Show Notes
On this episode of Huntavore, Nick is joined by fellow Sportsmen’s Empire Podcaster, Jeremy Dinsmore. Jeremy is host of the Antler Up Podcast and hails from Pennsylvania. The guys first unpack some of the archery season preparations. Jeremy tells the tale of how he gained back confidence in the stand, a story we can all relate with. Then we head into the kitchen, where both guys can agree, processing deer to fit your family needs goes a long way, even if that includes mostly grind. Get ready for a great story, and noteworthy tips on this episode of Huntavore.
Nick and Jeremy discuss various topics related to hunting and archery. They start by talking about their morning routines and the challenges of maintaining a clean house with kids. Then, they dive into the topic of post-shot processes and the different approaches to processing and butchering game. They also touch on Jeremy's archery setup and the importance of practicing with your hunting equipment. The conversation concludes with a discussion about the recent Mountain Archery Fest event and the benefits of participating in 3D archery shoots. In this conversation, Jeremy discusses what comes after a successful shot in hunting, including field dressing the deer and deciding whether to take it to a processor or process it at home. He shares his experience of last year, where he took three deer to a processor and processed two at home. Jeremy also talks about the different cuts of meat he keeps, such as neck and shoulder roasts, ground meat for tacos and spaghetti, and loins and backstraps for steaks. He also shares his recipe for making jerky and his favorite dish to bring to a potluck.
Takeaways
There are different approaches to processing and butchering game, including using a processor or doing it yourself. Each method has its pros and cons.
Practicing with your hunting equipment, including your bow and arrows, is crucial for accuracy and confidence in the field.
Participating in 3D archery shoots, such as the Mountain Archery Fest, can provide valuable practice and simulate real hunting scenarios.
Building confidence and honing your skills as a hunter takes time and effort, but it's a rewarding journey that leads to success in the field. After a successful shot, hunters need to field dress the deer and decide whether to take it to a processor or process it at home.
Different cuts of meat can be kept, such as neck and shoulder roasts, ground meat for tacos and spaghetti, and loins and backstraps for steaks.
Jerky can be made by brining the meat and then smoking it in a smoker.
A favorite dish to bring to a potluck could be Mississippi chuck roast served on a bun.
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Show Transcript
Nick Otto (00:00.816)
yeah. How's your morning going?
Jeremy (00:03.47)
Dude, it's busy. We're, you know, my wife and I, we both teach and we're at that stage right now of the summer where she's looking at, at just one little thing and she's like, we need to deep clean this house. Like let's scrub. So right now I'm literally right before we were doing this, I was fricking mopping the walls. So yeah, that's, that's where I'm at right now.
Nick Otto (00:22.896)
I have three rambunctious little boys and this is, this sounds like something I need to be on because yeah, our house is a disaster. We told ourselves we will paint again after they're all in middle school. Like, I mean, we'll, we'll still have to patch drywall, but with the markers and the dirt and the everything, it's just absolutely a mess.
Hehehehe
Jeremy (00:44.974)
I know man, it's never ends dude, never ends.
Nick Otto (00:47.792)
Yep. Well, hey, I'm just going to throw, I'll throw a, basically we're just going to have a quick conversation. get a little bit into kind of like after the shot, what is your, what's your process, whether it's a processor or whether it's doing it yourself. And we'll dive deep in a little bit about that because he got guys on both, both ends of that. and when then we'll finish up kind of in the kitchen. So I do want to touch on your archery set up and, and what you do with that and why it is the way it is.
Jeremy (01:01.934)
Mm -hmm.
Nick Otto (01:16.816)
But yeah, we'll be in your camp for a little bit, but then yeah, we'll jump back into the kitchen. Sound good?
Jeremy (01:23.022)
Heck yeah, dude. I like it, dude.
Nick Otto (01:24.176)
Sweet, sweet. Well, hey, folks, beautiful morning here in Michigan. A little bit of a different venue if you're tuning into the YouTube portion of this. We're well, I am on site. I'm mobile. I'm actually at a parking lot. My kids are at the gym doing their workout class and I am out in the parking lot. Definitely not working out, but still sweating. It is getting warm. I didn't turn the AC on and that's
That's maybe my thing. I was, I have less than a quarter, quarter tank on the truck. So I was like, I will save the fuel and I'll just sweat a little bit. but this morning I'm joined with, Jeremy Dismore of the antler up podcast, joined in, I think this year, Jeremy, you joined sportsman's empire. Are you enjoying it?
Jeremy (02:15.905)
Yeah, man, so right now we are we just hit a full year last Last what would have been last fall? So we're coming up, you know, it's it's it's been a full year So I'm excited and it's it's awesome to just obviously to work with Dan and the likes of you Nick It's just it's an awesome networking thing and obviously networking itself. It's just really cool where
Like for me, if I'm out in the garage or doing some work, I could literally just put on the sportsman's empire, hit play, and I just get a chance to catch up and just see what you all are doing. And it's really awesome to be a part of no doubt.
Nick Otto (02:51.376)
Good deal, good deal. Yeah, it's a bunch of like minded individuals. We are we're passionate about our hobbies. We're passionate about our lifestyle. But same time, we all have nine to five jobs. We all have stuff that we got to do on the side. And so putting that extra effort in. So, yeah, there's our there's our quick plug for sportsman's empire. I feel like we're putting it there on the top. But Jeremy Haling from Pennsylvania, tell me a little bit about
Jeremy (03:01.55)
Mm -hmm.
Nick Otto (03:21.104)
A little bit about PA. A lot of guys I know out there, big archery, huge Orange Army that's out there, just like Michigan. What's going on out in Pennsylvania right now? And I know you just got done with the mountain archery trip. I think you guys were on that earlier. How did that whole event go up?
Jeremy (03:31.886)
Mm -hmm.
Jeremy (03:43.79)
Mm -hmm.
Yep. Good, man. The event in itself was was really neat. I mean, any time that you have the ability to shoot some sort of terrain that could mimic some sort of style of hunting, whether you're going out west and you're going to be putting yourself through different types of shots, you know, we all dream of that perfect broadside shot. But in reality, we know usually there are far few in between the combine and.
what was really neat about this compared to say like a tack event, like tack does a phenomenal job. I mean, obviously they're top tier, especially here at the one in Pennsylvania, but I've done that one for quite a few years and it's a beautiful walking course. I wouldn't say you're gassed by any means. even like my favorite course at, at total archery challenge was always the knock on course just because it was at a new location of the venue. but again, it was a nice scenery, but you weren't huffing and puffing.
What was really fortunate to have the Mountain Archery Fest at the Northeastern side of Pennsylvania at Montage Mountain. What this one did was the lightning course, which was like the expert quote unquote course, it just meant your shots are going to be from 50 yards all the way out to, there was one shot going down a ski slope at 140 yards, which was kind of fun, but majority of them weren't all just, they weren't all bombs, which was cool. But what was neat about it is,
Nick Otto (05:06.864)
my goodness.
Jeremy (05:14.254)
being that it was on, on the, one whole side of the ski lodge area, you were up and down a lot. You were side hill in a lot. There was, you know, your feet weren't really always even. So it was a really good testament to what is your bow going to do? What is your bow going to do under like a certain type of shot pressure, leaning into the hill. So that was really neat, but there were a couple of times Nick where like our group, when we got there, we're like, okay.
Who's the first one up because the way we did it was the closest to that center ring. You shot first on that next ring. And unfortunately, unfortunately for me, I was shooting a lot at first cause I, I, I took the, took the day of, of winning those, our shoot, but against each other. But man, it was, there was a couple of times where I really had to slow my heart rate down just because it was a track to the next target. And it was an uphill or downhill and making sure I don't slip and falls.
carrying camera gear just to get some film and some content for us and whatnot. So it was a challenge, but man, it's, it's really awesome that I can't express how, how beneficial those type of events can really be, to any type of Hunter. I mean, obviously they're fun, you know, but if you really go into it and know that you're going to maybe be challenged in a different way, you could really try to put yourself in a tough situation because you know, those get really busy. So you only do get one shot.
pretty much at every target. It's not like you get a mulligan or a do -over. So, you know, if it is a, a 49 yard, you know, quartering a little quartering away, you have a little bit of brush on a, on a, say a mini elk, you know, one third target scale or something like that. it's going to, you know, mimic a pretty decent shot that you might face if you're going out West. So yeah, there, I can't speak more highly on those and fortunate enough for the state of Pennsylvania too.
I mean, you have the Montage Mountain Archery Fest, the one that I was talking about, the MAF one that I know, I forget the gentleman's name. He does a bunch all over South and out West and he's come to PA now two years. And then you obviously have tack. So, and then there's all the other local things. So if you, if you're a bow hunter or you just like shooting your bow, there are ample of opportunities for you to get ready for the season. And there's really no excuse to say, I'm pulling my bow out just a week prior to get ready for it.
Nick Otto (07:39.472)
Absolutely, absolutely. The phone is, I think it's changed everything as far as like the 3D targets. They're, they're cheap. You can like, again, these events, they're not, they do take a little bit of expenditure. I think the most expensive thing out of that is the time itself. Like you said, we do the tack event here in Michigan and it is getting seven guys to get the schedules all set up. You know, get everybody registered. That's always a headache, but being able to do that with our
Jeremy (07:56.846)
Mm -hmm.
Jeremy (08:08.91)
Yep.
Nick Otto (08:09.36)
guys has been super helpful. And I think just that like, as you were saying too, like the hunting setup, our very first year of going to that, I think the furthest pin somebody had was like a 50 yard pin. And we show up to the practice range, or at least that's what we called it at that point. yeah, let's go, let's go to the practice range. Hey, where's the close targets? Everything was way out of our bubbles and we were a little shock and awe there at the very first time we went out. But
where we have come as archers from that point, shoot, doing six, seven years, you know, we've, we've really stretched out. We realized the bubble level on your site really does mean something. And you got to pay attention to those details. I run a saddle now. And so being up in there, I got to make sure I'm like, check your bubble. Cause you could be at whatever access like, or the other thing is I'm always catching my bottom limb. My bottom limb is either going to be
Jeremy (08:53.614)
Mm -hmm.
