Cost

[gerry]

I fully support Cheyenne. I'd be interested in learning more about ways to use the parts of an animal I typically "waste" and to be honest; we may could all learn something if she would care to share.

I would agree on all counts.

One thing we do with salmon is save the bones after we fillet them and simmer them for several hours and make stock for salmon chowder. It takes extra time to do it but tastes very good. I have even done it with a left over fish head once in the early summer before the salmon started running and it tasted good.

 

[DrMike]

When living in San Francisco and in Vancouver, we always made stock with the heads and the bones, Gerry. Consequently, squaw fish (a trash fish in the view of many people) makes an excellent stock. A Filipino friend taught me this when my middle daughter and I were fishing during Expo 86 and mentioned that there were lots of squaw fish biting. He said to bring them home and he would make dinner that night. It was a mighty tasty meal he prepared that evening.

 

[Polaris]

I'm just a generation removed from subsistence hunting, fishing and gathering as a way of life in my neck of the woods. When the mines layed off, timber prices were down or milk wasn't worth selling, you did whdat you had to do. Venison was "Finnish beef" fish was just fish...you didn't ask if it came by hook and line or 12 volt battery, and every manner of wild fruit and berry was scooped up wherever it grew and turned to tasty sauce and jelly. I can totally relate.

When I was growing up, I still remember helping my uncle poach pike as it had been a hard winter for dairy farming. If somebody was laid off, you brought them food, if you were laid off too, you shot them a deer, even if it was at midnight in January.

 

[AFG270]

Keep killing Cheyenne. To heck with the naysayers. They're too chicken to say it in the open nor would they likely say it in person.

I fully support Cheyenne. I'd be interested in learning more about ways to use the parts of an animal I typically "waste" and to be honest; we may could all learn something if she would care to share.

I also agree on all counts.

All you Gentlemen got it right, the Lady deserves respect.

Truck driver, LOL. Great idea.

 

[hunternyny]

Cheyenne and her husband were very gracious in helping my wife and I enjoy our time in the Mackenzie mountains. It was our first time into Canada and it was magnificent.

And speaking of using all parts of the animal. they introduced us to Jellied moose Nose and we soon found out this is not a jelly you spread on a piece of toast. Actually we were reluctant to try it when we found out it was in fact the nose of a moose we were going to eat.

We tried Rocky mountain oysters, then frog legs, and now we have eaten a moose's nose. thank you cheyenne for this new experience

 

[Rol_P]

I am in full support of Cheyenne and in full agreement with those who feel critical comments have no place on our forum. Be civil and decent to everyone or be gone.

 

[cloverleaf]

Well said Mike, Roger and Guy.

"Not only have you attacked someone undeservedly, but have pissed off a number of members on this forum that you definitely would think twice about saying such stupid things in front of in person.

Again, you are invited to apologize and improve your behaviour, or leave this forum! And do not come back!

Cheyenne has conducted herself in a gracious and admirable manner on this forum, and it is only because of her integrity and respectful nature that you have not been identified to the rest of us on this forum. "

Don't think I could say it any better. Keep posting Thankful Otter. CL

 

[Vince]

Cheyenne,

You have my support and this knuckle dragger would love to face those being rude to you.

Please don't leave as I greatly appreciate and enjoy your post. I love learning new things and traditions.

Vince



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[Wis65x55]

This is the picture Dan wanted posted. A prime rib roast (2.575 kg or 5.7 lbs) for $93.64 (~$16.43/lb.).



'Course, hunting can provide meat at only $103/lb. :shock: This doesn't take into account rifle, optics, vehicle, etc.

When a person takes into account the current exchange rate, the prime rib is about $72 in US currency...
Keith

 

[DrMike]

Unfortunately, Keith, we use a lot of Canadian dollars. That exchange rate kills us. I bought a couple of reloading manuals (Hornady and Lyman) over the holidays. By the time I received them, the cost was $98! Ouch! I try not to do that any more than I must.

 

[IdahoCTD]

That's 12.61/lb in USD. I just bought some tri-tip today for 3.48/lb. I have a freezer full of moose and elk but like to eat tri-tip, chicken, and pork every once and a while too.

 

[super-7]

I think what bothers me the most about grocery store prices is that someone in the middle or the store itself is making s big mark up.
I work for several ranchers and a few hog farmers , what these guys get for market weight hogs, or 800 lb calves is not huge money. In fact u can buy a hog on the hoof for 250-300$ , makes you wonder when 10 pork chops is a hundred bucks or a pound of bacon is 8$.
My buddy averaged 1200$ / calf this fall, barley paid his feed costs, pasture rent , and vet bill. Out right said if he didn't work off farm he could not afford to do it.
I will not be pricing out wild game per pound lol


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[Anonymous]

I will not be pricing out wild game per pound

I've this conversation with my wife numerous times... if you factored everything in a price per pound calculation it would be enormous.

But, when you considered even if I didn't hunt I'd still own guns, tents, packs, knives, etc., etc. and still spend considerable time in the outdoors getting my head back on straight. It's not nearly so bad.

 

[Thankful Otter]

Without putting to fine of a point on this I feel there is another side to this coin in reference to hunting costs.

My 30-06, which is still in good condition was handed down to me--- no cost---I could still be using it but I "wanted" other rifles.

Transportation costs are the price of gas for the snowmobile, otherwise by foot, or canoe, which we made, from a previous harvest. ( footwear and canoe ) If you drive to the market to get your groceries, this will offset the gas in the snowmobile

Do you use everything or just the best "cuts" of meat off the animal

ie--

fat-lard
bones-grease, tools, fish hooks, knifes, scrappers, toys
skin- clothes, shelter, drums, transportation ( dog sled ) and canoe
food --besides the prime cuts, the tongue, heart, kidneys, intestines, testicles. The nose and eyes of the moose, moose head cheese, hoofs make jelly
Storage containers,- stomach
Dog food
Bait

PLUS--all the meat.

