Venison

In the battle to cut down on fatty foods, I've won some and lost some. I've been able to let go of French fries with no problem; I can watch the dessert cart sail by without jumping out of my seat. But I still find it hard to fight my craving for a succulent, juicy, rosy-rare filet or chop.So, I've been searching for the meat-lover's holy grail: a red meat that's lean and tender, high in protein, low in fat and delicious whether simply grilled or embellished with an elaborate sauce.Though it took a trip halfway around the world, I finally found it: venison.

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.

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...

More than 33,000 whitetail deer were bagged by Maryland hunters during 1993's regular firearms season, the third highest total on record. In Harford County, hunters harvested 1,024 deer, most of which were taken during the season's first few days.Although a substantial number of hunters claim they enjoy the taste of venison, you'll often hear a different story from their spouses."Sure we eat venison at our house, but it's always tough and has a gamey taste," said a woman attending the Mid-Atlantic Hunting & Fishing Show at the Maryland State Fair Grounds.

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.

Maryland's regular firearms season for whitetail deer closes next weekend, and despite the one-week extension, Harford County's harvest totals likely will exceed last year's figures by only a small margin."

Venison stew, venison loaf and ground venison may soon beef up the menu at Maryland shelters and soup kitchens.The state's two-week firearms season for deer starts Nov. 28, and at least two sportsmen's organizations say they will urge hunters to donate all or part of their kill to benefit the Maryland Food Bank and the Salvation Army.The Maryland Deer Hunters Association, with support from the state Department of Natural Resources' Wildlife Division, is preparing to launch "Hunters Harvest-share."

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.

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.

It was quite a thrill for Mary Braun to skin the dead deer hanging from the rafters in the garage.Forget about the fearsome collision and that initial rush of terror on the dark, country road. Forget about the shattered grill and crumpled running board on the family's aptly named Ram van.Something about the events of that recent evening excited her, touching her in ways a good novel does -- as when they butchered a mastodon in "Clan of the Cave Bear.""It's a question you always carry with you," said Ms. Braun, 44. "What would you do if you hit a deer with your car?