Posted a ton of photos!

It's has been a wild few days. We've had deer coming in like crazy. They are almost all coming in from evening hunts. A few people have mentioned that acorns are beginning to fall, so consider that when scouting for your best spots.
Margaret Boykin brought in her first buck, an 8 point, on Saturday.
Click on the title link to see more.
Share your stories and let us know what you are seeing out there!

Two for two! D.F. Jenkins got a 10 point last year and this one, too!

Last year D. F. Jenkins killed a big 10 point at the first of the season. So his dad, Dee Jenkins, was giving him a heads up that this year he couldn't expect to get another one. The hunt is all about the chase and you don't always get a trophy every year and you just have to enjoy your memories and .... D.F. came in all smiles again to prove his daddy wrong!

Photo links fixed

If you've had trouble seeing the enlarged photos from earlier in the year, check back now. We had some technical trouble caused by creator ignorance, but I think they are working now.
Claudia

Whew! Five Big Bucks!

No time to post all the pics now, but we were loaded with deer, both does and bucks, and pigs tonight. We checked in 5 bucks that dressed over 100 lbs.! Check back tomorrow for more pics. Bobby Creech brought in this big 8 point buck.

Want to be in the news?

We've had quite a few calls from various media folks who are looking to go on gator hunting trips to photograph or video the hunt. If you'd be interested in having someone join you, contact us or post your invitation here using the link labeled "Share your stories here".
Claudia

The short - but eventful - life of Ike - The Big Picture - Boston.com

The short - but eventful - life of Ike - The Big Picture - Boston.com

Posted using ShareThis

News Flash! 2008 Big Buck Record broken!

Dave Olson got a 200 lb. 14 point deer last night. It's dressed weight is 128.4 lbs. That makes it the reigning record holder for 2008! Congratulations, Dave. If he can hold on to the record until Sept. 27th, he's the winner of a free tree stand and if he's still the top dog at the end of the season he wins the Record Breaker Shotgun. Click on the link above to see what else came in last night.

Sirloin Veggie Stir-Fry

Sirloin Veggie Stir-Fry

1½ pounds trimmed boneless beef

3 Tbsp soy sauce

1 bunch broccoli

2 squash

2 zucchini

1 red or green pepper

1 cup shredded carrots

3 Tbsp olive oil

½ tsp garlic powder (¼ tsp=1 clove)

½ pound angel hair pasta

1 cup beef broth (1 can works fine)

1 Tbsp corn starch

Wash and cut the vegetables into slices (I like to cut my vegetables into really thin slices, but it is personal preference). Steam the veggies and set aside. (OR you can choose to stir fry the vegetables in oil).

Cook the noodles according to box directions and set them aside.

Stir fry the meat in the oil. You may need to add some water with a beef bouillon cube to allow the meat to simmer longer. Once the meat is tender, add the veggies to the pan.

Mix the corn starch with a cup of beef broth. Pour the mixture over the beef and veggies. Mix in the garlic powder and soy sauce if you want some extra flavor. Stir until it has thickened (about a minute or two).

Serve the meat and veggies over the angel hair noodles.

For more recipes, click on the title link above. Let me know how you like it!

Kristin

Jeff Stone wins the free deer stand for Sept. 13th

Jeff Stone got the biggest buck for the two week period from August 31st to September 13th. Somehow we missed having him pose for a photo, but we do have one of the runner -up, Judson Franks. Judson missed out on the free deerstand prize by just one pound! Click on the title link for more photos.

Venison: For many, a deerly beloved option

Check out this article in The State newspaper by Susan Ardis on venison by clicking on the title link above. We have at least one customer who has a beef allergy like the guy in the article. We also get calls from people whose doctor has recommended that they switch to venison for heart problems. I wish there was a way to link people who need to eat venison for health reasons and hunters who have more venison than they need. As you can imagine, we're reluctant to match these two groups together, because if money passed hands between the two, it would appear that we are encouraging or assisting in the sale of venison. Anybody have suggestions?
Claudia

Ok, so no one will talk to me...

I saw a story on the big gator on the 11 o'clock news on Channel 4 and read about it in the Spartanburg paper. You know, it makes you realize the power of media when a story can travel so fast. We talked with probably 30 gator hunters yesterday who are planning on going this weekend to get one. So the next big guy might be right around the corner. I'm encouraging the hunters to send in videos of the hunt or let me know so I can link to their YouTube clips. We don't always have a professional photographer on hand, but we always have my trusty Kodak. So stay tuned.

The cooler weather this morning has brought in a few wild hogs along with a few morning deer hunters. No big bucks in the last few days, just lots of does.
Claudia

Cordray's and the Big Gator in the news

I'm getting reports from all over that Cordray's was mentioned on TV tonight. We're out here checking in deer - yes, people are sitting in treestands with all this lightning - and haven't seen it. Send in a comment below by clicking on "Share your stories here" to share where you've seen the story picked up. It really is quite amazing how news travels!
Claudia

What You Need to Know About the Beef You Eat

I ran across this article a few weeks back and got permission to link to it from here.

