#156 - Jake Muise: Humanely harvesting axis deer while alleviating its impact on Hawaii's vulnerable ecosystems
Jake Muise, founder and CEO of Maui Nui Venison, shares his journey from Arctic Canada to Hawaii, detailing his passion for conservation. He explains how his company humanely harvests invasive axis deer to protect Hawaii's ecosystems and provide nutrient-dense, ethically sourced food.
Deep Dive Analysis
15 Topic Outline
Jake Muise's Arctic Upbringing and Early Life
Discovering Volleyball and Moving to Hawaii
Assimilation into Hawaiian Culture and Moloka'i
Professional Volleyball Career and Return to Hawaii
History and Proliferation of Axis Deer in Hawaii
The Big Island Axis Deer Eradication Project
Developing FLIR Technology for Animal Detection
Ecological Impact of Imbalanced Axis Deer Populations
Lava Flow Animal Rescue on the Big Island
Founding Maui Nui Venison and USDA Certification Challenges
Maui Nui's Humane Field Harvesting Process
Nutritional Superiority of Axis Deer Meat
The Concept of 'Nose to Tail' and Bone Broth Benefits
Achieving Balance in Axis Deer Populations
Maui Nui Venison's Charitable Work During COVID-19
5 Key Concepts
Axis Deer Proliferation
Axis deer are a tropical species unique among deer for their ability to breed year-round. Unlike other deer whose testosterone levels drop and sperm becomes unviable when antlers cast, axis deer maintain high enough testosterone to reproduce continuously, leading to rapid population growth rates of approximately 33% per year in Hawaii.
Ungulate Impact on Watersheds
Cloven-hoofed animals like axis deer, goats, and pigs significantly degrade Hawaii's native forest understory, which evolved without large grazing mammals. This degradation reduces the efficiency of watersheds in capturing fog and rain, leading to less water entering aquifers and increased soil runoff into oceans, harming coral reefs.
Anti-Mortem Inspection (Field)
This is a USDA requirement for meat processing, where an inspector must verify an animal's health before slaughter. Maui Nui Venison conducts this in the field at night using FLIR equipment to observe wild, unstressed deer at rest and in motion, ensuring they are healthy for consumption, a process deemed more detailed than traditional corral inspections.
Central Nervous System Death
This refers to the immediate and instantaneous death of an animal caused by a high-power ballistic shot to the head, which results in brain swelling. This method is considered the most humane as the animal has no awareness of the event and ceases to have consciousness the moment it occurs, unlike hemorrhagic shock from archery.
Mauka to Makai
This Hawaiian concept describes the interconnectedness of land and sea, from the mountains (mauka) to the ocean (makai). It highlights how environmental impacts, such as soil erosion and nitrogen runoff from deer feces in the mountains, have a direct and detrimental effect on coastal ecosystems like coral reefs.
6 Questions Answered
Axis deer were first introduced to Moloka'i in 1868 by King Kamehameha V, with two bucks and five does from India. They were later introduced to Lanai in the 1920s and Maui in the 1960s, despite controversies, leading to established populations on these three islands.
Axis deer are a tropical species that can breed year-round, unlike most deer that cast antlers and experience a drop in testosterone. This allows females to produce approximately three fawns every two years, leading to a 33% annual population growth rate in Hawaii's predator-free environment with abundant feed.
Imbalanced axis deer populations decimate native plants in watersheds, reducing water capture and increasing soil runoff into oceans, which smothers and bleaches coral reefs. They also compete with cattle for feed, destroy crops, and pose a significant road hazard.
Maui Nui employs a field-based, USDA-certified process at night. They use FLIR equipment to locate unstressed, healthy deer, which are then harvested with a precise headshot, ensuring immediate central nervous system death without the animal or surrounding herd being aware of the event.
Axis deer are primarily grass eaters and highly intelligent, selective foragers, which contributes to their meat having very low intramuscular fat (around 0.4%) and high omega-3 fatty acids. Their stress-free field harvest also prevents the buildup of cortisol and lactate, resulting in cleaner-tasting, nutrient-dense meat.
Balance involves managing deer density on private lands to reduce ecological damage and support food security, without aiming for eradication. It means finding population levels that minimize impact on watersheds, agriculture, and roadways, while still providing a valuable food resource, with specific targets determined by individual landowners.
25 Actionable Insights
1. Prioritize Wild Game for Health
Consume wild game from healthy, naturally fed animals (like axis deer or elk) because it’s hard to be healthier than the animal you’re eating, and this can significantly improve personal health and change perceptions about food.
2. Adopt “Wiegans” Diet
Consider a “Wiegans” dietary approach by prioritizing wild-sourced meat and vegetables, as this combination can provide optimal nutrition and align with ethical consumption.
3. Incorporate High-Protein Bone Broth
Drink bone broth, especially from wild or regeneratively raised animals like axis deer, as it can be a potent source of protein, testing 33% higher in protein per ounce than conventional beef bones.
4. Support Humane Wild Game Harvesting
Support companies that utilize highly humane and efficient methods for harvesting wild game, as this not only provides high-quality food but also aids in ecological balance and invasive species management.
5. Understand Meat Harvesting Process
If you eat meat, take the time to understand the process involved in bringing it to your table, as this awareness fosters a deeper connection to your food choices.
