Make venison stock by placing bones in slow cooker, with a quartered onion, a few cloves garlic a few sprigs of thyme, add salt and pepper to taste. Cook on low for 8 hours.
Measure out 5 cups stock, add the the rest of ingredients, except barley. Cook for at least 4 hours on low.
When vegetables are tender, add barley. Continue to cook for one hour.
Serve hot with bread.
Notes
Freeze additional venison stock for use in other recipes.Cut venison into fairly small cubes.Brown venison on all sides.