Meat to go...

[mistyriver]

Originally Posted by coginthewheel

I guess what I am saying is, do you like the taste of moose? Is it a meat you would seek out to stock the freezer with as opposed to other game meat.

I like moose meat, but I like elk best. Elk stew in winter is heaven. Dont know what tastes like chicken but bear is kind of like pork, in my opinion.

[banjomike]

Originally Posted by mistyriver

I like moose meat, but I like elk best. Elk stew in winter is heaven. Dont know what tastes like chicken but bear is kind of like pork, in my opinion.

Yup. A fat dry elk cow is always most excellent.

[Native Idahoan]

I realize I'm going off topic, but we just got the bill for our quarter beef, $700 to the farm (which is just shy of $200 more than last year), and I have no idea for the processor, which we will pay and pick up when we get back from Idaho. But shee-ooooot! That's a load of dough. The meat is exellent and we do get to drive by their farm so we can see the happy cows out in the field, but dang!, I think I need to create "meat" category in our monthly budget.

[coginthewheel]

Originally Posted by banjomike

Yup. A fat dry elk cow is always most excellent.

I know I am a total unknown to hunting culture, but what are the locals ever in the mood to swap meat? We raise sheep.

[mistyriver]

Originally Posted by coginthewheel

I know I am a total unknown to hunting culture, but what are the locals ever in the mood to swap meat? We raise sheep.

We used to too. Suffolks and Southdowns. I miss the lamb but not lambing, etc.

[coginthewheel]

Years ago, I had mule deer grilled and it was the some of the best meat with no gamey taste. Around then, the guys I knew that hunted would go to extra care to hang the meat, so I'm told. The question is, how is game meat hung for the best taste?
I've heard it has to turn green on the outside of the carcass. Is that true?
Is there a local Idaho custom for game meat?

[Clark Fork Fantast]

Here's something I've been thinking about for years, actually: I love moose (in our woods, yes, but also on my plate), and deer, and elk. But we're not hunters. Sometimes we can buy elk and deer meat in the freezer at local markets, but I have yet to find the exact right way to approach neighbors and friends who hunt and ask them if we can somehow persuade them to share their bounty with us, like, for money? We don't want anybody to feel obliged, or be astounded at our bad manners. Is there a tried-and-true etiquette for non-hunters to ask to buy game from hunting friends and neighbors? Before we put our foot in our mouth this fall... (And no, we don't want to go the independent route of hoping for roadkill...)

[banjomike]

Originally Posted by Clark Fork Fantast

Here's something I've been thinking about for years, actually: I love moose (in our woods, yes, but also on my plate), and deer, and elk. But we're not hunters. Sometimes we can buy elk and deer meat in the freezer at local markets, but I have yet to find the exact right way to approach neighbors and friends who hunt and ask them if we can somehow persuade them to share their bounty with us, like, for money? We don't want anybody to feel obliged, or be astounded at our bad manners. Is there a tried-and-true etiquette for non-hunters to ask to buy game from hunting friends and neighbors? Before we put our foot in our mouth this fall... (And no, we don't want to go the independent route of hoping for roadkill...)

Just buy a pack of good steaks and go ask if they would like to swap some meat. Everyone gets tired of what's in the freezer eventually. Sometimes its sooner than later.

Or cook the steaks first after you invite them over. If they learn you would like to have some game, odds are reciprocation will be in short order.

Don't pass up a fish dinner either. A steelhead dinner was some of the best wild critter I ever ate. Totally better than a wild-caught ocean salmon. Cooked rare, it was more like a steak than a fish.

[lovecda]

Originally Posted by Clark Fork Fantast

What if the animal is fatally wounded and suffering, and you put it out of its misery? Is that even allowed?

No, according to the IDFG rules about roadkill, if an animal is injured, but not killed from an automobile collision, the public is not allowed to dispatch it. Instead, you are asked to report the injured wildlife to "your nearest Conservation Officer, Sheriff's Office, or IDFG Regional Office" and they will send an officer out to evaluate the situation and the best way to proceed.

The following is not legal advice. I have read local reports of police officers putting wounded wildlife out of their misery after a collision with a vehicle, and I suspect that is the likely end of any report that would be made. The stress of long-term captivity and convalescence would seem to be torment in and of itself, and could leave the animal vulnerable when released (used to human care, unable to defend itself). It's unlikely that the animal would be put into any sort of rehabilitation, when ending its suffering now is likely the most humane course of action.

If the animal is well enough to noticeably survive the few minutes after impact, it's probably well enough to run off and fend for itself as well as it would if wounded by a natural predator. If, however, you're in the middle of nowhere, and it's unlikely that an officer can respond in a reasonable amount of time (or is out of reach in many areas of Idaho), the animal is clearly suffering and dying, wouldn't the most humane action be to end the suffering, regardless of the IDFG rule? Once again, not offering legal advice, just musing and hoping that I would never be put in the position of having to make the choice between following the letter of the law and allowing an animal to suffer unnecessarily.

[banjomike]

My parents hit a deer out in the middle of nowhere while driving a monster Buick station wagon and pulling a horse trailer. The deer's front legs were both broken along with most of its ribs on one side, but it was still alive, though unconscious.

It was a glancing blow that dented the prow of the hood and broke the grill, but everything was fine; neither the people nor the horses were hurt.

My father realized the deer was alive, so he stood on its throat and broke its neck with his hands.

While I don't recommend doing this, or even getting close to any live critter after its been hit, this only shows there are ways of dispatching wildlife in a merciful fashion other than using a gun. Any injured wild animal is dangerous as hell. Don't ever do anything stupid if you hit any critter.