Do you (personally) possess the skills to turn a living animal into food? - Page 1

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[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Do you (personally) possess the skills to turn a living animal into food? (Page 1 of 5)

Posted: 12/19/2016 11:17:16 AM EST

Was processing some chickens yesterday to fill out the freezer before the long of winter and got to thinking.

If shit really did "hit the fan" with the way society is today I think a lot of people would be fucked even with livestock right in front of them. Just seems like a lot of people now a days wouldn't know how to slaughter even a chicken or process a deer.

Sure there's animals I haven't done but the general process is similar for most animals.

So GD if there was a live chicken or pig or any animal in front of you do you possess the knowledge and skills to process is (relatively correctly) into useable food?

Posted: 12/19/2016 11:22:10 AM EST

[#1]

I believe you are looking for "efficiently"

Any idiot with a knife can cut a chunk of meat off an animal. Getting as little waste as possible is the challenge.

Posted: 12/19/2016 11:22:34 AM EST

[#2]

I would say everyone does, if they're hungry enough. Secure animal, take bite, chew and swallow. Repeat until full.

Posted: 12/19/2016 11:23:18 AM EST

[#3]

Quote History

Quoted:
I believe you are looking for "efficiently"

Any idiot with a knife can cut a chunk of meat off an animal. Getting as little waste as possible is the challenge.

View Quote

Yeah that's what I was going for

But hell I think even the majority of the population under about 30 now a days would be scared to even take a knife near an animal

Posted: 12/19/2016 11:23:55 AM EST

[#4]

Quote History

Quoted:
I believe you are looking for "efficiently"

Any idiot with a knife can cut a chunk of meat off an animal. Getting as little waste as possible is the challenge.

View Quote

This. I'd waste more meat than some, faaaar less than most.

Posted: 12/19/2016 11:24:03 AM EST

[#5]

FPNI

Posted: 12/19/2016 11:26:28 AM EST

[#6]

Absofuckinglutely.

Posted: 12/19/2016 11:28:30 AM EST

[#7]

If you're talking about actual subsistence living, like putting up meat for storage, having a sustainable herd/flock, etc, as well as growing your and the animal's food, yes very few people have that kind of knowledge and skill to be successful at it.

There's a difference between piddling at something and doing it for a living.

Posted: 12/19/2016 11:32:31 AM EST

[#8]

I've done it as a young man, rabbits, ducks, and a road killed deer. I prefer to buy my food now but I could still do it.

Posted: 12/19/2016 11:32:47 AM EST

[#9]

Yep, killed, processed, cooked and preserved most common game & livestock. Cooking something your family will actually want to eat and preserving the excess for future use are the most interesting parts.

Posted: 12/19/2016 11:34:39 AM EST

[#10]

With fish, yes definitely. I have chickens, but I have them for eggs, not meat. If need be I could probably get one plucked and gutted without much waste, but I would definitely need plenty of practice to become proficient at it.

Posted: 12/19/2016 11:36:54 AM EST

[#11]

Can do it with my eyes closed. Literally have processed several animals in pitch black darkness.

Posted: 12/19/2016 11:38:07 AM EST

[#12]

I would need to work on my technique but, yes, I could do it.
In fact, I did it about 3 or 4 weeks ago. I shot a deer. First deer I had bagged in over 30 years. Had some help from a more knowledgeable person but I did the work. He just kind of guided me through the process

Posted: 12/19/2016 11:38:14 AM EST

[#13]

My dad grew up in the country and showed me how to hunt, fish and clean game and an early age. If it wasn't for him, I probably wouldn't know how to do much of any of those things, unless somebody else showed me. I guess there is always Youtube nowadays though, but you still have to have the interest in it to want to even do it.

Posted: 12/19/2016 11:39:10 AM EST

[#14]

Give 99.999% of the population no food for 4 days and they will eat their dog.

So yeah, we can all make a living animal food.

Posted: 12/19/2016 11:39:14 AM EST

[#15]

Former butcher. Yeah I guess I know what to do.

Posted: 12/19/2016 11:39:48 AM EST

[#16]

Simple should come natural to most. SHOULD

Posted: 12/19/2016 11:39:51 AM EST

[#17]

Have many many times. No biggie.

