Deer liver and heart?

[bigbore442001]

In the past, most hunters would relish the thought of eating heart and liver. Traditionally, this was the first thing eaten when in hunting camp. I fondly remember the first deer, a nice buck, I shot as a teenager in the Keystone State with my Dad. We were happy and I remember the words," You are now a man". Very important social marker that is sadly missing in society.

Anyways. That taste of heart and liver from the deer was great. But over time, some health experts have decreed such things as being rather unhealthy. The liver can hold toxins like nickle, cadmium and mercury. Back then, most people couldn't spell cholesterol never mind know or care what it is. The heart now is supposed to be filled with it.

So. What is your opinion of heart and liver? Do you eat it? Do you leave it in the woods? Do you give it away? Thanks.

 

[Bountyhunter]

I came by an old abandoned oil refinery/terminal site by Tucumcari yesterday, and there were about 30 head of speed goats in there grazing around all that old pipe and God only knows what. We discussed what residues they might be eating!

On the deer that I harvest that feed on mostly grain crops, we eat the liver and heart. There would be less residues in the pure grain fed venison than there would be in feedyard raised meat. Feedyard raised meat is considered healthy to eat. Most wild game, unless they are feeding around a nuclear reactor, or around somewhere that they would ingest high levels of heavy metals should be safe to eat.

Deer off of the Smokey Hill River basin in far western Kansas, for example, may be exposed to high levels of Selenium, which is prevalent in the soil complexes of Gove and Logan Counties. This area is marked with vast expanses of alkalai flats, and is obvious. This is commonly known to ranchers in the area, as they have experienced livestock losses from Selenium poisoning through the years. Deer from normal healthy grass or forest areas would not be exposed to these risks.

 

[Russianblood]

The owners of the property where I hunt are my friend's grandparents and we always give the hearts and livers to them. They really enjoy them.

 

[rabjr]

We eat a young liver once in a while, not like we used to for sure. Generally the heart and liver is given away now.

 

[playfarmers]

I have eaten the liver before, but it was too strong a taste for me. Now my wife makes a big pot of dog food from the hearts, livers, and other trim that we don't use for burger. Our little Border collie loves it. We try not to waste a thing from the animal that gave up it's life for us.

 

[boar]

I have eat my share of them since 1983. When a hog is buchtered the first thing to check is the liver,I do same with deer. If it looks nice, no white spots I would not be afraid to eat it. We eat chicken and they will eat any thing. Deer are like goats and are browsers. Look at what the cows are exsposed to and we drink the milk. Rather eat wild stuff anyday. Dilly

 

[Praridog]

Well i am sorta new here,but you can send me the hearts and livers.Grandad told me years ago to always check the liver so i do.Don't imagine you could ever eat enough of it to hurt ya unless of course you stock up on it.By the way is this forun ok for percussion fellers?Or is it mainly flintlock?I enjoy the site very much and i love to shoot my percussion kentucky CVA with buffalo head carved on the stock...Great site,Thanks...

 

[mbw907]

I found this forum to be friendly and informative, whether a flinter, a percussion nut, or someone that is just curious and wants to learn from the rest. Welcome and enjoy yourself. We all like pictures, so show us your rifle sometime. :thumbsup:

 

[redwing]

I don't think the liver and heart would hurt you. They are no worse than eating fried pork or regular hamburgers. The egg has more harmful fat than a deers liver. How about canned Tuna and heavy metals? If you only eat it once a year no big deal. :hmm:

 

[boar]

They would like everone to shoot a flinter, but only thing that is banned from here, BP type is the new modern inlines. They allow cap locks. I myself never wanted one of the modern ones. But if I did I would git one as this is still a free country. Dilly

 

[JWP]

Most health minded people say that any organ meat is not good for you - be it deer, beef or pig.
I enjoy deer liver and heart as well as beef and eat my share of it.
The other day, I was told that a deer does not have a gall bladder and to not eat a deer's liver.
To my surprise, while checking the internet - it turns out that only the Musk deer has a gall bladder.
Am I giving up eating deer liver .... no way :hatsoff:

To each his own said the farmer as he kissed his cow :rotf:

 

[Praridog]

I am willin to bet that cow could cook..

 

[dlocke]

I hadn't heard that about the hearts. That's a drag. Usually slice them and fry them (sautee??) up with some butter and a sweet onion (size of a softball) sliced up. Yum. The liver we give to the old guy who's back yard we cut thru on the 4 wheeler to drag the deer out. I mentioned the liver warnings to him but he didn't care b/c he is 83 yrs old and doesn't plan on living forever.
DJL

 

[No Deer]

Couple of years ago some friends and I were out all dressed primitive and I managed to shoot a doe. We stopped on the way back to the house and got a fire going (with flint and steel of course) and I gutted out the doe and we took the heart, sliced it and roasted the pieces over the fire out there in the woods. Tasted really good and added to the feeling of doin it the old way.

 

[Blizzard of '93]

I DO KNOW THAT THE LIVER IS HIGH CHOLESTEROL. I EAT IT HOWEVER, GRILLED WITH ONIONS. DON'T EAT THE HEART, OR NEVER HAVE BUT KNOW HUNTERS THAT DO. I USE THE KIDNEYS-STEAK AND KIDNEY PIE. UMM-GOOD. A ONCE A YEAR TREAT FOR ME. :thumbsup:

 

[Deadeye]

Love the heart and liver, I always have a strong plastic bag to put them in when dressing the deer or elk. Many wild animals, cougar, wolves, etc.
make the heart and liver the 1st things that they eat because they are the most nutritious.

 

[timbuckII]

I too carry a plastic bag just for the heart and liver. Once home I slice it up soak it in milk and change it once. Then it gets rolled in flour with salt an pepper and fried in bacon grease, that onions have been cooked in, it is great. Ya gotta try it.

 

[Hamourkiller]

Deer heart is great and the Cajun wife insists that they come home for her.. I mean our consumption.

The deer liver works great as a winter time trotline or set line catfish bait as it lasts a good long time until the fish decide to bite. (I like the liver but love the fried fish)

 

[nealglen37]

I think Bountyhunter made a good point. You may not know where that deer had been grazing and what the farmer put on his crops, or the home owner put on his lawn. The liver is the filtration system for mamals, any toxins will go strait to the liver.

 

[shmrck1]

bigbore,
I eat and enjoy both and never had a problem.
I've smoked for almost 45 years, drank for well
over 30, worked in a steel casting mill for 7years and stuffed asbestos in kitchen stoves
for a 1 1/2 years. This does not count the agent
orange I may or may not have encountered. I'm going to die for sure, but I doubt that a deer
liver or heart will be the cause. Don't touch kidneys though!I always thought at my age, I would like to be shot by a 30 year old jealous husband:rotf::rotf:M2C
snake-eyes :hmm: