We usually process our own deer, but when the freezers are full we try to give to friends/family/etc. When those options run out (and there isn't a Hunters for the Hungry option close by) we found an alternative.
About a decade ago, we had an arrangement with the Austin Zoo. It's actually closer to Dripping Springs, but no matter. We had arranged with them to drop off field dressed does for the zoo stock. All of the TPWD Wildlife Resource Document work would be filled out, and we'd walk in and politely say "we have a cat food donation". A minute or two later, a guy in a side-by-side would pull up, load'em up, and the carcasses went to a cooler. I'd previously asked one of the zoo people what animals ate the deer: tigers, lions, mountain lions, and black bears. Sweet! Apparently, they really preferred the fresh deer meat over expired chicken, etc.
Most days were super chill and things went smoothly. Usually there were 3-5 Subarus in the parking lot (Austin hippies, mostly) and a few people on foot. This particular day would be different. Around noonish, the bro and I are pulling in to donate 3 WT does. We passed up dozens and dozens of vehicles parked in the main zoo not to mention more on the road leading in. It could've been 100+ vehicles total. And there were pedestrians freaking everywhere.
Ummm. "What the F is going on. This is not normal." We finally work our way up the main check in area and see a HUGE banner that reads:
"Annual Vegetarian Chili Cookoff"
Oh boy. Overcoming some doubt, the bro walks in, stands in line for a bit, and mutters lightly to the cashier "umm we have a cat food donation." Bewildered, she (apparently a new hire) asks him to repeat himself. A little louder he says "we have a cat food donation". She still didn't understand, so he said "we have some deer meat to donate". Interestingly, nobody surrounding him seemed to mind.
Meanwhile, I'm in the parking lot in a Tacoma with 3 dead deer in the bed dodging crowds of hippies to the left and right. Finally a dude on a side by side drives up and we unload our cargo. Close call.
On our way out my bro looks at me and says "Bad day to drop off a few deer at the Austin Zoo".
Indeed, brother.
About a decade ago, we had an arrangement with the Austin Zoo. It's actually closer to Dripping Springs, but no matter. We had arranged with them to drop off field dressed does for the zoo stock. All of the TPWD Wildlife Resource Document work would be filled out, and we'd walk in and politely say "we have a cat food donation". A minute or two later, a guy in a side-by-side would pull up, load'em up, and the carcasses went to a cooler. I'd previously asked one of the zoo people what animals ate the deer: tigers, lions, mountain lions, and black bears. Sweet! Apparently, they really preferred the fresh deer meat over expired chicken, etc.
Most days were super chill and things went smoothly. Usually there were 3-5 Subarus in the parking lot (Austin hippies, mostly) and a few people on foot. This particular day would be different. Around noonish, the bro and I are pulling in to donate 3 WT does. We passed up dozens and dozens of vehicles parked in the main zoo not to mention more on the road leading in. It could've been 100+ vehicles total. And there were pedestrians freaking everywhere.
Ummm. "What the F is going on. This is not normal." We finally work our way up the main check in area and see a HUGE banner that reads:
"Annual Vegetarian Chili Cookoff"
Oh boy. Overcoming some doubt, the bro walks in, stands in line for a bit, and mutters lightly to the cashier "umm we have a cat food donation." Bewildered, she (apparently a new hire) asks him to repeat himself. A little louder he says "we have a cat food donation". She still didn't understand, so he said "we have some deer meat to donate". Interestingly, nobody surrounding him seemed to mind.
Meanwhile, I'm in the parking lot in a Tacoma with 3 dead deer in the bed dodging crowds of hippies to the left and right. Finally a dude on a side by side drives up and we unload our cargo. Close call.
On our way out my bro looks at me and says "Bad day to drop off a few deer at the Austin Zoo".
Indeed, brother.
Comment