Nick Otto (09:08.368)
smacking the trees, smacking my leg or whatever it is. So it's always like, well, get yourself set up in a right spot. So you're not just putting things, putting things in a bad situation. But yeah, to your testament, getting out and doing the foam is a, is a big deal. Did you go out with your hunting specific setup? Like, were you running like, this is when I'm taking to the woods or were you, or do you also dabble in like the 3d, you have a specific arrow just to shoot into foam.
Jeremy (09:28.43)
This is your 100th event.
Jeremy (09:39.589)
Yeah, so I definitely had a specific setup for that. The bow itself is my hunting bow, but it was, you know, get a lighter arrow just because for myself, Nick, I don't have the luxury of having a nice 30 inch draw that I could really just poke something out there really easy. So running a 27 and a half inch draw length.
you know, a lighter arrow for me is going to help me, you know, stretch it out and use that maybe bottom pin or half, I have to raise it up just a hair to, you know, over a target's back to reach it. So that allowed me to, you know, enjoy and in all reality, like not lose as many arrows, which is, which is great. But, you know, the good news about all that type of stuff though, now Nick is I'm itching right now for whitetail season, just obviously having the podcast myself and I'm starting to.
gear it more towards the whitetail woods and everything along those lines. We're going to discuss a little bit of things out West, but you know, now is when I really like to really hammer home. Like what is my, my arrow setup going to be right where, and the good news is I had a really great year last year and there's not a lot that I'm going to change, which is good. so, you know, I kind of just got to verify things and just get everything all clean and nice and neat and ready to go. And just honestly just practice with that. And
like you were saying about, you know, getting up in the tree and, you know, the good news is about, you know, running a saddle. You don't have to get up, you know, your 15 plus feet up in the, up in the tree just to practice in the summer. Right. You can get one stick high or a sticker, you know, and put your platform up a little bit higher for you to maybe get up a, you know, you're wearing probably shorts while you're shooting, doing this type of thing anyway. So you're going to be able to reach that, that platform. so, you know, you're able to.
bring a quiver full or maybe some extra arrows up with you, throw some targets up around you 360 degrees, even if it's a bag target, whatever it be, and move and see how it works. But right now, Nick, is when I really do focus on getting my hunting setup dialed. I mean, I dabbled into some archery shoots this summer as well, where I competed in some local ASA events and some other type of events for some money. But right now,
Jeremy (11:54.286)
Those are pretty much all wrapped up for me. And now it's like, I'm, I'm tunnel vision. Let's get hunting arrows cut. Let's get it set up. Let's make sure we're dialed and just say, you know, continue to, to shoot that because honestly, I, I love archery. There's even if I'm down in my basement, if it means I rip three shots at, at night, that's might be all I get. But other times we go to my in -laws and I'm able to stretch it out a little bit, or I could shoot in the backyard just at, you know, 20 yards, but.
I'm very fortunate that there are times where I might just sneak an arrow or two in. So now is when I do like to get it dialed and get ready to rock.
Nick Otto (12:34.512)
Good deal, good deal. Your makeup. First off, let's go with the bow. You said you're using your hunting bow already. What are you shooting? Is it super high end or is it one of those tried and true that you've held onto for a couple years?
Jeremy (12:40.878)
Mm -hmm.
Jeremy (12:49.07)
so I am using, it is a higher end bow. So I'm using an elite bow. I, this was actually elite came out with their elite carbon era last year. And there was just something about like a carbon bow never really appealed to me so much, in years past, obviously, I mean, your main player was Hoyt, Bowtech has one as well. And I, I really.
I like the idea in the whitetail woods of thinking it's your hands not going to get as cold. but at the same time, I just liked that lightness because of the type of where I hunt. and it's not just a farm where I'm just walking X amount of yards in a straight line. Like there's, I'm, I'm hunting some tough terrain and, but the, I really liked the look of that elite air last year and, Nate Sellers average Jack archery is a local shop here and he carried, he just got elite in and I
I messaged him one day I was at school and I just said, do you have that? And he goes, yep. And so I sold a couple items to, you know, I just didn't credit card it. There were some items I got, I loaded off and was able to afford it and pay for it. And, I fell in love with it. Like that was a, the grip and the draw cycle, just everything. The ATA was, was in my wheelhouse for a whitetail set up basically, or a hunting setup. And so I shot it all last summer and I went into last hunting season with,
with it and I killed five deer here in the state of PA in the first like two and a half weeks of the season. And I was just like, okay, maybe it's luck. Maybe it's whatever, you know, all that type of stuff. So going into this year, I'll be using my elite era again. This will be the, what will be nice though, Nick, cause this will be the first time in a couple of years where I'm using the same bow going into the hunting season. And to be quite honest, man, unless elite comes out with another new carbon bow.
