Could you kill, clean and cook your dinner?

Jstas

I know most of you are incapable of having an intelligent discussion that doesn't degrade in to some kind of petty fit but I find this fascinating and wanted to see what others think. It's a topic for discussion, not fighting over.

I'm watching a TV show on Current TV called "Kill It, Cook It, Eat It". The idea is simple. They get a smattering of people from all walks of life and philosophies and they take them out to a farm or the wild. They are then tasked, with experts and professionals as their guides, to kill, clean, cook and eat their dinner.

They are shown how things are done and what goes in to bringing food to their table. The reactions, of course, vary immensely. Some of the reactions are just as you would expect for the various systems of values each individual has. Some are totally not what you would expect.

Something else that is amazing is how uneducated on the subjects people are so adamant about actually are. That bit is infuriating. What is also is infuriating is how unyielding some of them are that they absolutely refuse to see the merits behind the opposing views. They also seem to all have the solution but no clue how to reach that solution.

So it got me thinking, could I do it? Then I realized that I actually do. When I'm fishing, it may not be hunting but it is still the same principle and it's so much a part of my life that I don't even view it in this way.

So, what do you think? Can you kill, clean, cook and eat your own dinner? If you already do, great! Your thoughts are still valid. If you don't, share your thoughts as well.

I'm honestly interested.

vc69

Yep, I could. Fishing or hunting (though I don't hunt for sport). Point is, I live in the city and I enjoy the amenities of urban life.But in a survival situation and as long as I am armed, I think I could make it. Might not be pretty, or taste that great but we aren't gonna starve to death.

Midnite Mick

Only fish. Unless it came down to my own survival.

Regards,
Mike

bobman1235

If someone taught me how, I could. As I stand I have no idea how to clean / dress any animal for consumption.

exalted512

YouTube would still be around at the end of the world right?

I could learn off that!
-Cody

Tony M

No I could not. Fishing , maybe.

I could probably just get buy but I grew up a complete city boy until 17 1/2.
Then had to work sun-up to sun down for 30 years. no weekends or days off or vacations to speak of to enjoy that side of life.

I still might have 50 more years, so who knows.
I'll get the Ted Nugent handbook and go for it.:biggrin:

Polkersince85

I still have a few pieces of venison left from last fall. Growing stuff in the garden is harder than killing and eating, IMO.

maximillian

Those tomatoes in my garden are just asking for it every year. No problem killing, cooking, then eating their reddish goodness.

Kidding aside, I have hunted before but simply have no time now, and in this anti 2nd amendment state, no license. My parents always handled the dressing and cooking part so that is my weakness. However, I have done small game before. So I guess I could, just not as good as my Italian mom.

treitz3

Already have. Would I do it again? Absofu(kin'lutely.

mdaudioguy

There was an episode of No Reservations with Anthony Bourdain, where he was in some remote tribal location and was told that it would be a great honor if he, as their guest, slaughtered the pig they where going to cook. All the episodes I watched with him preparing meat, I figured he'd be cool with it, but he found it quite uncomfortable.

I think I could handle the job if I had to. It would probably make me queasy at some point, though.

BlueFox

Depends on how hungry I am.

megasat16

Do I need to raise and grow foods now?

A man needs to do what a man got to do!

txcoastal1

Yep...Texas coastal fisherman, Texas hill country hunter

fishbones

Fish, sure. It was part of the job for awhile, but I did it as rarely as possible. Never hunted before, so haven't done anything with legs. Certainly would for survival's sake though.

DMara

I did chicken, duck and fish but also am not against anybody who couldn't kill, clean and cook one's own dinner.

Jstas wrote: »

I know most of you are incapable of having an intelligent discussion that doesn't degrade in to some kind of petty fit but I find this fascinating and wanted to see what others think. It's a topic for discussion, not fighting over.

Reading most of the topics you involved in, I'm pretty sure you're one of them, so don't break yourself away from the herd :biggrin:

Jstas

DMara wrote: »

I did chicken, duck and fish but also am not against anybody who couldn't kill, clean and cook one's own dinner.



