Venison

Suggesting to farmers that they raise deer is a little like asking the owner of a candy store to start an ant colony.To most farmers, deer are an uninvited wild herd of 30 or 40 devouring cash crops. But a Taneytown farmer is hoping to persuade other farmers and state legislators that domesticated species of deer would make money, not eat it."They take a look at the wild deer here and think these are the same, but these animals, the way they're grouped up and treated is just the same as beef or dairy cattle would be," said Leonard Miller.

With the firearms hunting season for deer open until Dec. 11, hunters who fill their bags and have extra venison are reminded they can donate meat to Farmers and Hunters Feeding the Hungry at participating processors across the state.Since 1997, FHFH has provided more than 67 tons of venison and 536,000 meals for needy people in Maryland."The season of giving has arrived, and with additional harvests from the firearms season, support is needed more than ever to process this food source for the homeless and the hungry," said FHFH director Rick Wilson.

Suggesting to farmers that they raise deer is a little like asking the owner of a candy store to start an ant colony.To most farmers, deer are an uninvited wild herd of 30 or 40 devouring cash crops. But a Taneytown farmer is hoping to persuade other farmers and state legislators that domesticated species of deer would make money, not eat it.``They take a look at the wild deer here and think these are the same, but these animals, the way they're grouped up and treated is just the same as beef or dairy cattle would be,'' said Leonard Miller.

Maryland has had small-scale venison donation programs in various parts of the state for more than 20 years, but now there is in place a grass-roots organization that officials say has the potential to produce red meat for 1 million meals a year."

The National Rifle Association and the Department of Natural Resources have reached an understanding that should help offset the high costs of processing deer meat donated to the hungry by Maryland hunters."

Buck Fever! The Hunting Show will take place from July 29-31 at the Howard County Fairgrounds, West Friendship.The show will be open in the Exhibition Hall from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. July 29, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. July 30 and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. July 31.The show will include trophy deer display seminars, big buck awards, muzzleloader clinics July 30 and 31, compound bow and broadhead tuning clinic 9 a.m. to noon July 31, taxidermy display and an National Rifle Association...

Maryland hunters are expecting one of the most bountiful deer harvests in history this year, with a near-record kill reported for the first day of the modern firearms season, traditionally the key indicator of the season's total take. Unofficial predictions are that 1994 will surpass the 1992 state record of 35,100 wild deer harvested.This year, the deer hunt will also help the hungry through a statewide effort to donate venison to Maryland food banks and soup kitchens. A ton of deer meat was collected in the early archery and muzzle-loading rifle seasons and the expectation is that some 30,000 pounds will be donated to 12 large central food banks for distribution throughout the state this month.

The modern firearms season for deer in Maryland opened yesterday, and before the two-week season closes Dec. 11, state game managers expect another record kill from a herd that numbers more than 160,000.But, while shotgun and rifle hunters probably will kill some 35,000 deer, Department of Natural Resources Wildlife Division director Joshua Sandt said that about 77 percent of successful gun hunters will take only one deer, even though the herd size could withstand a larger harvest.Sandt said that many hunters take only one deer because one is all they need for their family table.

State wildlife managers have too many deer, and soup kitchen operators have too many mouths to feed. So why not let the state's hungry eat venison?Maryland deer hunters may soon be asked to help make that possible.Encouraged by hunters and the success of deer donationprograms in neighboring states, the Department of Natural Resources has reversed past policy and hopes to have a venison donation program in place by the opening of deer hunting season in September."We would take all they can give us," said Wayne G. Flickinger, marketing manager for the Maryland Food Bank.

ODENTON -- When the opossums appeared on the evening news, Del Cohrs glanced at the television in his living room and expressed a strong opinion on the subject: "I don't care how you fix one of them things, they ain't fit to eat."It was the voice of authority, of a man who has eaten opossum and found it consistently greasy. It was the voice of a man who has dined on rabbit, quail, deer, even squirrel, and for the moment wears a crown of achievement in the field -- first place in West Virginia's annual wild game cook-off.

Now that a fill-up costs them $90, Minnie and William Lewis of Baltimore County have given up weekly pleasure drives on scenic routes. East Baltimore resident Leonard Cochran is buying less meat at the grocery store and eating the wild rabbit and venison he can get free from his hunter friends. As for Thomas Brown of Baltimore and companion Dorothy Lewis, they're looking for jobs. He's 84; she's 75. "Everything is up," Lewis lamented. "The gas, electric, rent." This is what happens when consumers feel stretched, pressed and battered by escalating costs as incomes aren't keeping up. Even as the U.S. economy worsens and businesses have begun cutting jobs, the price tag for everyday necessities such as food, heating oil, gas and electricity is spiking.

