#35 in Cookbooks, food & wine books
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Reddit mentions of The Complete Guide to Hunting, Butchering, and Cooking Wild Game: Volume 1: Big Game
Sentiment score: 22
Reddit mentions: 48
We found 48 Reddit mentions of The Complete Guide to Hunting, Butchering, and Cooking Wild Game: Volume 1: Big Game. Here are the top ones.
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- Spiegel Grau
Features:
Specs:
Color | Multicolor |
Height | 10 Inches |
Length | 8 Inches |
Number of items | 1 |
Release date | August 2015 |
Weight | 2.8 Pounds |
Width | 0.98 Inches |
If you move the decimal over. This is about 1,000 in books...
(If I had to pick a few for 100 bucks: encyclopedia of country living, survival medicine, wilderness medicine, ball preservation, art of fermentation, a few mushroom and foraging books.)
Medical:
Where there is no doctor
Where there is no dentist
Emergency War Surgery
The survival medicine handbook
Auerbach’s Wilderness Medicine
Special Operations Medical Handbook
Food Production
Mini Farming
encyclopedia of country living
square foot gardening
Seed Saving
Storey’s Raising Rabbits
Meat Rabbits
Aquaponics Gardening: Step By Step
Storey’s Chicken Book
Storey Dairy Goat
Storey Meat Goat
Storey Ducks
Storey’s Bees
Beekeepers Bible
bio-integrated farm
soil and water engineering
Organic Mushroom Farming and Mycoremediation
Food Preservation and Cooking
Steve Rinella’s Large Game Processing
Steve Rinella’s Small Game
Ball Home Preservation
Charcuterie
Root Cellaring
Art of Natural Cheesemaking
Mastering Artesian Cheese Making
American Farmstead Cheesemaking
Joe Beef: Surviving Apocalypse
Wild Fermentation
Art of Fermentation
Nose to Tail
Artisan Sourdough
Designing Great Beers
The Joy of Home Distilling
Foraging
Southeast Foraging
Boletes
Mushrooms of Carolinas
Mushrooms of Southeastern United States
Mushrooms of the Gulf Coast
Tech
farm and workshop Welding
ultimate guide: plumbing
ultimate guide: wiring
ultimate guide: home repair
off grid solar
Woodworking
Timberframe Construction
Basic Lathework
How to Run A Lathe
Backyard Foundry
Sand Casting
Practical Casting
The Complete Metalsmith
Gears and Cutting Gears
Hardening Tempering and Heat Treatment
Machinery’s Handbook
How to Diagnose and Fix Everything Electronic
Electronics For Inventors
Basic Science
Chemistry
Organic Chem
Understanding Basic Chemistry Through Problem Solving
Ham Radio
AARL Antenna Book
General Class Manual
Tech Class Manual
MISC
Ray Mears Essential Bushcraft
Contact!
Nuclear War Survival Skills
The Knowledge: How to rebuild civilization in the aftermath of a cataclysm
If you want a great book resource, I would highly recommend Steven Rinella's Complete Guide to Hunting series. It covers a wide range of topics from gear selection, hunting methods, and some recipe ideas. His show and podcasts are also good.
Amazon Link
Read Steven Rinellas Complete-Guide-Hunting-Butchering-Cooking Cooking Big game. I never had a mentor to teach me how to hunt I picked up this book a year ago read it twice basically. It's jam packed with info I don't think there's another book like it. He ll walk you through the whole process from what gear you need and don't need, there's a chapter every type of big game animal in North America And how to hunt it. It pretty much covers all the questions you had in your post. Could not recommend this enough. https://www.amazon.ca/Complete-Guide-Hunting-Butchering-Cooking/dp/081299406X
Try this book. I felt like it was a great starting off point for me. Kept me from having to ask a ton of silly questions of friends and family who are experienced.