Nick Otto (14:16.752)
Hehehe
Jeremy (14:41.454)
or something along those lines the next couple of years. I finally feel like this is my ultimate hunting bow for me. I'll dabble in buying other bows from Elite or whatever, like for 3D season, just to have it and shoot and tinker and all that type of stuff. But as far as a whitetail bow goes, there's nothing that I don't like about it, if that makes sense.
Nick Otto (15:05.2)
Excellent, excellent. Yes, you found your home. Like that's that is fun. I'm shooting a prime and same thing. Like I waited a couple of years. Actually, it was like a flagship. Like it was in 2020, but I bought it in 21. So they were offloading them for cheap. And I was like, well, shoot, I'll just get a bare bow and put all my other stuff that was on it. And yeah, like pulling that back, I'm like, shoot, I'm home. I don't I don't need another bow for several years right now. I'm just going to stick with this.
Jeremy (15:10.99)
Mm -hmm.
Jeremy (15:31.022)
Yep.
Nick Otto (15:33.552)
until all of a sudden technology takes it to another level. Like I'm, I'm good right here. I'm running the same arrows as I've run now for, when did I run those? I think 2019. I drank the heavy arrow juice. I drank the FOC juice with, the ranch fairy with Troy Fowler. had him on the show real early on and I was really interested in that. I had a bad experience with, an arrow that
Literally, I went to the store and was like, I need an arrow, I need a cut, and I need an insert and a broadhead. And they pushed it on the table. I just put the pieces together and, you know, it flew. But it was definitely something that I was like, I didn't put any thought into spine weight. I didn't put any thought into what I was throwing forward. And I paid for that. I broke a couple of arrows. I lost a couple of deer. And I was like, this doesn't feel right. And then, of course, that opens up Pandora's box on to building a bigger arrow.
Jeremy (16:09.262)
Mm -hmm.
Nick Otto (16:31.376)
Where do you find yourself leaning? Are you really intrigued on getting that punch through, that plan B arrow? Or is it because you've done all this work with the bow, you've done all this practice, that shot placement, you're gonna go something faster and pinpoint? Or are you planning for that plan B? Where are you going?
Jeremy (16:53.934)
So honestly, I think it's kind of a cop out answer, but I would say I'm somewhere in the middle. And the reason why I say that was, you know, in years past, I, I used to run an Easton access, with, with a 50 grain, insert, brass insert. And basically my arrow weight would be roughly around like five, 10, five 15. And then if I would mess around with say an Easton FMJ, it was a heavier than that. It was like five 15, five 20. And.
I mean, obviously hunting whitetail clothes, my further shot that I honestly would probably take on a whitetail would be 32 yards. And I know that's a weird number, but that just seems to be, you know, that, that number, and for me with the Nick is now I, I do like to be somewhere a little bit lighter than that. And you know, the air is a great bow. The only thing I run it on the smooth, mod modification. So the bow is not a fast bow. It has a nice big.
forgiving brace height for that bow. And last year at what shooting a 465, 470 grain arrow, I think it was coming in at two, like 62 again at 27 and a half inch draw. So I mean, not screaming fast, not super, super slow, but like that seemed to be, if I was shooting a 500 grain arrow, I mean, that was going to be a little bit slower than I would like it to be.
obviously at my draw length. So right now I am liking that 460 to 470. It's, it's fast enough. It's heavy enough. so like you're weird. You're just talking about pass -throughs and everything like that. I do use a mechanical. I've honestly, I've had more success and less troublesome with a mechanical than I have ever had with a fixed.
I think fix are great. I have nothing against them. I think, you know, it's placement, all that type of stuff. I totally get that. but last year I was five for five with pass throughs. I'm, I really liked the grim reaper, mini mags. It's a small four expandable blade. I also do like the severs. I've had great success with severs. so yeah, so last year was a, was a very, again, just a, a year where five shots, five pass throughs.
Jeremy (19:18.254)
Either saw the deer go down or heard the deer go down and recovered that animal within like 55 yards max. So it was, it was a really good placement year too. I mean, a couple of my shots when I would send them to my buddies, they're like, dude, number one, awesome. Congrats. But then two like perfect shot placement. You know what I mean? Like it was, I mean, I was just on a roll, which was awesome. And I worked hard though for that Nick, cause I've had. Dude, like last year, I mean to kind of.
Like you were saying, open a Pandora's box and stuff like that, man, prior to last year, the, I was, I was Buckless and PA and since 2019. So if you count that 2019 season dude, and then go back a couple more years prior to that, I should have been up until last year. I think I should have been like seven years straight filling an archery buck tag, but I've either other than one, one year, I'm sorry, one year where I did not draw, draw my bow back on a buck.
But like maybe six years in, so let's say six out of the seven years, I technically should have had, I had an opportunity that I just fumbled the ball and, and that kind of really two years prior to that 19 season, I took a lot of time to practice my shot, practice my angles, do what we were just talking about. And then had a great year in 2019, 2020 came, I got all mentally not there. I missed a buck and really frustrating.