Reading most of the topics you involved in, I'm pretty sure you're one of them, so don't break yourself away from the herd :biggrin:

Nah, you ain't worth it

treitz3

Speaking of chicken. Y'all know that phrase "running around like a chicken with its head cut off"? There is a reason that saying came about. Kinda shocking the first time you see it.

Stew

Reported - Post #18 from jhnhook1 - Spam

Stew

Yes. I grew up hunting birds in Georgia and fishing in the Gulf. I started big game hunting when I moved West about 15 years ago. There's something satisfying about bringing game from field to table. Tasty too.

ben62670

I could never do such an atrocity. I thought beef grew on trees?

Stew

Trees? No way! It comes from the grocery store.

[Deleted User]

I am capable of killing, cleaning and cooking my food. It would include fish, chicken, duck, and quail. That is the extent I could handle and have no problem with. I have gone deer hunting, but does not count since I was really young and did not really do the work.

Halen

BuckeyeTim

Absolutely! I was born in a small town, but spent a lot of time on relatives farms. As it is now, we do not buy meat from a store. The inlaws are dairy farmers and they raise a few beef cows every year. Most times we do the dirty work ourselves and take to a meat cutter only for the carving. Other times we deliver them on the hoof. We also do a few hogs as well. I haven't had "store bought" beef in.......well, almost never.

Although I haven't butchered chickens in a few years, it used to be common as well. My uncle even used to raise rabbits....for butchering. We also used to milk goats daily and gather eggs. Turtles are the only thing I hate cutting up. They just kind of creep me out. I allow a few friends to hunt on my property so we hack up deer, turkey, squirrel, rabbit...

Toolfan66

I could,and have done it.

So jstas how's the weather up there??

apphd

Have, and do. Grew up in small town in a dairy farming area. Hunted and fished since I was old enough to. The first day of buck season most schools in PA are closed and some places of employment as well. Learned if you catch it or kill it, you clean it. Right along side of how to hunt and fish. Around a farming area you learn about the "ugly" side of the food chain/life cycle. Not only is there livestock that needs to be butchered, but cows/calves that die during birth, occasional drowning or what have you. You learn to respect life, watching various animals being born, but also understand, and respect death. To where it is just a fact of life, or country culture, if you wish to label it. Nothing against those that don't or can't unless they try to tell me how wrong I am (kind of like cables):biggrin:

george daniel

Yep-- good topic for a demonstration @ PF this year @ Steves',,"Proper way to gut and butcher a deer.

inspiredsports

reported post 27 by systamd4

inspiredsports

Yep. "The Wild Within" (on the Travel Channel) featuring Steve Rinella is a program currently airing and a good resource if you are interested in this.

joeparaski

I couldn't do it. But I remember as a kid going to the market with my dad and coming back home with rabbits/chickens/goats that's he'd kill/prepare/eat. This was is the 60's. Thinking back it seems odd that at one time you could walk a goat along the streets of Montreal.

Joe

HHStuart

Fish? No problem.
Rabbits, chickens - could do.
Deer, beef, pig - haven't done but could do.
I know that if you hang a deer, you need to cut out some gland or it will ruin the meat. Damn if I know where that gland is. I assume it is a musk gland.
I grew up on a farm and I have seen a hog butchered. Hard to imagine how much guts are in there. I've seen my mother pull feathers off a chicken after scalding it (it was already dead). I've seen a chicken with it's head cut off - it kind of jumps around, don't know it stays on its feet so long. I have hunted and I'm fine with people who hunt. Their numbers are dwindling from what I hear.
I can only imagine myself doing this if I had to.

Demiurge

Could you kill, clean and cook your dinner?

Yes, I have and I will do it again.

This is something that men used to teach their boys as a part of coming of age. Sadly, these traditions are seldom passed down anymore. What if you couldn't provide for your family anymore by walking into a store and buying your food? I'm sure many would figure it out, but others would have no idea and would suffer and die.

I buy just about everything from the store and certainly don't make hunting for my food any type of regular activity. There's nothing wrong with taking advantage of the modern conveniences so long as you don't forget where you've come from or take for granted how your food got there.