Posted: 12/19/2016 11:40:04 AM EST

[#18]

Once went a year and a half without buying any meat. Ate what we killed. Deer, dove, mostly squirrel. Even now, when I can afford to buy meat, venison, rabbit, dove, wild turkey, waterfowl and fresh caught fish make up a large part of the diet.

Posted: 12/19/2016 11:40:10 AM EST

[#19]

Quote History

Quoted:
I would say everyone does, if they're hungry enough. Secure animal, take bite, chew and swallow. Repeat until full.

View Quote

Exactly

Posted: 12/19/2016 11:41:07 AM EST

[#20]

Yup

Starting a Fire without matches is another story.

Posted: 12/19/2016 11:42:33 AM EST

[#21]

With fish yeah. Never been hunting I'm sure I could get some meat but it sure as hell wouldn't be efficient.

Posted: 12/19/2016 11:42:35 AM EST

[#22]

just about anyone can/will if they are hungry. I have helped others dress animals but probably would be terrible if I did it by myself.

Now fish would be different story, I could fillet a bass, blue gill, or catfish fairly confidently.

Posted: 12/19/2016 11:43:28 AM EST

[#23]

Most people would learn real quick if their stomach was growling and creatures were everywhere.

Posted: 12/19/2016 11:43:56 AM EST

[#24]

Quote History

Quoted:
I would say everyone does, if they're hungry enough. Secure animal, take bite, chew and swallow. Repeat until full.

View Quote

Er.... I would at least kill it before trying to take a bite. Even a small rabbit could tear your face up if it's still wiggling when you go to chew on it.

Posted: 12/19/2016 11:44:51 AM EST

[#25]

Fish.

I could probably do birds as well from watching my grandmother.

Posted: 12/19/2016 11:45:19 AM EST

[#26]

Quote History

Quoted:
I believe you are looking for "efficiently"

Any idiot with a knife can cut a chunk of meat off an animal. Getting as little waste as possible is the challenge.

View Quote

this first post thing is uncanny

Posted: 12/19/2016 11:45:31 AM EST

[#27]

Quoted:
Was processing some chickens yesterday to fill out the freezer before the long of winter and got to thinking.

If shit really did "hit the fan" with the way society is today I think a lot of people would be fucked even with livestock right in front of them. Just seems like a lot of people now a days wouldn't know how to slaughter even a chicken or process a deer.

Sure there's animals I haven't done but the general process is similar for most animals.

So GD if there was a live chicken or pig or any animal in front of you do you possess the knowledge and skills to process is (relatively correctly) into useable food?

View Quote

What do you mean? Animals ARE food already, no need to turn them int...
oh, you mean process, well hello there mr. fancypants.

Failed To Load Title

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3SXDfEwv5Vw

FerFAL

Posted: 12/19/2016 11:46:01 AM EST

[#28]

I'm pretty good skinning/cleaning fish. I'll figure it out for animals

Posted: 12/19/2016 11:46:13 AM EST

[#29]

Posted: 12/19/2016 11:46:20 AM EST

[#30]

Yes.

Posted: 12/19/2016 11:46:42 AM EST

[#31]

Quote History

Quoted:

Er.... I would at least kill it before trying to take a bite. Even a small rabbit could tear your face up if it's still wiggling when you go to chew on it.

View Quote

But it stays fresher, longer, if you keep it alive while munching over a few days.

Posted: 12/19/2016 11:47:56 AM EST

[#32]

I made 92 pounds of venison sausage this year.

And had tenderloins for dinner on opening night.

Posted: 12/19/2016 11:48:23 AM EST

[#33]

There are certain things a man should know.

Posted: 12/19/2016 11:48:35 AM EST

[#34]

Food, yes. Good food... I'm still working on that part

Posted: 12/19/2016 11:49:30 AM EST

[#35]

Quote History

Quoted:
Fish.

I could probably do birds as well from watching my grandmother.

View Quote

Wild birds are easy.

Pheasant/turkeys you cut the breasts out and use the rest for coyote bait.
Duck/goose you cut the breast out and turn it into summer sausage.....and use the rest for coyote bait.
Grouse/quail you go Indiana Jones and pull the breast/breastbone out and use the rest for coyote bait.