21 came, missed another buck and 22 was the year I did not see or pull back on a buck. And then 23 last year is when I was successful. So, but going into last year, man, I really was like, dude, focus, slow down, really be in the moment. And I did and I executed. And that's the reason why too, also I wanted to expand on that and do the local ASA stuff and put myself out there to shoot in front of other people for
you know, a score that actually meant something, just because really nothing else is going to mimic that, that, stress of the mind, in the mind and physically then doing something like that compared to when another white tail, steps out in front. So yeah, I, and I'm dude, I'm a big believer if anybody that's, you know, either newer to hunting or anything like that, if you have the opportunity to shoot does shoot as many as you can, man. And that I can't stress that enough. And that's where,
Jeremy (21:45.07)
you know, last year I felt, felt like, I mean, I was going on a, a spree, I guess you could call it. And it was just like the first, any deer that was in close range, those first couple hunts, I, I was letting it rip and just to build that confidence. And, it helped, you know, now different goals leading into this year, different mindset and, kind of fulfilled what I was hoping to do and it's build upon it and have new things. But you know, that's, that's where I'm at with it.
Nick Otto (22:16.368)
I think we get told about this story of the big buck killer, the deer slayer who year in year out can just put the animal in front of them and put them down. And I feel like that climax is rounding over. So when I hear Jeremy, you talk about not only like your arrow or the bow that you have, but the arrow that you've put together and the confidence you've built because you went through this period of...
mental disruption. You're just, I can't focus on getting this thing in the right spot. Putting that extra work and building the confidence of the equipment and then honing yourself. I think that's the better story. I think that is the true story of when it comes to hunters. We're not, and I'm a meat hunter. I'm going to say that all the way out through like when I get a dough in front of me, I'm thinking, I go through my checklist of why not.
Jeremy (22:46.638)
Mm -hmm.
Jeremy (22:58.606)
Mm -hmm.
Nick Otto (23:11.824)
to pull this or pull back on my bow, not like, I'm waiting for, you know, waiting for the bigger one. I'm like, shoot, if I can be done and out of here, like I'm all for it. So to hear where you were taking five deer and just awesome placement, like that's the gold trophy right there. Because yeah, like you said, your goals now adapt. You feel like you've gotten over that hump. And that I think is the true, true story of that, Jeremy. That's, that's awesome.
And I think every hunter is going to go through that too. They listen to podcasts. They listen to these guys that have been successful and they, they, they pull on that knowledge, but at the same time, like these, these killers have gone through droughts as well. Like it's not, you know, it's all up to the deer too. Deer are going to do what deer are going to do. You know, you may strategize, you might plan it out and they go the opposite way. They turn on you as soon as you release that arrow, as soon as you let go, the Lord is in command. You got nothing.
Jeremy (23:42.962)
I'm not like always, girl.
Jeremy (23:58.126)
would be the cure for your disease.
Nick Otto (24:09.328)
That you can do for that. So I like to hear what you're saying though that even even the stout guys even the short guys can go ahead and have a successful year because I'm the same way I think I'm at 27 draw and that's why I wanted the haymaker arrow. I'm like I get one shot It's not it's not coming fast. But if it hits I want it to just knock the sucker down Give me a chance to put another one in the in the string and pull it back So getting these five deer last year
Jeremy (24:25.038)
Mm -hmm. Yep.
Jeremy (24:36.75)
I like that.
Nick Otto (24:38.64)
And now we're going to kind of switch in a little bit to after this shot, Jeremy, what, what comes next? Obviously you're going to get in there, field dress the deer. You got to get it out of the woods. Is it now a, it is now, is it a trip to the processor or is it a trip to your garage where then you're going to take care of that animal? Where are you leaning?
Jeremy (24:44.014)
Mm -hmm.
Jeremy (25:01.934)
So that's a really great question Nick and I I hope this could maybe help some people So last year was a very unique year obviously hunting but also unique year my life So I just turned 37 here at the end of June my wife and I we have a ten -year -old daughter She'll be going into fifth grade next year But my wife and I we are always under the impression. We were kind of
One was all that we could have, right? And last year it happened where we had a, hey, surprise. And so my wife got pregnant and our other daughter was born New Year's Eve this past year. So I was able to hunt and do all that type of stuff. And the good news was with the five deer, it was a blend.
Nick Otto (25:34.992)
Hehehehehe
Jeremy (25:51.182)
It was two deer I did take care of myself and I love to do that. In years past, honestly, Nick, every deer that I would get, I would process it myself, do everything. Maybe here and there I would take it to somebody or a buddy to do a special smoke type of snack or something along those lines for me that I just either not comfortable doing or just not that good at basically, but.
so last year I did take three to the processor. One is a local, another one is a former, a student of mine, his family, his dad, he has his own little company that he, he does his own processing with. and the reason why I did that was, yeah. Yeah. So like the main reason why I did the split was one, it was, I was, it was the second day of the season. Then that first Saturday.
Nick Otto (26:29.936)
fun. That's cool.
