Best food ever while out hunting

[William Lincoln]

As a teenager I ran my airboat out of Andytown in the 1960's frogging. I had an
old plywood camp on the Miami canal river bank. Before knocking off I would
idle through some sloughs and gig bass and huge Brim -and those plus a few
tatters from a burlap croaker sack was cooked staked by the fire's edge. As I sat
alongside the deep Miami canal (New River--some called Miami River) wearing my headlight
I would throw my scraps into the dark flowing waters-often a big swirl would result.
Maybe a gator or big gar--who knows? I would stay out for as many days as I
had jerry cans of gas. There were 2. 2 million residents of Florida, they taught us in
school in those days. This was before Alligator Alley was built. Today there are 30 or
so millions and just as many freedom sapping regulations . Those days are
gone forever and my sadness is for the young people ,who, for many, will
never have the chance to dine alone under God's great star spangled night
in the American wilderness.

 

[DuncNZ]

On long hard day hunts where there was little water I used to carry a can of Coke , the funny thing is when you are hot and sweaty and very thirsty a warm can of coke doesn't taste like coke , it tastes spicy and completely different from a cold coke . Now days I carry sachets of electrolyte replacement drink powder , and a platypus collapsible water bottle with a hose and bite valve ( or Camel back). The best thing with these collapsible bottles is they don't gurgle and slosh when you are stalking and are easily refilled from the nearest creek . No chocolate bars , the sugar rush is not desirable , dried apricots are much favored as a snack by New Zealand hunters .
All rubbish is carried out in a ziplock bag .

 

[tallpine]

Many years ago when my son was about ten years old he opened up a can of Vienna sausages we had brought home from a hunting trip . After eating a few, he said, Dad, these Vienna sausages just don't taste as good as they did when we were in the woods hunting. I said, yes son, that's why we hunt, everything about it is magical.

 

[oldwood]

This is sorta not food , but was a memorable blessing , one day in m/l deer season. This particular year , it snowed every Wednesday for about 4 weeks in the Central Pa. mountains. My hunting buddy , had developed a very painful heal spur on one foot , and could only kinda drag one foot through the 20 " snow , and couldn't break trail for the 1 1/2 mile walk into where the deer herd was yarded up. The trail breaking fell to me. Off we went as day was coming , up the woods road . we got back into the place where we separated , i went up another 1/10 mile on the hill , and Gimpy , my partner , went a little ways more. On the last tenth mile up a steep place , I felt a sharp pain in both groin muscles , then the pain was so intense , I couldn't walk. Even standing was painful . Never had anything like that happen before , so sat down and the pain lessened. Got up again , and wow , pain . Realized I couldn't possibly hunt with this level of pain , and the thought hit me , I would look really stupid to the local fire men, that would have to ruin their day to get me out of the mess. Called my buddy on the radio , and told him what had happened , and he said for me to try going back down hill , if i could stand the pain. In an hour , I had made it back to our meeting place , and discussed my options. He said we could try something. He dumped his pack , and out fell a pint of Christian Brother's Brandy. He said , his Grand Pa had always carried the same emergency , "Medicinal" elixir with him when he was young, and being taught , by Gramp's to hunt deer. We analysed the situation , both of us being slightly incapacitated by different pain. We split equally the pint of elixir , and before we had finished it , we began to be able to walk w/ bearable pain. We got back to the truck , went for lunch , and bagged the days hunt , as just another experience for the books.........oldwood

 

[D.Summers]

Love dried apricots! My soon to be ex wife said they felt like ears to her teeth!!

 

[D.Summers]

Oldwood, what a wonderful story! I hope you completely recovered from your ailment that day! My dad always had a small bottle of what he called "Sweet Lucy"! Said a small swig would cure what ailed ya! I believe today that it was some kind of fortified wine!

 

[DuncNZ]

This is sorta not food , but was a memorable blessing , one day in m/l deer season. This particular year , it snowed every Wednesday for about 4 weeks in the Central Pa. mountains. My hunting buddy , had developed a very painful heal spur on one foot , and could only kinda drag one foot through the 20 " snow , and couldn't break trail for the 1 1/2 mile walk into where the deer herd was yarded up. The trail breaking fell to me. Off we went as day was coming , up the woods road . we got back into the place where we separated , i went up another 1/10 mile on the hill , and Gimpy , my partner , went a little ways more. On the last tenth mile up a steep place , I felt a sharp pain in both groin muscles , then the pain was so intense , I couldn't walk. Even standing was painful . Never had anything like that happen before , so sat down and the pain lessened. Got up again , and wow , pain . Realized I couldn't possibly hunt with this level of pain , and the thought hit me , I would look really stupid to the local fire men, that would have to ruin their day to get me out of the mess. Called my buddy on the radio , and told him what had happened , and he said for me to try going back down hill , if i could stand the pain. In an hour , I had made it back to our meeting place , and discussed my options. He said we could try something. He dumped his pack , and out fell a pint of Christian Brother's Brandy. He said , his Grand Pa had always carried the same emergency , "Medicinal" elixir with him when he was young, and being taught , by Gramp's to hunt deer. We analysed the situation , both of us being slightly incapacitated by different pain. We split equally the pint of elixir , and before we had finished it , we began to be able to walk w/ bearable pain. We got back to the truck , went for lunch , and bagged the days hunt , as just another experience for the books.........oldwood