What You Need to Know About The Beef You Eat
by Jo Robinson, in Mother Earth News magazine

Supermarket beef is an unnatural, industrial product. It can include antibiotics, added hormones, feed additives, flavor enhancers, age-delaying gases and salt-water solutions, all in an attempt to get cattle to market faster. Industrial farming also has introduced mad cow disease and the deadliest strain of E. coli. These unnatural additives and procedures also put more stress on the animals while giving us less nutritious meat. The good news is there are better and safer options. Look for options such as organic or grass-fed, and start in your local community.

To read the complete article, click here: Mother Earth News
In the article, they describe how beef used to be raised on small farms. That's just how we do it at Cordray's. But when you get yours back, it's in vacuum sealed freezer bags, not wrapped in butcher paper and tied with string! Click here to read about all natural, locally grown Cordray Farms Beef.

Claudia

Cordray's in the news with the big alligator!

Click on the title link to take a look at today's Post and Courier article on the big gator from Saturday. The article's also been picked up by the AP and so may appear all over the world! It's been quite a busy morning here with calls from the TV stations as well. They are ready to report on the next BIG one! Hopefully, we'll get in a few more big gators to show off over the coming weeks. Bring them in to Cordray's and make your gator a STAR!
For more photos of the Mertings' alligator, click here.

More gator photos!

By now most of you know our sons, Kenneth, the taxidermist, and Tristan,the dentist, but you may not know our daughter, Michelle DiMaio. Michelle's a professional children's photographer and a full time mom. So although, alligators aren't her usual subjects, she can take some awesome shots. She was here visiting when Mark Merting brought in the big gator. So I've added some more pictures that she sent me today. Her photos will also be appearing in a Post and Courier article and SC Sportsman article due out soon. If you'd like to see her photography of much cuter subjects, check out her business website. So now, I've used this blog to shamelessly plug all three of my children and the businesses they own. It is good to be the webmistress!
Claudia

Now where did he get these nice teeth?

I have it on good authority that this big guy has his teeth work done at St. Stephen Family Dentistry! He was taken near Russelville. Scroll down to view more pictures of this big gator taken by Mark Merting on the blog or click on any title links to take you to the photo pages. I'll be posting new photos as I get them in today.

Grandma Cordray's Fried Steak

Grandma Cordray's Fried Steak

Round steak slices - Cordray Farms beef round steak has been through the cuber once, and works great for this recipe. When using venison ham slices, add tenderizer!

Soak the meat in white vinegar for 10 to 15 minutes.

Dredge it in flour, making sure to get it thoroughly covered.
Salt and pepper liberally.

Pan fry in about 1/4 inch of oil. Be sure it's crispy fried!

Now put your cardiac warnings on hold and serve with homemade french fries! It's especially good if you've been bailing hay or plowing fields all day. Top off with a quart of sweet tea and peach cobbler.

For the record, she's been making this for my dad for over 60 years and he's made it to 88, so it can't be that bad for you!
Michael C.

Safety tip on gators!

Just a quick note on gator safety. I know everyone's worried about the teeth and the tail, but what also could get you is the bacteria! Remember how no one can buy those tiny baby turtles because of salmonella? Well, think about how much bacteria those big guys get soaking in the shallows of our creeks, rivers, and runoff areas? Here at Cordray's, we are washing them down with a mild Clorox solution before we ever open the carcass and expose the meat. We are getting them skinned or caped quickly and cooling the meat carefully to keep its quality the best. When you handle the carcasses, wash your hands thoroughly and sanitize any knives or other equipment you use. Alligator carcasses should never be stored in areas that could contaminate other food items or meat. Don't let that gator have the last laugh!

Cordray's in the news!

There's a great article in today's Post and Courier on alligator hunting. Cordray's friends, Taylor and Bailey Dukes, were shadowed on the first day hunt. They all came by to have a look at the gators checked in Saturday morning. They just missed Merting's huge gator. For a while it looked like the paparazzi around here with the newspaper guys and cameras flashing. We had weekend company when our daughter, Michelle, brought home the grandchildren and it was kids, dogs, gators, customers, and generally chaos.

We opened this morning from 7:30 to 10:00 and checked in a few more gators. This one was from the same three guys from yesterday, Murph, Bolt, and Adcock. He was 10 ft. 3 inches. They've got one more tag, so maybe we'll see them again in a few weeks. Notice the tied up legs, and duct tape on the mouth? That's a really good idea. The first one brought in Saturday morning was very much alive! Something about getting one of these guys in our tiny skinning room and having him shake off a bad headache, just give me the creeps. Tie 'em up, guys!
Click on the title link above to access the newspaper article or Big, Bad, & Unusual to see more photos.