Jeremy (26:44.846)
So it was like, I was going to be doing, I mean, you talk about in two and a half weeks trying to do five deer. I don't have that capacity to do that. so that's where that kind of also played a role and then time, just because obviously it was, I was maybe going on a different trip, going to Ohio, maybe going back home in Northeastern Pennsylvania, outside of where I live here now is central PA. So just different, different life things, just,
force my hand a little bit to go ahead and offload a little bit. But the two I was able to take care of that man, Nick, there's nothing more enjoyable than bringing my daughter outside after I skin and hang and age the deer a little bit and start working on it. Nothing beats when she comes out there and is interested in asking me questions with it. And I get some solitude as well. And that's what I...
did last year was three went to the process or two stayed home with me and I had a good time doing all that.
Nick Otto (27:50.608)
I got my three boys. I have a picture that I took and each one of them. They have gloves on each one of them. Got a knife and each one of them has a section of neck and they're working on de -boning it and they're working on taking out sinews. I just love that photo. I just love it. I think that means I have it digitally. I need to put it up on the wall. But like you said, when you get your daughter out there and yeah, pretty soon she's going to be. I want to be a part of this. I want to do what dad's doing, whether she sticks with it fully or not, she's going to have that experience.
Jeremy (28:11.662)
Yeah you do.
Nick Otto (28:20.464)
And so hats off to you for doing both. There's a trick, there's a talent to both of them. Mentioning like right there where you have a student that really stepped up. I'm a teacher as well. And so when I get students who take off on their passion and they have this out vent where he's trying to cut up deer, like, I'd be feeding that kid left and right. I'd be sending so many does to him to have done up. That's super cool. But when you're
When you're working with a processor, what's some of the things that you think about or that you have to get ready for that processor that you're saying, hey, when I'm taking it in, I want to make sure that I've already got it cleaned out. I've already got it chilled out at the beginning. What are some of those steps that you're taking even before it gets dropped off at that processor?
Jeremy (29:13.43)
Yeah, so I mean my number one thing is really I have buddies and obviously I can too where I Was it took me a little while to really be like fine -tune finesse with with field dressing a whitetail
And, you know, I could, you could watch videos, you could watch my, I watched my old man do it a hundred times and all that type of stuff of just, you know, they could go through it so quickly because they've done it so many times. And like, I remember the one time I took an animal from a couple of years ago, I took a doe, it was a late season doe to the processor. It was a different one than one of the two I use. I remember dropping it off and there was another person dropping one off.
And it must have been a bad shot or a tough shot. And I remember that, the butcher or the processing guide basically just being like, man, I wish this. And he looked over at me and he just said, always, you know, if you have a gut shot or something like that, he's just like, just, you know, do your best to clean it out the best that you can or something like that. He goes, cause this is just going to be more work for me and all that type of stuff. So long story short, what I like to do is just take my time. I mean,
I'm not in a, in a crazy hurry to get things taken care of. I just want to make sure that it's, you know, I'm not getting anything that could be spoiling the meat by any means on it. and you know, here in Pennsylvania too, my first, that first week, that Monday that I, that I killed the dough and that, that, first Saturday that I killed another dough, it was hot. So like it was, you know, you had to be, I had to be a little bit quicker and along those lines. But I mean, honestly, Nick, my thing is just to be as careful as possible.
Nick Otto (30:45.936)
Mm -hmm.
Jeremy (30:54.862)
that I don't really nick something that could potentially spoil the meat. But in all reality, I just try to do the best work that I can so that way I get most of everything that I can back from the animal.
Nick Otto (31:09.552)
I've seen very tough men get real girly when it comes to getting that anus out of an animal. And it takes putting the thumb in and pulling pressure. Like you got to stick it in, check its oil so that you can cut around and just the squeamish. I thought you said you were a tough guy. I thought you said, yeah, I can carry this up a mountain. Yeah, but you can't, you can't get that anus fully out. And that's then going to be a problem for your processor.
Jeremy (31:25.486)
Yep.
Nick Otto (31:39.76)
So taking time is what you're saying is if you're taking it to a processor, you're already going to be handing it off to him. Give him the most quality that he can cleanliness. Make sure you thoroughly get that out. That's a great message for guys.
Jeremy (31:40.238)
Yeah.
Jeremy (31:52.334)
Yep.
Nick Otto (31:57.84)
So if we can go back to those other deer, now we've got the ones that are at your garage. You got them hung up, you get in the way to chill them out. I know last year was real nice, just because in the way of timing worked out, we had this cold spell right there at the tail end where I did get, I got a doe late, I got my big buck, I'm a big buck killer this year. Got my Michigan eight point and I was able to hang him up and let him do the full age. Hanging there was.
Jeremy (32:04.494)
Mm -hmm.
Nick Otto (32:26.352)
very excited about that. When you take that animal to the table and you're cutting pieces out, shoot with the kids now, you're probably going to be looking at ground being a big part of your life. But are you keeping other sections of that deer? Are you keeping different roasts? Are you keeping different hole cuts that your family, that you and your wife really enjoy? What would be those cuts that you guys are?
Jeremy (32:42.894)
Mm -hmm.
Nick Otto (32:55.088)
are singling out to keep.