6. Strategic Imperfection in Tasks
In precision tasks with significant consequences, train for strategic imperfection (e.g., a “perfect miss” that causes no harm) to increase safety margins and prevent critical errors.
7. Adjust for Sleep Deprivation
Recognize that poor sleep negatively impacts nervous system function and reaction time; adjust performance expectations and increase safety margins when operating in a sleep-deprived state.
8. Develop Animal Behavior Knowledge
For precise and ethical animal harvesting, cultivate an intimate understanding of specific animal behaviors and subtle cues (e.g., ear dips, nose movements) to anticipate actions.
9. Collect Data for Improvement
Implement rigorous data collection on performance metrics (e.g., proficiency rates, occurrences) to justify operational requirements, identify areas for improvement, and enhance overall efficiency.
10. Reduce Conventional Meat Consumption
Consider reducing your appetite for conventional store-bought meat and opting for smaller, higher-quality portions or sustainably sourced wild game.
11. Practice Nose-to-Tail Utilization
When harvesting animals, commit to nose-to-tail utilization, using not just meat but also hides, hooves, and organs, to maximize the resource and minimize waste.
12. Enhance Local Food Security
Support and develop local food production systems, especially those that manage invasive species, to build community resilience and food security against economic or environmental disruptions.
13. Incentivize Landowners for Management
For private landowners dealing with invasive species, establish partnerships that offer economic value (e.g., payment per pound) for humane harvesting, transforming a liability into a sustainable resource.
14. Utilize Skills in New Communities
When moving or entering new communities, leverage existing skills or learn new ones (like a sport or hobby) as a valuable way to integrate and meet new people.
15. Recognize Hypothermia Symptoms
Be aware that feeling tired can be an early onset of hypothermia; if experienced, immediately seek warmth indoors to prevent further progression.
16. Trust Professional Expertise
In critical or high-risk situations, place trust in the expertise of trained professionals (e.g., pilots, guides), as their experience is crucial for safety and successful outcomes.
17. Understand Animal Superpowers
When hunting, learn and respect each animal’s unique “superpowers” (e.g., pig’s smell, mouflon’s sight, axis deer’s combined senses) to enhance hunting strategy and success.
18. Utilize FLIR for Night Detection
Employ FLIR (thermal imaging) equipment for effective detection and tracking of animals, particularly during nocturnal operations, to gain a significant advantage in observation.
19. Confirm Absence with Advanced Tools
Use advanced detection tools like FLIR not only to locate targets but also to confidently certify the absence of subjects in large areas, streamlining search and management efforts.
20. Optimize Operational Range
In physically demanding tasks with limited time, optimize your operational range (e.g., harvesting closer animals) to maximize overall efficiency and yield, rather than pursuing distant, less efficient opportunities.
21. Respect Diverse Dietary Choices
While advocating for informed food choices, always respect individual decisions regarding diet (e.g., veganism), recognizing that not all meat sources are created equal in terms of quality or ethical considerations.
22. Plan Groceries for Isolation
If living in or moving to isolated areas, plan and collect groceries for extended periods (e.g., 8-9 months) to ensure a consistent food supply.
23. Shovel Roof in Snowy Climates
In regions with heavy snowfall, regularly shovel your roof to prevent excessive snow accumulation that could pose a structural risk to the building.
24. Consider Subsistence Hunting
Explore subsistence hunting as a method to secure a sustainable food source, especially in remote or resource-limited environments.
25. Challenge with Axis Deer Hunting
For experienced hunters seeking a high level of challenge, consider hunting axis deer, known for their acute senses and evasive skills.
5 Key Quotes
If you can successfully harvest an axis deer with a bull, you can do almost any other animal on the planet.
Jake Muise
I think their level of intelligence in what they eat is translating to their nutritional value.
Jake Muise
If it's not wild and it's not vegetables, we're not eating it.
Jake Muise
We love these animals. The relationship with them started in this place where there was nothing but respect for them.
Jake Muise
Our mission is to balance populations. Our mission isn't to get rid of these animals. Like we find them. It's an incredible resource for our communities when balanced. And the only way we do that is people need to eat them.
Jake Muise
2 Protocols
Maui Nui Venison Humane Field Harvest Protocol
Jake Muise- Locate a group of axis deer in their natural environment at night, ensuring they are unstressed and unaware of human presence.
- Conduct an anti-mortem inspection using FLIR binocular units to verify the health of individual animals with extraordinary detail.
- Obtain approval from the USDA inspector, who views the animals via the FLIR screen, confirming their healthy and unstressed state.
- Harvest the selected animal with a precise headshot, ensuring immediate central nervous system death without alerting the animal or the rest of the herd.
- Process the animal following strict USDA field slaughter facility requirements, including immediate bleeding and cooling, to maintain meat quality and safety.
Lava Flow Farm Animal Rescue Protocol
Jake Muise- Utilize FLIR equipment from a helicopter to quickly identify the number and location of animals trapped by lava flows.
- Deploy a custom-designed live cattle net capture system, consisting of a large circular frame with a triangle net, from a helicopter.
- Maneuver the helicopter to place the net cone over the animal, then release the top of the net to secure the animal in a 'hammock' cradle.
- Transport the animal via helicopter, using the heat from lava flows to assist with lift when carrying heavy animals like bulls.
- Release the animal at a safe corral system, allowing it to stand up and walk out of the net without injury or undue stress.