SOLD OUT FOR 2011.  No availability in 2012 due to a devastating predator attack on fawns and females in 2011 and needing to rebuild the herd.  We predict availability of about eight animals in 2012 (down from 20 in each of 2010 and 2011), of which five are already reserved. 

“Fallow deer” is a Eurasian species of deer that was native to Europe and the near Middle East.  They were introduced to Great Britain by the Romans, and there are many wild herds in the British Islands.  They are not at all endangered, and are widely domesticated in many parts of the world, including the United States. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fallow_Deer.  In Oregon, they may be kept as domesticated animals only with licensing by the Fish and Game Department – hunting them is illegal, they may only be raised in captivity.  Their paddocks must be set up and approved before any animals are moved onto the property.  We are delighted to add another co-op’ed farm to our collection of small farms.  Todd Erickkson’s place is about three miles from Kookoolan Farms, located on the road from our own farm to the acreage where we grow our beef cattle with Scott and Wade Bernards.  It was driving past this beautiful herd of deer on the way to visit our beef herd that I first began to get the idea of eating and offering venison in our growing repertoire of local, responsibly raised meats. 

It took a while for us to get introduced, but Todd finally brought us over some samples and I finally got to go over and visit his farm and his deer.  Todd and his family have 59 rolling acres just west of Carlton, of which 16 acres of pasture are used for their herd of about 65 fallow deer.  The herd has been established for about eight years, with about 25 fawns born each year and raised to about 18 months old for slaughtering.  Breeding season is the first half of October, with fawns born in June.  Fallow deer bear only singles, with twins born only very rarely.  Todd’s deer are rotated on four pastures, grazing grass with some grass hay and some Purina “antler mix” which is an alfalfa, corn and mineral package, which helps to calm and tame the flighty, skittish creatures.

Domesticated fallow deer venison is finer in texture and flavor than wild venison, mild in flavor and not gamey.  This venison was previously available through Nicky’s USA, but by working with Kookoolan Farms, the deer are killed on their own familiar pasture, not trucked to slaughter at a USDA inspected facility in downtown Portland, in a tight trailer.  Todd and his family get a better price for their animals without having to drive to Portland to back, without having to pay out of their own pocket for the USDA carcass inspection, and without having to take a carcass weight loss due to the stress associated with trucking animals distance to slaughter.  Kookoolan Farms customers get an incredibly premium product at a lower cost than previously offered through Nicky’s USA, and get to contribute to more humane conditions for both the deer and their farmer.  We’re delighted it’s all worked out.

As with our other large animal meats, these are “custom processed” meats, which means that you must become an owner of the live animal prior to its slaughter, http://beefcattle.ans.oregonstate.edu/html/publications/documents/BEEF006-FAQ_001.pdf

A full-size carcass is about 55 to 65 pounds hanging weight, or roughly the size of a lamb, requiring about two cubic feet of freezer space.  The season for fallow deer venison is September through December.  We have about 20 deer this year, available September through December, by the whole carcass, about 60 pounds hanging weight, for $7.65 per pound processed hanging weight (roughly $465).  Carcasses are hung and aged for about six days and then cut to your specifications (or take our standard cutting), wrapped, labelled, and frozen.  Our standard instructions include an assortment of roasts, chops, steaks, stew meat, ground meat, and summer sausage.  We ask for a $25 deposit at the time you make your reservation, payable by check or credit card.

Thank you for considering our venison.  To reserve, please email kookoolan@gmail.com or phone Farmer Chrissie at (503) 730-7535.