https://www.amazon.com/Complete-Guide-Hunting-Butchering-Cooking/dp/081299406X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1504826391&sr=8-1&keywords=complete+guide+to+hunting+butchering+and+cooking+wild+game
Buy this, and read it-
The Complete Guide to Hunting, Butchering, and Cooking Wild Game: Volume 1: Big Game https://www.amazon.com/dp/081299406X/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_Tu6Fzb3M27JKG
Then buy this, and read it-
The Complete Guide to Hunting, Butchering, and Cooking Wild Game: Volume 2: Small Game and Fowl https://www.amazon.com/dp/0812987055/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_Jv6FzbZGW2GRY
I think Steven Rinella's two volume Complete Guide to Hunting books are great: Volume one: https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/081299406X/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1473207021&sr=8-1&pi=SY200_QL40&keywords=steven+rinella+books&dpPl=1&dpID=61ZdF0k1KXL&ref=plSrch
I think it depends on what kind of person you are. If you think you'll be happier doing it yourself, knowing how it was done and learning while you go then you should take the leap and give it a shot. It's really not that hard to mess up and the learning experience will be invaluable. I'm by no means a professional but I always do it myself and like it that way. I know exactly how it was taken care of, I've done it how I want to and I've been in control of the whole process. It can be daunting, no doubt but the best way to learn, like most things, is to jump in. And in the end, if you found that it's just not for you then, then at least you know what it involves and can move forward with that knowledge next time.
If your worried you don't know enough or don't know anyone to help you through it then there are now lots of places to pick up good information. If you have netflix, throw on Meateater, season 6, episode 6. Steve Renilla is a great example of how to do things right and I wish he was around when I started hunting. You could also pick up Renilla's book (link below) which is great for many reasons besides being well worth the cheap price.
One note, I know Renilla doesn't like vacuum sealers for big game but I found it works fine if you don't bang them around. His method is most likely more durable (and probably cheaper) but if you want to vacuum it, that will work too.
https://www.amazon.com/Complete-Guide-Hunting-Butchering-Cooking/dp/081299406X/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1503768517&sr=8-2&keywords=hunting+and+butchering+wild+game
Find an experienced shooter to take you to the range... Practice some marksmanship fundamentals with them on a small round (.22lr would be ideal) and then transfer that to the .308. Stepping up through a couple intermediate calibers while practicing (like .223 which lots of shooters will have for plinking or .243) would help.
The .308, as others have said, is NOT a 'small' gun. But, I think you're absolutely right that it is a "One Gun to Do Them All" chambering. You can take any huntable game with a proper .308 load.
Putting aside the gun whargarbl for a minute, here's some stuff on your more foundational question:
​
Hope that helps. I'm 4 years into learning myself. Happy to chat more!
I would highly recommended Steven Rinella's Hunting, Butchering and Cooking Wild Game to anyone interested in hunting, regardless of experience level.
To add to /u/Gitmo_money post about Rinella, get his books. He has a guide to big and small game. Even as an avid hunter and growing up with it, I picked up some things from his books.
https://www.amazon.com/Complete-Guide-Hunting-Butchering-Cooking/dp/081299406X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1522364612&sr=8-1&keywords=steve+rinella+complete+guide
https://www.amazon.com/Complete-Guide-Hunting-Butchering-Cooking/dp/0812987055/ref=pd_bxgy_14_img_2?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=0812987055&pd_rd_r=X30EZ0RRDTR9E476EFGJ&pd_rd_w=qP0yB&pd_rd_wg=lJdtL&psc=1&refRID=X30EZ0RRDTR9E476EFGJ
That is a broad question so my answer will be somewhat broad. Learning to hunt well is a long process but extremely rewarding. Most new hunters I've talked to and tried to help, end up stopping because it is difficult. You often come home empty handed especially in the beginning. You are very lucky to have an uncle to help. So here's my advice:
This as well as his following volumes are excellent starting points. Remember that you not only need to know how to find and shoot an animal, you need to know basic butchering to gut, remove meat, and pack it out which can be as challenging as anything else you do while hunting.
That's the best advice I can give for a beginner. As you gain experience there is so much more to learn.
