Meat - It's what's getting scarce

[JEBar]

Given the experience I've had hunting over the last couple years, I would starve if forced to rely on harvested wild animals.

ain't that the truth .... our sons were brought up hunting (as was I) .... by the time they were 8 and 9, they could take a deer from walking to packed and in a cooler faster than most men in our hunting club .... none of us has hunted in way too many years but should the need arise, we could most certainly do so again ....my hope and belief is, that will not be necessary

[cooperhawk]

I would actually not mind living off of seafood, at all. Prefer it over meat anyway.

We think alike a lot on that. Problem is shellfish is high in cholesterol. I do eat a lot of seafood as it is.

[JEBar]

I've long subscribed to following a SEE FOOD diet .... the vast majority of the time, when I see food, I eat it

[RanchRoper]

Saw an elk herd today of about 400 or so...one won't be missed...

[markiver54]

Saw an elk herd today of about 400 or so...one won't be missed...

Hope ya took one...you'll be set with good protein for a while, and nobody will know the difference. Not even the Elk.

[BigAl52]

Id rather eat elk of buffalo any day that eat a cow.

[RanchRoper]

Buffalo burgers are sure good eatin'....

[BigAl52]

The wife and I buy Buffalo all the time. She was reluctant at first to even try it but now that she has she says the same thing give me a buffalo burger any day of the week over a beef burger.

[GunnyGene]

The only meat shortage is in the supermarkets. Farmers are literally killing off hogs and cattle so they don't have to continue to feed them. The problem is the slaughter houses are either shut down or at reduced capacity. Trump has declared them a national necessity and they are slowly getting back to work. Once the supply chain is back there will be plenty of meat again.

I live deep in the woods but the deer that roam around our home, and eat my Wife's Hostas, don't belong to me. On the other hand if I see a poacher I will call the authorities.

What MS is doing about it:

Stronger Food Supply Chain in MS

Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce, Andy Gipson, outlined steps being taken by the Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce to strengthen the state’s food supply chain in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. The initiatives expand farm-to-table efforts and increase food security and the availability of Mississippi food for Mississippians.

Initiative 1: Commissioner Gipson signed an emergency rule to expand the custom slaughter exemption by increasing the allowed number of shares sold per animal. The 120-day emergency rule will expire; however, the Department will file a regular rule change to make this a permanent rule. Commissioner Gipson says this action will provide additional options for both farmers and consumers.

Initiative 2: The launch of the Mississippi Farm Marketplace, an online marketing portal that gives farmers a place to list commodities they have for sale, while providing consumers a location to easily source local products. A variety of commodities can be listed including produce, meats, dairy products, honey, live animals for custom slaughter, eggs, aquaculture, seafood, and horticulture products. In addition, the portal contains a listing of on-farm jobs available.

https://agnet.mdac.ms.gov/MarketPortal/About

Initiative 3: Commissioner Gipson discussed the need to expand meat processing capacity in the state as some producers are unable to get meat processed because many processing facilities are at capacity. He invited existing meat processors to submit applications to the Mississippi Land, Water, and Timber Resources Program to upgrade their facilities to federally inspected status, or expand their facilities for additional processing capacity.

[daytime dave]

The Official Seal of my small town in CT includes an image of a gray squirrel. During the Great Depression of the 1930s, residents hunted them for food when times were hard.

Squirrel is lean meat (need to add fat or oil ). Brown slowly in a small amount of fat in a fry pan or Dutch oven. Season with salt and pepper. Cover and simmer in low heat from 1 to 1 1/2 hours . Remove the cover the last 15 min. for a crisper crust.

A .410 in the fall woods is a pleasant way to fill both the plate and the soul.

[cooperhawk]

Id rather eat elk of buffalo any day that eat a cow.

Me too, but all the elk growers around here have gone under. I do know of one buffalo farmer but it's a small operation.
I'm too old to go out and kill one anymore. I do let friends hunt on our property and if they kill a deer they usually share with us.
Usually sausage or jerky.

[ChefDuane]

I am no hunter and have never field dressed an animal, but I am not dangerous. What I, as a non-hunter, would do is seek out the counsel and expertise of an individual such as yourself and offer my services (whatever they may be) to assist you in the hunt. I would only ask that you teach me to hunt and then we both could reap the benefits of the additional sustenance.

I would agree that poachers are the one's we should worry about most.

