tirsdag 28. august 2012

How To Prepare Game Meat

A local hunter by the name of Karl Hoffman once said: “A good wild game meal starts long before the chef tosses a steak on the grill. Skillful hunting can add to the quality of a meal”. With other words, if you plan on eating what you hunt, you should be very careful how you hunt it and preserve it.

The very first step to follow regarding how to prepare the game meat is that you should acquire the proper equipment to kill and process the meat. You will also need two very sharp knifes (one of them you will be using for field dressing while the other one will be used for skinning the animal), a bone saw as well as a bag; all of them will ensure you that the meal will maintain its quality.

Another aspect which any hunter should take into consideration is the animal’s behavior. Hoffman affirmed that: “I always make sure (the animal) is grazing. When antelope run they have so much adrenaline ... that adrenaline gets into the meat and it makes it stinky and tough”. Making the shot is also important because it is imperative to make a perfect shot so that the animal will bleed less. Less bleeding will lead to less blood that seeps into the muscle so as a direct consequence, the meat will taste better.

Luckily, once that deadly shot has been made, your next priority will be to field dress it as soon as possible by removing all the vital organs of the animal. The Colorado Division of Wildlife affirmed that: “Bacteria begin to grow immediately, especially if the stomach or intestines have been punctured, so keeping the carcass cool is important. Skinning the carcass is also recommended especially on hot days to help cool the meat. Take care to avoid touching scent glands on the lower hind legs, as meat may be tainted by the musk. Cover the animal to keep flies away and to keep it out of site of other animals.”

Hunters say that the animal needs to hang, cool as well as firm up and the meat will start to get tender on its own. Adding the aged meat is way better in comparison with processing it right after the kill has been made.

A valuable tip shared by many hunters is that you should never cover the meat while you are cooking it because the air will keep the meat tender. Another tip would be to cook it until it is medium rare ( no less, no more than medium rare ). If you are an avid deer or elk hunter you should know that the most tasteful part is the liver, give it a try. Speaking of deer meat, one of the most common misconceptions is that you have to add all kinds of undesired preservatives like vinegar for example, to the meat in order to get the best flavor. This common misconception leads many hunters to say that they don't like the taste of deer meat, and won't eat it. The real truth about cooking deer meat is that it is really simple: don't add any more than you would add to a cut of beef, pork or lamb. Your favorite seasonings, marinades and tenderizers are all you need to add to deer meat before you cook it.

As you can see, preparing the game meat must follow several instructions; otherwise you will ruin the meat. After you have prepared the meat for cooking, now is the moment to let your imagination run free but don’t overact as you will most likely kill the delicious taste of the game meat ( deer, elk, squirrel – you name it ). Have fun hunting and cooking!

Choosing a Reliable Survival Knife

The main purpose of having a survival knife is, in all its' obviousness, to survive in a rough situation. Whether you're hunting deep in the forest or camping high in the mountains, if a situation arises where you need to act on your own for survival, you want to be as prepared as possible. For this reason, you want to choose a knife that gives you the best chance of accomplishing any task in your way. Let us review which characteristics to look for and which to avoid when purchasing your next survival knife.

What to Look For:

* A Full Tang Design: A Full Tang knife means that the blade and the handle of the knife are one solid piece. Often times the handle has side panels or scales attached to it for improved grip, however the fact remains that both the blade and handle are one piece made of the same material. Full Tang knives are also referred to as One-Piece knives or Integral Design knives. Full Tang knives make for ideal survival knives because they provide maximum durability, strength, and utility.

* Blade Size: When choosing a survival knife, you want to make sure the blade is at least 4 inches long. Knives with blades of at least 4 inches are able to take on most tasks you'd come across when in a survival situation. Choosing a larger blade is a matter of personal preference. That being said, if you plan on being in the tropics with jungle thicket, you'll want to carry a machete or a large bolo in addition to your standard survival knife.

What to Avoid:

* Hollow / Plastic Handles: You want to avoid a hollow / plastic handle knife when making your selection. Hollow handle knives are often held together by pins, nuts and sometimes even glue. If you're putting your knife to the test in a survival situation, hollow handle knives could easily break leaving you without your most important tool. The same thing goes for plastic knives. Not only are these knives more easily broken, they're also less effective for tasks such as hammering and digging.

* Double Edged Knives: Double edged knives do not make for ideal survival knives and are primarily constructed for combat thrusting and slashing. The blades are relatively weak (especially the tip of the blade) and will often break when under the stresses of heavy survival tasks. Double edged knives are not built for performing the field chores needed to survive and can even cause injury when attempting to do so.

When purchasing your next survival knife, keep these tips in mind and you'll find yourself with a knife you can truly rely on when you find yourself in a survival situation.

Hunting Outfits

While hunting can be traced back to the time of the cavemen, modern sport or game hunting emerged much later in time, with its roots seemingly coming from ancient Greece. Divided into two types, recreational and trophy, sport or game hunting has long been a pastime of choice for a lot of outdoorsmen.

As with other sports, hunting often requires specific equipment. One of these necessities is the hunting get-up or outfit. Built to withstand certain weather extremes as well as be versatile enough for a variety of terrains, these outfits have to pass certain quality standards and meet consumer tastes and specification as well.

Some prime examples of these kinds of outfits are the Redhead CWS Parka and Bibs for men. These are built from a windproof and waterproof material that also boasts of breath ability. This breathable fabric facilitates the transportation of sweat out of the clothing while keeping outside moisture at bay. This technology also ensures that this fabric can keep out stiff, bone chilling winds and cold weather to keep you warm and focused while you hunt.

The Redhead CWS Parka is designed with the serious hunter in mind. Incorporating certain design elements such as its ultra-efficient pocket scheme and thermal liner, the Redhead CWS Parka is indeed a piece of hunting clothing you shouldn't do without. Other features of this remarkable piece of hunting clothing include taffeta lining, a polyester shell that is ultra-quiet, under-arm gussets, an insulated hood that is removable and has snaps and a full-zip front complete with storm flap. Adjustable wrists, shock cord tighteners, cargo pockets equipped with hand warmers and a 7 inch accessory pocket and a whole lot of other features complete the Redhead CWS Parka.

The Redhead CWS Bib for Men is the perfect partner for the Redhead CWS Parka. Built with the same cold weather system as the parka, the Redhead CWS Bib for Men keeps the cold weather out while keeping the warmth in with its insulated interior. This tough piece of clothing is also remarkably easy to wear, wasting none of the hunter's time in dressing. Like the parka, the bib also comes with multiple features that include numerous pockets and non-glare snaps. It also has a 2-way 17 inch zipper complete with storm flap, a partially elastic waist, hip-high leg zippers also with storm flaps and 2 zipper pockets that are lined. Other pockets for the bib include the security flapped back pocket and 2 more cargo pockets. All zippers on both the bib and the parka are reliable YKK brand zippers.

These outfits come in the camouflage designs aptly named Mossy Oak and Real Tree Hardwood. Available in sizes: ranging from Medium to Large and all the way to 3XL. Other outfits included in this line are the Redhead Deluxe Overalls and Redhead All Season Jackets, which are also for men. These hunting outfits can be had for prices ranging from $69.95 up to $139.88, with some outfits currently on sale.