Just got a call from ‘big game camp’. They had a busy day, and a calf elk and calf moose will need butchering later this week. This is good news. Extremely good news. And before you wonder how it is we need so much game – keep in mind that the animals are generally split between hunters. So we’ll only … Read More
How to Butcher a Grouse
My dad showed me a really cool way to field-dress a grouse immediately after it has been killed – without the need for a knife. We used to step on the wings, and pull the feet to get a similar result, but this is cleaner and more consistent. By photo, left to right: 1. Ruffed grouse, head shot to protect … Read More
Calf Moose Butchering 2007
Eight to nine hours of butchering today. 3 sides of calf later, I’m tired. Yet again. I’m happy to report that I used my new kitchen power tool for the first time, with great success. My main objective was bone-in shank. Mission accomplished. But what I thought I’d try to cut, and am now giddy to eat, are some ridiculously … Read More
Calf Hunt 2007, Days 4 & 5
The picture, as it often does, says it all. I’m lucky I have a non-blurry picture for all my jumping up and down with excitement. We had a tough hunt. Not including the 900 km to get there and back, I figure we drove about 900 km per vehicle, seeing lots of jack squat. Last year, we saw 62 moose … Read More
Calf Hunt 2007 Day 3
This morning was action packed. There’s 4 of us, and we travel in 2 vehicles. My dad and I in one, and a cousin and good friend in the other. My dad spotted a cow-calf in a field headed for this bush, [translation, cow with calf, as opposed to a ‘dry-cow’, meaning not nursing a calf], which sent us into … Read More
Calf Hunt 2007 Day 2
Today was opening day of the calf moose season in this area. We saw 2 deer. That’s it. We saw about 6 other hunters. Zero moose. Last year we saw 62 moose in two days. Luckily, our morale was saved by spotting a calf and cow moose. In somebody’s yard. So couldn’t touch ’em. And then, 15 minutes after legal … Read More
Moose & Elk Hunt 2007 – Day 1
Times have changed. Last year we were tripping on moose out here, and had a hard time finding elk. This year, the moose are scarce, and the elk are far easier to find. This is bad news as I have a calf moose tag. Filling it this year will be a challenge. Dinner in ‘camp’ tonight? Fresh cow elk tenderloin … Read More
It is fall, therefore I am tired.
Photo of the day: some lovely baking from Manuel Latrouwe in Calgary. Any place that makes a seriously good pain au chocolat is in my good books. I’m back, recuperating from my holiday, and getting pounded by a million and one demands at work. Fall always seems to be busy at work, with gardening harvest, and with hunting and game … Read More
Yes, $63.47/kg
Fact #1: elk is a solid red meat Fact #2: calf moose trumps elk Fact #3: both would be better with considerable fat marbling Which makes me wonder, why don’t people farm raise fatty elk and moose. Hm. Anyway, all you can really make out on the label is $7.74. That’s not so scary. What’s scary is the price per … Read More
On Wild Goose & Duck
I love domestic goose and duck – so fatty, rich, and delicious. Sadly, their wild counterparts are none of the above. So what do they taste like? How should they be prepared? Questions that I’ve had for a while, and despite efforts online and at the library, only experience is starting to provide some answers. In the past few years, … Read More