I too generally get excited about cooking what I've killed. It makes it interesting for me as I look toward myself. I love to hunt & cook. I'm also the landowner of the property. So my deer hunts go like this:
I'll get really excited about hunting a big buck. When I finally have the opportunity to kill the deer, I often don't - I'll just enjoy watching him and let him go. I'll think about how a young doe is more tender and end up taking one of those for the meat.
I'm a dog guy too. So my duck hunts are for the ducks to eat and for the joy of working my dog. I rarely shoot a limit of ducks because I don't need that many. I'll shoot 3 or 4 and call it a good day. I'm afforded the chance to do this because I have the luxury of hunting my own place.
About the only other thing I hunt in earnest is squirrels. Again, this is as much for being able to be in the woods with my dog and nice flintlock as it is about bagging supper.
Just curious as to your CA hunts. Did you mostly hunt public land or private or a mixture of both. As a Southern Californian, the duck hunting I do is all public as I have no access to private. I've always wanted to duck hunt the central valley but have yet to do so.
Great essay! I love waterfowling, but admit to being more selective now than 20yrs ago. Mallards and woodies, Canadian geese, hopefully the occasional 'can or redhead...good eats.
The cooking and eating is all part of the process, but when you also fish, chase small game, and have a deer in the freezer, variety is nice.
Wonderful Age and change brings you to this point. Ducks are a lesser part of my wild diet more Venison wild pork and doves these days with just enough ducks to keep my soul satisfied.
Cooking is a love language. And using quality ingredients is an important part of that. Most average cooks (I hate generalizations, but...) don't get that distinction. So, being a cook that hunts is very different than the hunter who cooks. Both admirable, but very different. The whole world view is different. Hoping to restart my Muscovy flock next year - there's nothing better!
I saw this quote just before reading your thoughts: Life is the first gift, love is the second, and understanding, the third.” (Marge Piercy) Your life coming into balance. Congratulations - not many folks get the chance, I think. Beautiful and insightful words (again). Thank you.
I feel the same way about deer hunting. I'm not much into antlers, which I suppose is good cause my wife would never let me put a deer head in our house anywhere. I'd much rather shoot a few doe each year, or a smaller buck. The same translates to fish. I love coming home with a mess of crappie or bluegill. Wonderful for Hmong Crispy Fish.
Hunting is fun, and I enjoy that aspect, but using those game meats to create something tasty is what I enjoy.
My Dad only hunted ducks because his friend, Tom, did and Dad didn't want him to hunt alone. (Tom had dizzy spells which made it dangerous for him to drive a car and hunt alone.) They never got anything but teals and a few other ducks that size that Dad skinned and defatted for Tom before freezing them. He never saved anything for himself. I wish he had. By the way, the reason he skinned the ducks? They always seemed to be covered in pinfeathers.
Important distinction but not the only one. I much prefer the scale of this on a personal level. One of the other differences is that for me, I learn more from sources like yours and Elevated Wild.
I too generally get excited about cooking what I've killed. It makes it interesting for me as I look toward myself. I love to hunt & cook. I'm also the landowner of the property. So my deer hunts go like this:
I'll get really excited about hunting a big buck. When I finally have the opportunity to kill the deer, I often don't - I'll just enjoy watching him and let him go. I'll think about how a young doe is more tender and end up taking one of those for the meat.
I'm a dog guy too. So my duck hunts are for the ducks to eat and for the joy of working my dog. I rarely shoot a limit of ducks because I don't need that many. I'll shoot 3 or 4 and call it a good day. I'm afforded the chance to do this because I have the luxury of hunting my own place.
About the only other thing I hunt in earnest is squirrels. Again, this is as much for being able to be in the woods with my dog and nice flintlock as it is about bagging supper.
Just curious as to your CA hunts. Did you mostly hunt public land or private or a mixture of both. As a Southern Californian, the duck hunting I do is all public as I have no access to private. I've always wanted to duck hunt the central valley but have yet to do so.
Great essay! I love waterfowling, but admit to being more selective now than 20yrs ago. Mallards and woodies, Canadian geese, hopefully the occasional 'can or redhead...good eats.
The cooking and eating is all part of the process, but when you also fish, chase small game, and have a deer in the freezer, variety is nice.
Wonderful Age and change brings you to this point. Ducks are a lesser part of my wild diet more Venison wild pork and doves these days with just enough ducks to keep my soul satisfied.
Cooking is a love language. And using quality ingredients is an important part of that. Most average cooks (I hate generalizations, but...) don't get that distinction. So, being a cook that hunts is very different than the hunter who cooks. Both admirable, but very different. The whole world view is different. Hoping to restart my Muscovy flock next year - there's nothing better!
I do love those "herpes ducks!" We call them that because of that weird stuff on their bills... ;-)
I saw this quote just before reading your thoughts: Life is the first gift, love is the second, and understanding, the third.” (Marge Piercy) Your life coming into balance. Congratulations - not many folks get the chance, I think. Beautiful and insightful words (again). Thank you.
Is there a link to the carne asada duck tacos?
Sorry! They'll be in my next cookbook.
lol - ok. I'll just have to see what I can do on my own.
Is the duck carne asada tacos recipe available? Yummy!
It'll be in my next cookbook!
I feel the same way about deer hunting. I'm not much into antlers, which I suppose is good cause my wife would never let me put a deer head in our house anywhere. I'd much rather shoot a few doe each year, or a smaller buck. The same translates to fish. I love coming home with a mess of crappie or bluegill. Wonderful for Hmong Crispy Fish.
Hunting is fun, and I enjoy that aspect, but using those game meats to create something tasty is what I enjoy.
Venison from young animals, I couldn't agree more, is the best. I'm still wondering how to cook the 10 point rack.
Real slow... ;-)
My Dad only hunted ducks because his friend, Tom, did and Dad didn't want him to hunt alone. (Tom had dizzy spells which made it dangerous for him to drive a car and hunt alone.) They never got anything but teals and a few other ducks that size that Dad skinned and defatted for Tom before freezing them. He never saved anything for himself. I wish he had. By the way, the reason he skinned the ducks? They always seemed to be covered in pinfeathers.
Important distinction but not the only one. I much prefer the scale of this on a personal level. One of the other differences is that for me, I learn more from sources like yours and Elevated Wild.