I have both volumes of this, and it is super detailed. Volume 1 is large game, and Volume 2 is small game. It goes into detail about a lot of the basics.
http://www.amazon.com/Complete-Guide-Hunting-Butchering-Cooking/dp/081299406X?ie=UTF8&qid=&ref_=tmm_pap_swatch_0&sr=
Anything by Steve Rinella - he has The Complete Guide to Hunting, Butchering, and Cooking Wildgame books which is full of stories, tips, and how to's and contributions from a thousand different hunters - I found them at my local library. I also really enjoyed "Meat Eater - Adventures from the Life of an American Hunter," it's a lot of non-fiction short stories of his life in hunting. He also has "Scavengers Guide to Haute Cuisine" and his buffalo book.
try the huntingbc.com forums (island subforum) , lots of willing guys on there.
also buy this book and read the blacktail section
https://www.amazon.ca/Complete-Guide-Hunting-Butchering-Cooking/dp/081299406X
I cant tell you where to hunt because I have not learned that myself.
​
The Meateater guides to "hunting, butchering and cooking wild game" are great for learning how to chop one up.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/081299406X/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_U_FmoyCb34ESAMT
​
Meateater also has videos on how to butcher a deer in the field, a pig is basically the exact same process.
https://youtu.be/vJtMpbJUXzE
​
Once you have it gutted and skinned, this book is nice for breaking down pig.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1612121829/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i0
You can do this yourself if you know know how to use a knife. First read parts of this book: The Complete Guide to Hunting, Butchering, and Cooking Wild Game: Volume 1: Big Game. A great reference for how to clean big game.
Second, Steven Rinella's MeatEater episode Seaon 10, episode 6 is a great video to learn. Granted you have to pay $2.99 but a great reference in my opinion (link: http://meateater.vhx.tv/)
Start with this book before you drop any money.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/081299406X/ref=ya_aw_oh_bia_dp?ie=UTF8&psc=1
That book and its author are full of solid information. Aside from that you will need a range finder and binoculars but take your time and pick out quality stuff you will be happy with.
Any time in the woods hunting, be it small game, hog, or anything will help you. Where do you live?
Personally I would recommend this book. It covers more than just blacktail but talks mostly about america. I don't know of any Canada specific books.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQOcUD2aFxEjc-_4JJBLYyg - Randy Newberg, Youtube. So many informative videos FOR FREE
https://www.hunttalk.com/ - Hunttalk forum, way better than reddit for questions like this
Edit: Adding Steve Rinella's book because it has everything someone could need and is definitely worth $20 https://www.amazon.com/Complete-Guide-Hunting-Butchering-Cooking/dp/081299406X
https://www.amazon.com/Complete-Guide-Hunting-Butchering-Cooking/dp/081299406X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1526298504&sr=8-1&keywords=complete+guide+to+hunting+butchering+and+cooking+wild+game
https://www.amazon.com/Complete-Guide-Hunting-Butchering-Cooking/dp/0812987055/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1526298504&sr=8-2&keywords=complete+guide+to+hunting+butchering+and+cooking+wild+game
Perhaps? https://www.amazon.com/Complete-Guide-Hunting-Butchering-Cooking/dp/081299406X
It has 389, 5 star ratings.
I looked back through a couple posts because I remember seeing a hunting book recommended. I found it thanks to u/KnockingonKevinsdoor
https://www.amazon.ca/Complete-Guide-Hunting-Butchering-Cooking/dp/081299406X
Second this and when I went out first time last year his book had all the info I needed to, 1 stay safe and 2 tactics in hunting and 3 how to field dress it.
The Complete Guide to Hunting, Butchering, and Cooking Wild Game: Volume 1: Big Game https://www.amazon.com/dp/081299406X/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_Bg5QBb59ZXHR1
Check with your state to see which department is in charge of game and fish. There's actually links to each states' department in Rinella's guides. These sources will usually provide you with areas to hunt in, such as national forests, wildlife management areas, and other such locations.