Bambi is out to kill you. The adorable little fawn has grown up to be several hundred pounds of embittered, suicidal venison - holding you personally responsible for what those nasty hunters did to his mama. He's on a mission from the Deer God to break through your windshield and land in your lap. This is all nonsense, of course, but this is the season when it would be wise to drive as if it were literally true. The October-to-December period is the peak of mating season, when deer become even more loopy than at other times of year.

The Rev. Edward G. Robinson's flock was reluctant to try the unusual new offering suddenly filling the freezers at his West Baltimore food pantry, so one Sunday the pastor decided to use his burgeoning culinary skills to whip up a meal with it. "Most of them thought it was roast beef and they enjoyed it and sampled it and even asked for the gravy," he recalled. What they were eating at Agape House was something perhaps out of place at an inner-city soup kitchen but regularly found on the menus of top-tier restaurants: venison.

Most $10 wines are strictly for early consumption, but this full-bodied Spanish red has the structure and intensity that make me suspect it will be even better in five to 10 years. There's no need to wait, however, to enjoy its vibrant blackberry and black-currant fruit and meaty, earthy flavors. It's a little tight when the bottle is first opened, but it develops added complexity and a smoother texture in the glass. Ludovicus is a skillful blend of grenache, tempranillo, syrah and cabernet sauvignon.

In Washington County Venison-meal charity seeks Md. meat processors HAGERSTOWN -- A charity that turns donated venison into meals for the poor is seeking additional processors in Maryland to cut, package and freeze the meat for distribution to food banks next season. Hagerstown-based Farmers and Hunters Feeding the Hungry said last week that it wants to add processors in Anne Arundel, Cecil, Dorchester, Kent, Montgomery, Prince George's, Queen Anne's, Somerset, St. Mary's and Talbot counties.

It's always sad when a restaurant loses the chef who made its reputation, but the new Courtney's Cafe and Restaurant -- formerly Rothwells -- has much to recommend it, even without ex-executive chef and part owner Mark Hofmann, who parted ways amiably with co-owner Philip Forrester. Rothwells closed for renovations after a fire next door caused smoke damage. It was sold, and Forrester stayed on as a managing partner. When the restaurant reopened recently, it was renamed Courtney's Cafe.

Some people look at a plate of venison and see Bambi. This article probably isn't for them. But with deer-hunting season here, the rest of you may be interested to learn that venison is flavorful, versatile and healthy. It is a red meat with less fat than chicken and nearly as much protein as beef. Ground venison can be substituted for beef in spaghetti sauces, chilies, tacos and meatloaf. Cuts can be grilled, pan-seared and even stir-fried. The meat's strong flavor marries well with traditional autumn ingredients like pears, cranberries, pumpkins and squash, making it a perfect choice for the season's holiday dinners.

With the firearms hunting season for deer open until Dec. 11, hunters who fill their bags and have extra venison are reminded they can donate meat to Farmers and Hunters Feeding the Hungry at participating processors across the state.Since 1997, FHFH has provided more than 67 tons of venison and 536,000 meals for needy people in Maryland."The season of giving has arrived, and with additional harvests from the firearms season, support is needed more than ever to process this food source for the homeless and the hungry," said FHFH director Rick Wilson.

Suggesting to farmers that they raise deer is a little like asking the owner of a candy store to start an ant colony.To most farmers, deer are an uninvited wild herd of 30 or 40 devouring cash crops. But a Taneytown farmer is hoping to persuade other farmers and state legislators that domesticated species of deer would make money, not eat it."They take a look at the wild deer here and think these are the same, but these animals, the way they're grouped up and treated is just the same as beef or dairy cattle would be," said Leonard Miller.

Suggesting to farmers that they raise deer is a little like asking the owner of a candy store to start an ant colony.To most farmers, deer are an uninvited wild herd of 30 or 40 devouring cash crops. But a Taneytown farmer is hoping to persuade other farmers and state legislators that domesticated species of deer would make money, not eat it.``They take a look at the wild deer here and think these are the same, but these animals, the way they're grouped up and treated is just the same as beef or dairy cattle would be,'' said Leonard Miller.