Jeremy (32:58.429)
Yeah, so honestly, some of like our favorite things to do is what you were even mentioned earlier about with the neck. I love doing a neck and doing a kind of like the the shoulder like that front shoulder roast like making a chuck roast with it, where we are big fans of that Mississippi. man, what's it called Mississippi roast recipe that is
Nick Otto (33:13.392)
Mm -hmm.
Jeremy (33:23.47)
probably by far one of my favorite things to do, man. Cause once you put that in that slow cooker and you could just break, I mean, it just, man, my mouth's getting watery just thinking about it right now. But those are number one are like for sure as far as like the bigger family, you know, cuts that we do are for those bigger recipes like that. We do a lot of like, kind of like a mash or kind of like a thicker stew.
We do do some of those. But like you said, though, this past year was a lot of ground. My wife and the three of us, we do try to do at least taco night once a week. So we do that. And I've experimented this past year, too, with some other cuts of meat where we're shredding it and not necessarily always using ground for that. But we like my daughter's a big spaghetti and meatball fan. So we do have made more meatballs the last year.
using the ground meat as well. And, honestly, some of my, I'm pretty basic then after that, I give me my loins, you know, give me my, my back straps like that normal stuff. I have a smoker. So we're, the, the good news is Nick, my daughter, the 10 year old, she is a meat freak. Like she is a red meat individual, which is, I mean, it plays, it plays perfect for me. I'm very lucky and she likes it. You know,
medium rare. So I mean, you I guess once you build them up to it, you grow them up on on that. That's what they tend to like, right? That's why I like what I like because of my father and all that type of stuff. So we're very I'm very lucky. My wife has started to grow towards that as well. So as long as we have our stakes and we have all those bigger cuts and the ground meat, I'm a big jerky guy with being obviously like you said, being a teacher, I snack a lot being a health and phys ed teacher. And obviously I want something a little bit more healthier and
I have my own recipe I could do on the smoker. I like some of my buddies that make their own. So I'll send them some, some, big chunks of meat where, I asked some of them will say, Hey, I'll cut it up or, or they want me to cut it, cut it into strips or whatever. And, you know, I like the muscle muscle jerky the best. So, but yeah, that's a, I mean, really not too crazy. We just like having some round steaks just to be able to, to, to put in the slow cooker or throw on the smoker later. And, and, you know,
Jeremy (35:50.542)
test around and do some different type of recipes.
Nick Otto (35:55.152)
to that jerky, lay out for me, is it just a dry seasoning that you're going on and then you go to the smoker? Are you brining overnight and then taking it to the smoker? Is it dehydrator involved at all? Take me through your jerky setup.
Jeremy (36:14.098)
So my jerky setup, I am brining and that is my number I just like to let it soak for about, I would say just shy of two days is probably where I'm at. And from there, dude, it's right to the smoker. My dad, I've always watched him do it and he would always use a dehydrator and all that type of stuff.
for, for my living space and out of the time that I have, what's nice is I could throw that smoker on a nice low heat, put it on a super smoke type of, of setting. And I just set it and forget it and come back a couple hours later. And I got a nice tender, piece of jerky and, man, nothing, nothing beats it. And in all, in all reality, it is, I don't really have a number one recipe. I I'm a
I'm pretty bad when it comes to that. I feel like I'm like my mother -in -law, because my wife will ask her, well, how do you make that? Or some piece of my mother -in -law will always be like, a little bit of this, a little bit of that. And in my former background of being a hotel restaurant institutional management, I like cooking and I like doing certain things. And I don't know, that looks like that would taste good. So I would just toss it in there. Whatever amount is what I would put into it. So in all reality, man, I don't really have like...
Nick Otto (37:33.264)
Exactly.
Jeremy (37:36.366)
Yeah, I don't have like a, let's honestly, whatever I have laying around and I'll just toss things in and, there are certain spices that I do like some over other. And the, the one piece that I've been throwing in the last like two years has been like coffee grounds. I love doing some sort of char with, with some coffee grounds onto it and, and, adding that little bit of flavor to it as well. So, but yeah, I mean, it is brining for, like I said, maybe a day and a half to shy of two days.
throw it right on the smoker immediately and then let it cook for about, I want to say, I think I usually do four, four and a half hours. I could be totally wrong, but I believe that number for some reason is jumping out to me.
Nick Otto (38:17.904)
Gotcha. So these are thicker too. We're looking at probably a quarter to half inch. You're not going thin, thin, thin on these because going with the smoker, you were just saying that these were tender. So you're definitely going thicker on your cuts with grain or against grain.
Jeremy (38:28.622)
now
Jeremy (38:32.974)
Yep.
Jeremy (38:41.518)
I'm mainly going. I think I'm going with the grain.
Nick Otto (38:49.168)
Gotcha, it doesn't look like a cross section piece of steak. That would be a cross grain, but you're going with it, getting longer strips. Gotcha, gotcha. I love to gnaw on jerky. So I am, with the dehydrator, like with your, I'm doing the heavy brine. I actually quite add quite a bit of spice to mine because of the dehydration does zap a lot of that. Now, as you chew on it more, then that spice comes up.