[Rinella's guide vol. 1] (https://www.amazon.com/Complete-Guide-Hunting-Butchering-Cooking/dp/081299406X/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=rinella+guide&qid=1551052333&s=gateway&sr=8-1) actually cover how to find land to scout/hunt on. [guide vol.2][[https://www.amazon.com/Complete-Guide-Hunting-Butchering-Cooking/dp/0812987055/ref=pd\_bxgy\_14\_img\_2/137-7311292-9552702?\_encoding=UTF8&pd\_rd\_i=0812987055&pd\_rd\_r=a9cd666a-388f-11e9-9e49-b9c377d1057c&pd\_rd\_w=lAFY4&pd\_rd\_wg=JhOcg&pf\_rd\_p=6725dbd6-9917-451d-beba-16af7874e407&pf\_rd\_r=Z1XEKFJ0K6YM7WP14VWZ&psc=1&refRID=Z1XEKFJ0K6YM7WP14VWZ\]](https://www.amazon.com/Complete-Guide-Hunting-Butchering-Cooking/dp/0812987055/ref=pd_bxgy_14_img_2/137-7311292-9552702?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=0812987055&pd_rd_r=a9cd666a-388f-11e9-9e49-b9c377d1057c&pd_rd_w=lAFY4&pd_rd_wg=JhOcg&pf_rd_p=6725dbd6-9917-451d-beba-16af7874e407&pf_rd_r=Z1XEKFJ0K6YM7WP14VWZ&psc=1&refRID=Z1XEKFJ0K6YM7WP14VWZ])
Above all, keep it simple and focus more on finding deer than lugging around gear. Time to hit the range with your rifle and practice, and not just with the rifle sitting on the bench too. Reduced recoil rounds are great so you can get in more trigger time without developing a flinch, though be aware you'll need to re-sight the scope when/if you switch to full power loads. .22 rifles are excellent for practice too.
I have a couple Hunter Quick-fire slings and really like them, they adjust quickly and look/feel good.
I got [one of these gas mask bags] (https://swisslink.com/british-dpm-gas-mask-bag.html?language=en&currency=USD&gclid=Cj0KCQjwv_fKBRCGARIsAL6R6ehradc0oDfyXVdpTtaD2rJOVAEydJs4MUsEwJjUMvYdvIf8HMoeGmUaAsLvEALw_wcB) for $5 at a Mill's Fleet Farm and it is the perfect size to hold my gear for the day (knife, water, food, calls, gloves/hat, rope, etc). Goes over the shoulder and sits nicely on your side. I prefer hunting on the ground over sitting in stands and carry a camo foam canoe pad with me that I clip to the bag strap with a carabiner so it hangs out behind me while I'm fudding around.
Visit and read /r/hunting for advice on finding deer. Also [get this book] (https://www.amazon.com/Complete-Guide-Hunting-Butchering-Cooking/dp/081299406X), it is an excellent read for beginners and experienced hunters.
That was a great read! I ordered this one right after I finished reading it because I wanted it to keep going haha.
The top comment mentions meateater.com and they wrote a couple books about this. Each book is over 300 pages with discussion, pictures, and info about everything you might want to know.
The Complete Guide to Hunting, Butchering, and Cooking Wild Game: Volume 1: Big Game
https://www.amazon.com/Complete-Guide-Hunting-Butchering-Cooking/dp/081299406X
The Complete Guide to Hunting, Butchering, and Cooking Wild Game: Volume 2: Small Game and Fowl
https://www.amazon.com/Complete-Guide-Hunting-Butchering-Cooking/dp/0812987055/ref=pd_lpo_sbs_14_img_1?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=MRBD7F56V551D9142B76
I'm self taught as well, this year would be my 5th but I'm sidelined and waiting for surgery. Steve Rinella's books were the best I came across.
https://www.amazon.com/Complete-Guide-Hunting-Butchering-Cooking/dp/081299406X
I started with this book and then I got the sequel
Steve Rinella's Complete Guide to Hunting Butchering and Cooking Wild Game. Volume 1 is big game, volume 2 is small game. I have only read Vol 1, but it's great.