So sorry chef, my intent was not intended to insult any experienced shooters. Guess I was just referring to the panic gun buyers who may be dangerous because of lack of experience.
Would love for you to prepare the harvest.
No offense intended at all!

No offense taken at all. I was just replying as to what I would do as a non-hunter. If I have no expertise in a specific area I have no problem with finding individual that DOES have the expertise and learning from them. In return, I may be able to offer something of value. And I'm sure there are plenty of non-hunters yet experienced with firearms who think they can buy a rifle and a permit, put on an orange vest, and assume that they now have hunting expertise. Good way to get yourself (or others) shot. I did not take your post as offensive so no problem here. This makes me recall some words I heard years ago and try to live by today.

"Acknowledging your ignorance is a great step on the road to wisdom." - Benjamin Disraeli

[cooperhawk]

Shot my first turkey yesterday. Now I'm banned from the frozen food section at Walmart.

[JEBar]

be sure to remove the neck and giblets when you clean it ...

[cooperhawk]

It is illegal for the farmer to butcher the hog and then sell it to you, (unless he has a shop and the meat is inspected by the USDA), but you can do it yourself. Perhaps the farmer would let you kill and field dress it on his property.
Growing up in rural Minnesota it was quite normal for families to do this in the farm yard. My Mother and her sisters would render the lard and make sure none of the hog went to waste.
Farmers around here are advertising to sell hogs to the public.

Here's another thought.
https://www.google.com/search?client=fi ... az8LC4Ag50

[Dahliathemeh]

I have a friend that was a butcher at whole foods that will show me how to break down some meat if I ever got my first deer! I just need someone to show me the how to's of our regulations book. I'm chomping the bit to get out there and get off the processed foods!

[GunnyGene]

I have a friend that was a butcher at whole foods that will show me how to break down some meat if I ever got my first deer! I just need someone to show me the how to's of our regulations book. I'm chomping the bit to get out there and get off the processed foods!

What regulations are you referring to? Unless you're planning on selling the meat, there are no regulations that I know of pertaining to your own personal or family consumption. There are State game/hunting regs of course if that's what you're talking about. Other than that just don't get premature about making the shot. Be patient and wait for a good shot to the vitals, so you don't have to track the critter down. I usually aim for a high shoulder hit, which will normally drop the deer instantly.

Here's a target you can print out:

[Dahliathemeh]

Ooooo thank you!
I mean the walk through on the book and lotteries and lands. That stuff.

[GunnyGene]

Ooooo thank you!
I mean the walk through on the book and lotteries and lands. That stuff.

You're welcome. I'm not real knowledgeable about your State hunting regs, so you're on your own with that. MS is pretty lenient compared to most other States.

As for where to aim on a deer, the critter doesn't always present you with that perfect broadside opportunity as shown in the target above, so you may have to forego a shot. Or if you trust yourself, adjust your POA for a quartering or other less than optimum shot. Not recommended until you have some experience under your belt. Anyway, happy hunting this coming season.

ETA: Here's some common examples of where to aim and the advantages and disadvantages of other than a broadside presentation:

https://outdoorever.com/best-places-to- ... tab-con-11

[clovishound]

I have a friend that was a butcher at whole foods that will show me how to break down some meat if I ever got my first deer! I just need someone to show me the how to's of our regulations book. I'm chomping the bit to get out there and get off the processed foods!

The easiest way to learn to hunt is to get together with someone who is experienced at hunting.

The other thing is to be serious about it. My hunt buddy is experienced, but neither of us is serious about filling the freezer. I work nights and am unwilling to get up in the middle of my normal sleep schedule to be out in the woods as the sun is coming up. He and I are just out there enjoying the outdoors and good company. Well, I am anyway. Filling the freezer is a nice, if it happens. I've been hunting with him for several years and have yet to fire a shot. No regrets.

If I really wanted a feral hog or deer meat, I would spend more time in the woods, and approach it more methodically.

Another thing that helps is if you can get access to hunt on land that is not open to the public. Again, my buddy and I hunt the Wildlife Management Areas in our state. Some really beautiful places, but there are a lot of other people hunting these areas. Buddy's son has permission to hunt a farm upstate. he gets several harvests a season there. Farmer just want the critters eating his profits gone. I've been invited as well, but would have to get up way too early for me to be there when we needed to start the hunt. Maybe after I retire.