[Editor’s note: I asked my husband, Marcus, if he’d like to write a blog post for me. You know, to give me a break from writing. To my surprise, he agreed. He has written on here before, and it’s usually related to a subject that he is very passionate about – the great outdoors. Hunting is something that I did not grow up with, but since being with Marcus, have been immersed in. I love my hunter and the deer chili I get to enjoy from his harvest.]

This season in the deer woods was very different in comparison to previous years. Surprisingly to no one, having a child certainly limits the hours you can spend afield. Nevertheless, with the permission of a far-too-understanding wife, I was able to embark on a five day “rutcation” that paid off at 5:15 p.m. on November 8.

This day, my favorite of the year to be in a tree stand, I was lucky enough to harvest a whitetail buck with my bow. I owe a great deal of thanks to my wife, Nicole, and little boy, Everett, for allowing me to pursue my passion of all things outdoors. And I’d also like to give a shout out to my good friend, Alex Randall, for all of his help in getting this guy on the ground and in the freezer.

That’s right. I’m the cook in this family and the deer that I harvest get prepared into delicious meals for my loved ones. Here is one of my favorite ways to serve up venison:

[downloadable Red Wine Deer Chili recipe]

For those of you who are wondering, the buck will be immortalized on my wall, by my good friend at All That’s Wild Taxidermy in Granger, Iowa. Here is some of the gear I trust to take into the field:

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