Sounds like you got cramp . I used to get it, now I have a drink of a hydration / salt replacement called Enerlyte , or Gastrolyte , One before I go hunting , then another one mid day and evening . This sorts out the cramp , and I think the before and evening drinks are the most important . Unfortunately alcohol doesn't help when it comes to Hypothermia and exhaustion .

 

[D.Summers]

So true. It can make it worse!

 

[Tenring]

Since I buy the Grandkids Snacks when they come over I help myself to one of there fruit bars , gummy bears, m&m’s ,or Granola bars. Oh yea..This gets me through a hunting afternoon.

 

[Reno]

Jerky and pemmican

 

[B P Arn]

Pop Tarts

Finally!!! A truthful reply!

 

[Whughett]

As a teenager I ran my airboat out of Andytown in the 1960's frogging. I had an
old plywood camp on the Miami canal river bank. Before knocking off I would
idle through some sloughs and gig bass and huge Brim -and those plus a few
tatters from a burlap croaker sack was cooked staked by the fire's edge. As I sat
alongside the deep Miami canal (New River--some called Miami River) wearing my headlight
I would throw my scraps into the dark flowing waters-often a big swirl would result.
Maybe a gator or big gar--who knows? I would stay out for as many days as I
had jerry cans of gas. There were 2. 2 million residents of Florida, they taught us in
school in those days. This was before Alligator Alley was built. Today there are 30 or
so millions and just as many freedom sapping regulations . Those days are
gone forever and my sadness is for the young people ,who, for many, will
never have the chance to dine alone under God's great star spangled night
in the American wilderness.

Love that story.
I and my bride were, for 19 beautiful winters part of those 30 million inhabitants of Florida, South West, Charlotte County. Took advantage of the current buying craze there and sold out this past April. Returned to liberal Rhode Island. A life time of living in the North East and it’s blue state politics made me appreciate the free state of Florida, heck I even had a carry permit, all the more.
The state must have been truly wonderful in the years you spoke of.

 

[B P Arn]

-and those plus a few tatters from a burlap croaker sack was cooked staked by the fire's edge....

Mmmmm... Loves me shum tatters...

 

[Whughett]

Mmmmm... Loves me shum tatters...

Cubed. up fried with onions salt and pepper.
And, don’t knock if unless you’ve tried it, a dollop of Mayo right on top.

 

[B P Arn]

Is them taters in tatters?

 

[longcruise]

Curious, not just for your answer, but for anyone else who brings a tin, or three, as trail food. I do as well....
What do you do with the tin when finished?
What about other items that got oil from the sardines on them?

If I have any items along those lines, I keep a few ziplock bags along with them and take em out in the bag. It's not something that I carry very often though.

This year I ll be hunting back in a ways and need to go light so jerky and some dried fruit. The other thing I'm thinking is pemmican. The modern backpackers seem to lean on the energy bar concept bu most of those leave out the protein replacement needed if you are expending a lot of energy.

 

[Daveboone]

Venison cutlets/ steak chunks sprinkled with salt/ pepper, what you like and seared over an open fire to still be bloody in the middle, eaten with bare hands on a cold snowy day. In a pinch, chunks of chuck roast/steak cooked the same way is good also. Follow up with an apple and a snow ball soaked with hooch.

 

[Dutch7]

My grandmothers recipe for “poor man’s bread” is my go to woods food. It is a dense type loaf with raisins. Three buttered slices eaten throughout the day and I can stay out dark to dark with no problem.

 

[Bigpete]

One of my favourite meals when we used to pig hunt was " neds corner stew ", which was essentially a perpetual stew into which we threw whatever we caught or shot or had left over for the 4 days we were there over Easter long weekend.
Another good one was bacon wrapped sausages cooked in a camp oven

 

[Bigpete]

Or,when we were doing native animal studies for NPWS,alfoil wrapped potatoes in the coals,which invariably got burnt but you could still break them open and slather them in butter and salt and they were soooooo delicious after walking around in the dark for 2 hours checking mist nets during winter.....