and it smells sweet and smooth as butter.
 Pappy

[Eric Krewson]

I cooked my fat a little too long and it smells like over cooked French fries but is still just right for a patch lube.

[WhistlingBadger]

Congratulations, Pat!

Eric, I'm a little jealous about all that deer fat, though I want it for leather dressing and bow varnish, not patches.  The last couple deer I killed haven't had enough fat on them to grease a toothpick!

It's been a pretty good day around here.  Woke up early, walked over to my school, and got in a good practice session on the horn before the ladies woke up.  Then put a pork shoulder in the smoker and took them out to try the new cinnamon roll place (highly recommended if you're ever in Lander, Wyo).  Finished putting a new arrow pass and handle wrap on my snakey bow, then headed up to the canyon to cut some shoots--I have a friend making me some hand forged (hopefully Damascus) trade points, and I thought it was time to try my hand at shoot arrows again. 

Then I took a nap, went for a walk with Mrs. Badger, and helped one of my adult students fix her broken flute.  Turns out she and her hubby are elk hunters too, so we stood around way too long and told stories.  Shot a few arrows in the back yard, and the bow is a lot quieter with the leather arrow pass than it was with the hoof one.  Also learned how to tie on a nock point.

Now I'm just taking it easy, pondering whether to order some new fish for my aquarium (stupid question--of course I will!), and waiting for that pork shoulder to get past the stall so we can chow down.

Mrs. Badger has been really suffering with her health.  She caught whooping cough way back in October, and never really got over it. We have a pulmonologist appointment in a couple weeks; hopefully the lung damage isn't permanent.  Those of you who are believers, please keep her in your prayers.  She's an outdoorsy, active gal by nature, and it hurts me to see her stuck to an oxygen machine.