The amount of time it takes for a single person to eat an entire deer depends on various factors, such as how the meat is prepared, how often the person eats it, and the quantity of meat they consume at each meal. A deer can provide a large amount of meat, so realistically, eating it all will take a significant amount of time if you're eating it alone.

Here's a breakdown of the factors to consider when estimating how long it might take one person to eat a deer:

1. Amount of Meat a Deer Provides

The amount of edible meat a deer yields depends on its size and how well it’s processed. On average, a deer will provide around 40 to 70 pounds of usable meat, though this can vary. The meat includes:

• Steaks (from the backstraps and other parts)
• Roasts (from the shoulder, hindquarters, etc.)
• Ground meat (from trimming)
• Venison stew meat (for soups or stews)
• Organs (heart, liver, etc.)

2. Average Portion Sizes

For a single person, the typical serving size of venison is approximately 4 to 6 ounces per meal, though some might consume more, especially if it’s a favorite dish or during special occasions.

• 4 ounces per meal = ~0.25 pounds of meat per meal
• 6 ounces per meal = ~0.375 pounds of meat per meal

If you were to eat venison every day, the number of days it would take to finish a deer would depend on how much meat you’re eating each day.

3. Estimating the Time Based on Daily Consumption

Let's assume a moderate average portion size of 4 ounces per meal and a reasonable consumption rate of one meal per day.

• If a deer yields 50 pounds of usable meat and you eat 4 ounces per meal, you can divide the total weight by the serving size to estimate how long it would take:
  • 50 pounds / 0.25 pounds per day = 200 days

This would mean it could take around 200 days (about 6 and a half months) for one person to finish eating a deer if they were eating a portion of venison every day.

If you ate larger portions, such as 6 ounces per meal, the time frame would be shorter:

• 50 pounds / 0.375 pounds per day = 133 days

This would result in approximately 4.5 months to finish a deer at this consumption rate.

4. Cooking and Meal Variety

The time it takes to consume a deer also depends on how it's prepared and consumed. Venison can be cooked in a variety of ways (grilled, roasted, stewed, ground into burgers, sausages, etc.), which might change how much you consume in one sitting. Additionally, if you prepare the meat in bulk, you may eat it more quickly.

• If you make stews, soups, or sausages, these can last for several meals and may speed up the process of consuming the meat.
• If you preserve the meat (e.g., freezing or canning), you could stretch out the time frame and consume it over a longer period, but it still takes time to go through all the stored meat.

5. Special Occasions or Eating Habits

If you eat venison as a primary part of your diet or enjoy larger portions occasionally, the time it takes to eat the deer might decrease. For instance, if you enjoy venison and eat it several times a week or use it for special meals, you could finish it faster. In this case:

• Eating 2-3 times per week would reduce the time to around 2-3 months.

Conclusion

For one person, it would generally take anywhere from 3 to 6 months to consume a whole deer, depending on portion sizes, frequency of consumption, and how the meat is prepared. The time frame could be longer or shorter depending on how often you eat venison and whether you're eating it as your main meat source or just as an occasional treat.