Jeremy (38:50.03)
Think I'm going with the green. Yeah.
No. Yeah. Yeah. Yes, correct. Made me think there, Nick.
Nick Otto (39:18.608)
but I like mine like super thin and I like it tough. I like to rip on it and then just not on it. Like as if I were to be, you know, an outfielder, I'm out there for a long time. I might as well chew on something. That's where I like my jerky, but I've been, I've been more guys that I talked to that have a tender taste towards their jerky. I'm like, maybe I need a dabble in that. Maybe I need to make some thicker ones, cross grain, see what we can see what we can play with.
Jeremy (39:49.165)
I like it. Yeah. And you know, for me, I used to be like, I liked it tough. And like you said, just really had a like bite down and all that type of stuff. And, there are certain times where I, my one buddy who I do send it to, he does for, I don't know how he does it, but he does a phenomenal job with that, where it's, it's tough, but it's still tender. Like he just has a, the perfect, I don't know how he does it, but he just crushes his, his recipe with it. And I,
to this day, that is what I like to usually bring to work and snack on. Whereas like if I'm in the whitetail woods and want something, that's where I will probably want a little bit more tender of something that I make. But you know, it still has a nice little chew to it. It's not, you know, super, super tender.
Nick Otto (40:38.224)
Gotcha. Gotcha. Well, Jeremy, here's my crescendo question. As I've been going through, I go to each of the sportsman's empire hosts and dive into a little bit about them and a little bit about what they're doing and how they handle their their game, whether it be venison, whether it be wild pork, whether it be whatever anybody's chasing. So now that's come to your turn now. And I've made up this this pseudo event.
And it is the Emperor's Table. It is going to be a potluck where Sportsman's Empire hosts are invited to. We're bringing this spread and you have to have a dish to share with a bunch of hunters. Now we're all a bunch of dudes and I'm sure, you know, we'll be able to stomach whatever you come up with. But at the same time, if you were invited, if you were coming to this event, what would be a dish to pass that you would make?
out of your medicine.
Jeremy (41:41.23)
I would go to my tried and true. I would definitely do that Mississippi chuck roast, but here's the kicker though. I would actually have the little banana peppers or the sweet peppers that go into it, but I would also have like a little mini bun to come around. So instead of just having it on like say mashed potatoes or with noodles, I've been enjoying it with a little like a bun and making it a sandwich, like a little mini sandwich out of it.
So I would probably, I would say that's where I would bring, I would be able to create your own little sandwich with it. Just ma 'am, just with the juices and the flavoring and the peppers and slap that on a bun, man. It's perfect.
Nick Otto (42:10.192)
Yes, yes.
Nick Otto (42:29.808)
Absolutely, absolutely. Straight out of the crock pot. You got it all mixed up there, shredded out. I'd enjoy it. I'm totally going by. I'll probably take two buns worth. I'll take two sandwiches. Well, Jeremy, this has been an awesome 45 minutes. I even really enjoyed talking with you and getting a chance to know you. Super glad that you're part of Sportsman's Empire. So we know that you're there. Where else can we follow along with Antler Up?
Jeremy (42:42.35)
you
Nick Otto (42:58.192)
Where else can we find you that we can tune in?
Jeremy (43:02.926)
Absolutely, Nick. No, man. It's a pleasure. I appreciate you having me on I've always respected you and love what you do. So I appreciate the invite and you know, I appreciate that but you can check out antler up outdoors calm that will kind of lead you to the website and I need to do a little overhaul on that just to update some things but you could obviously check out on YouTube Instagram, you know, the Instagram is also leaked to the Facebook. So you're basically
getting both of the same stuff over there. But yeah, man, I appreciate it. And, and you know, if you have any other questions or people, you know, just feel free to reach out, man. I just, like you said, man, I'm a teacher of work that nine to five kids and family, and I just love whitetail hunting. I love talking to other like -minded individuals about it as well. So, man, I appreciate the invite and I can't wait to have you on, on our show and, and, discuss some things.
Nick Otto (43:57.904)
Excellent excellent. Well, hold on just a second Jeremy and I'm gonna send our listeners on out Folks, I hope you enjoyed this hour getting a chance to just again talk with someone who's passionate about white tail hunting and just hunting I wouldn't say just white tail but hunting in general someone who went through the ringer has gone through the same footsteps that maybe all of us have of you don't feel confident and you know that hey, I gotta I gotta find
my way through this, whether it's an equipment switch, whether it's a mind over matter, but going through and then finding success on the other side and continuing to push on that, adapt their goals after you've made those steps. So finding that hero story in whatever we're doing is such a good thing. And then to follow that up with bringing amazing things to the table. So whether it's you feel dressing for a processor and making sure you get every little bit of that,
anus out of there or it's you back in your shop ready to cut up that deer with your kids. Make sure that the knife that you are using is very sharp.
Nick Otto (45:07.12)
and beautiful here comes a here comes a
Jeremy (45:08.686)
I like it.