Posted: 12/19/2016 11:51:02 AM EST

[#36]

Quote History

Quoted:

Wild birds are easy.

Pheasant/turkeys you cut the breasts out and use the rest for coyote bait.
Duck/goose you cut the breast out and turn it into summer sausage.....and use the rest for coyote bait.
Grouse/quail you go Indiana Jones and pull the breast/breastbone out and use the rest for coyote bait.

View Quote

Wrong, pluck and enjoy

Posted: 12/19/2016 11:53:29 AM EST

[#37]

Did my first homegrown hog this year and actually have two prosciutto curing in my garage and two nice slabs of bacon hanging in my kitchen. I have eight rabbits, about a dozen chicken in my freezer (all of which I have raised). In the spring I will have at least two more hogs to slaughter, and probably 4-5 more ready in the fall. I started my small homestead last year and will be almost 80% self sufficient by the end of next year.

Posted: 12/19/2016 11:54:12 AM EST

[#38]

As most of you know, it's really not complicated to butcher deer, pigs, etc. But I'm amazed how many of our friends have NO CLUE which parts of the animal are which cuts of meat. I think a lot of people think you open them up and there's precut steaks hanging inside

Posted: 12/19/2016 11:55:05 AM EST

[#39]

Posted: 12/19/2016 11:55:41 AM EST

[#40]

yep...from the field to the frying pan

Posted: 12/19/2016 11:58:07 AM EST

[#41]

I frequently cut the back straps off of road killed deer, right on the side of the road. Does that count?

Posted: 12/19/2016 11:58:17 AM EST

[#42]

I was on a motorcycle camping ride with a friend and stopped and shot a pine hen, then cleaned and cooked it right there along with some freeze dried food we brought along. He was amazed at the whole thing, I dont think he had any idea of how chicken or any meat ends up in his grocery store lol.

Posted: 12/19/2016 11:58:51 AM EST

[#43]

As a child I helped out with many "Hog killings" and cow butchering. As an adult, I have killed, processed, cooked and ate: deer, duck, geese, quail, dove, rabbit, many types of fish and squirrel.

Posted: 12/19/2016 11:59:11 AM EST

[#44]

Quote History

Quoted:
I would say everyone does, if they're hungry enough. Secure animal, take bite, chew and swallow. Repeat until full.

View Quote

I was going to say this....hell if your hungry enough people will turn other people into food

Eta: Donner party and all that.....

Posted: 12/19/2016 11:59:31 AM EST

[#45]

Quote History

Quoted:

Wrong, pluck and enjoy

View Quote

Maybe on your pen raised birds on the wet side, over here where the animals are wild and spend their days running everything but the boobie meat is like leather.

Posted: 12/19/2016 11:59:57 AM EST

[#46]

Fish: Yes.

Deer and other four legged critters: yes, though not quickly or terribly efficiently

Birds: Honestly, never done it. I suspect I'd figure out, though the first couple might be a real mess.

Posted: 12/19/2016 12:01:34 PM EST

[#47]

Yes.
In fact I just finished up the deer I killed last week.

Posted: 12/19/2016 12:02:03 PM EST

[#48]

raised hundreds and hundreds of quail and doves and chickens
you could say I am pretty efficient at processing birds

do I have the skill to break down larger animals? sure if need be
but I dont have the room or setup to tackle anything larger than a pig
ETA: failed to mention while I know my basic cuts my knife skills would make the scrap and ground meat pile would be much larger than needed

the processor does it for me and I dont have to worry about such things as a cooler capable of hanging a whole beef in

lets not even get into the fact that his fee for processing pigs is dirt cheap
processed cut up and vacuum sealed for pennies on the pound

Posted: 12/19/2016 12:02:10 PM EST

[#49]

Quote History

Quoted:
As most of you know, it's really not complicated to butcher deer, pigs, etc. But I'm amazed how many of our friends have NO CLUE which parts of the animal are which cuts of meat. I think a lot of people think you open them up and there's precut steaks hanging inside

View Quote

First deer I processed, we labeled packages as either burger, roast, or snack steaks.