Illustrations by Kyle Fewell
While hipsters would like us to believe that they invented the demand for organic, free-range, locally sourced meat, hunters know better. The best source of natural protein doesn’t come from a store, and meat doesn’t need to be pumped full of antibiotics and hormones to be delicious or affordable. This year, make a resolution to augment your food supply with more venison and wildfowl. You can even go beyond the standard hunter’s fare if you dare.
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There’s a wide range of delicious wild game available for hunter-gatherer types, especially if you’re willing to turn to somewhat unconventional sources of protein. That may mean you obtain your dinner by taking down an iguana with a pellet rifle, staking out a grain bin for some feral pigeons, eating what appears to be a giant swamp rat, or maybe even stopping along the road to pick up a freshly killed whitetail doe.
Our ancestors would roll their eyes at our collective unwillingness to use any protein source we find unfamiliar, but we think the following list would make them proud. And hungry.
1) Tree Dragons
You may not immediately associate the Florida Keys with high-volume hunting. But if you have a pellet rifle and some space in the freezer, consider taking out a few green and spiny-tailed iguanas in the name of conservation. Despite their creepy cretaceous-period facade, iguanas have a rich white flesh that is considered a delicacy by many.
“Hard freezes in 2010 killed off much of South Florida’s invasive iguana population and the populations of many other invasive species,” says iguana hunter Terry Gibson of North Swell Media. “But iguanas are back, wrecking gardens, undermining canal banks, and devouring native bird eggs, insects, and plants. There’s still time to eat our way out of this situation. Where discharging a firearm or an air rifle is legal, aim for the ear hole with a .22 or high-powered pellet gun. In urban and suburban areas, bait Havahart traps with hibiscus flowers or fruit. Euthanize trapped iguanas in a chest freezer or with a sharp machete. Just remember, though, that those spiny tails swing fast and can hurt you.”
According to Gibson, iguanas make excellent table fare. “Treat the meat just like you would frog’s legs or a gator tail. It’s delicious fried, grilled, or slow-cooked in the oven. The meat takes on the flavor of whatever you choose to marinate it with. Acidic citric sauces and white wine help tenderize the meat. Marinate under ice to keep it cold.”
2) Eurasian Collared Doves
https://www.outdoorlife.com/articles/hunting/2016/01/making-meat-8-best-meat-hunts-america/