---- for a box of shells or if I am lucky one shell.

It is not this simple of course but wanted to present another side to "hunting costs"

 

[super-7]

Without putting to fine of a point on this I feel there is another side to this coin in reference to hunting costs.

My 30-06, which is still in good condition was handed down to me--- no cost---I could still be using it but I "wanted" other rifles.

Transportation costs are the price of gas for the snowmobile, otherwise by foot, or canoe, which we made, from a previous harvest. ( footwear and canoe ) If you drive to the market to get your groceries, this will offset the gas in the snowmobile

Do you use everything or just the best "cuts" of meat off the animal

ie--

fat-lard
bones-grease, tools, fish hooks, knifes, scrappers, toys
skin- clothes, shelter, drums, transportation ( dog sled ) and canoe
food --besides the prime cuts, the tongue, heart, kidneys, intestines, testicles. The nose and eyes of the moose, moose head cheese, hoofs make jelly
Storage containers,- stomach
Dog food
Bait

PLUS--all the meat.

---- for a box of shells or if I am lucky one shell.

It is not this simple of course but wanted to present another side to "hunting costs"

I won't lie , I think I do a good job processing all our wild game , we also raise and butcher chickens and I usually by a hog or two from on of the guys I do repairs for with my business.
Depending on what is drawn for tags or how lucky I am bow hunting sometimes beef is not purchased much sometimes I will buy 1/2 a beef with a buddy.
While I said I think I do a good job , I am all about red meat, I keep the heart and the liver usually. Pretty much everything else hide , skeletal structure, lungs, kidneys , guts are all left for the coyotes.
I can appreciate the work and time and effort to do a complete harvest , it is amazing how much of an animal can be used, for you it's also a great tradition to pass down to younger generations as so much gets lost.
I plan on having my kids hunt , and my oldest came out with me setting up coyote snares last week, she can't wait to go check on them here on Saturday.
I would sure like to see some pictures of tools, clothing you have made from previous harvests. I find it very interesting , living off the land is no easy feat. May have been tougher years ago as technology all around seems to have made life easier even in the bush..


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[salmonchaser]

My opinion is the price of game is way over valued in these calculations.
Guns are owned for other purposes, including recreation.
Days off are days off, watch sports or are you going to participate.
Go camping with guns or go camping with REI gear and fly rods.
Cost per day on Maui vs cost per day in a Montana Canvas tent
The way I figure it, venison is cheap


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[Anonymous]

Without putting to fine of a point on this I feel there is another side to this coin in reference to hunting costs.

My 30-06, which is still in good condition was handed down to me--- no cost---I could still be using it but I "wanted" other rifles.

It is not this simple of course but wanted to present another side to "hunting costs"

I have to agree- I'm sure given serious cost constraints I could hunt for a whole lot less than I do now. I have to admit, I like having good gear, nice rifles, and etc. because I really like hunting- all aspects of it including messing with the gear and I'm fortunate to do a lot of it.

My biggest non-discretionary cost is fuel. I could probably pare that back. I don't really count food since I'd eat at home as well. I don't spend terribly much on ammunition (at least for hunting).

I think last year I spent about $600 on fuel, but that's a lot of hunting. 6 caribou, a moose, 40 salmon and some 2 dozen grouse (which are all on foot from my house). I guess if i broke the cost down that way, that's actually some pretty cheap meat. Probably under a $1 a pound.

I do harvest all the edible bits and look for ways to make more bits edible, but I don't craft the hides or anything like that.

 

[Blkram]

I'll admit that I have not always use all parts of every animal that I have harvested as Cheyenne does. While I do hunt for sustenance, it is the red meat that I have harvested most.

When I get requests from family members for the hides for tanning for moccasins, clothing or drums, I bring the hides back to my aunts or cousins for scraping and tanning. When someone asks for the heart or liver, I provide that as well, as I have never cared for either, but have eaten my fair share growing up, or when it is served for dinner at someone's house. My wife likes liver, and has really enjoyed stone's sheep and caribou liver, but isn't as fond of the moose liver. Many of the elders request the moose head as they harvest the brains for tanning, and the tongue and nose for eating. They will almost fight over moose nose soup! Leg bones and antlers get turned into scrapers for preparing hides.Hooves get turned into glue.

The heart is usually dealt with in a ceremony where the tip is cut off, the heart is presented during prayer and placed on a tree branch so that the power of the animal is released back into nature so that it can be reborn in a new animal. Tobacco is presented as an offering of Thanks to the Creator for allowing the harvest of the animal to support our life.

We are not to shoot any animal in the head as the spirit of the animal will be confused and cannot travel to the next life. This is also how people become ghosts and haunt those in this life.

The fat from bears is used for cooking (internal fat) or medicines (external fat). Grizzly bear fat is thought to have stronger medicinal properties. The back fat off of summer harvested moose is used for cooking as well, or making Indian popcorn. The fat is cut into 1" cubes with a half inch cross cut into the top of the cube and then deep fried. Turns out similar to Bacon Puffs. The leg and other very large bones from large game is also placed on the fire until they crack from the heat, and then the marrow is scooped out and eaten straight or on bannock or toast.

The stomach can be made into water carriers (as seen in Dances With Wolves) or cooked as tripe, with the furthest portion of the large intestine (chucksese) cleaned, boiled and fried, another delicacy.

These are just some of the other parts of animals harvested and how they are utilized by our people.

 

[sask boy]

Gil, thank you for that information, I not heard all the uses of big game. Interesting .

Blessings,
Dan

 

[elkhunternm]

This is a very interesting thread,am learning things I never knew!