Couple other things: Start by taking a hunter safety course, preferably with range/field time included. Buy decent binoculars and look for game with your glass, not your boots. Speaking of boots, buy a good pair and make sure they're broken in before you go out too far. Squirrel or doves are a good place to start. In California, you could probably start with deer hunting on a National Forest. Wyoming doe antelope or javelina in Arizona would be a good first out-of-state big game hunt. The tags are cheap, easy to draw, and the animals are found on public land. A good resource/introduction to hunting:
https://www.amazon.com/Complete-Guide-Hunting-Butchering-Cooking/dp/081299406X
https://www.amazon.com/Complete-Guide-Hunting-Butchering-Cooking/dp/0812987055
It’s in Rinella’s book: https://www.amazon.com/Complete-Guide-Hunting-Butchering-Cooking/dp/081299406X
I would start with a hunters education course. You can find local ones online, check the department of natural resource sites for either your home state or states neighboring DC.
I'm sure it's going to get mentioned more in this thread, but find what you want to hunt, and check out this book (or volume 2 if it covers the animals you want to hunt, or get both): The Complete Guide to Hunting, Butchering, and Cooking Wild Game: Volume 1: Big Game https://www.amazon.com/dp/081299406X/ref=cm_sw_r_other_apa_nKwuzb664V3FF
The books cover pretty much everything you need to know about hunting, and Google and YouTube are your friends from there.
Other than that, your issue is getting some hands on with firearms. For that I would suggest finding a range that offers gun rentals and has a range officer to help you get started. A more expensive option would be to take classes on gun handling and shooting.
Also, you may check out MeatEater on Netflix. The host is the man that wrote the book linked above. He doesn't cover a lot of the basics, but it paints how to hunt in broad strokes.
You should check out Steven Rinella's complete guides to hunting. These helped me immensely in getting into hunting.
https://www.amazon.com/Complete-Guide-Hunting-Butchering-Cooking/dp/0812987055/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1518060714&sr=8-2&keywords=steven+rinella+complete+guide+to+hunting
https://www.amazon.com/Complete-Guide-Hunting-Butchering-Cooking/dp/081299406X/ref=pd_bxgy_14_img_2?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=081299406X&pd_rd_r=RG32MG5VNEJCC6Q3AVKG&pd_rd_w=BqPAg&pd_rd_wg=4EZpb&psc=1&refRID=RG32MG5VNEJCC6Q3AVKG&dpID=61p-uQ2494L&preST=_SX218_BO1,204,203,200_QL40_&dpSrc=detail
If suggest you focus on whitetail for the next few seasons until you get the hang of it.
Also buy this book:
https://www.amazon.ca/Complete-Guide-Hunting-Butchering-Cooking/dp/081299406X
Keep the sun at your back and the wind in your face as much as you can.
Walk very slow and take irregular steps. Think of how a moose would walk through the woods. Stop-go browse a bit, walk a step, stop walk.
The farther you are from a city or town the easier it is to get permission from farmers.
Be an ambassador for ethical hunting especially on social media.
Be mindful of what you post (some people may not understand/appreciate a grip and grin picture with a dead deer with its tongue hanging out and it's face full of blood)
There is a meat eater podcast and the Pace brothers have into the wilderness that's worth listening to (especially the one with Ivan Carter)
Good luck this season.
Steven Rinella wrote a book, Hunting, Butchering, and Cooking Wild Game, that is an incredible resource for learning about wind, hunting strategies, and some basic information about various game species. Highly recommend you read it now and start applying what you learn in scouting trips prior to September. I took a deer with a bow my first year and you can too.
This book is worth it's weight in gold, in my opinion. There is a step-by-step section on butchering big game and all sorts of tips and teaching moments throughout. Watching youtube videos is good as well.
Check this one out.
I'm looking at the same thing. I'm tempted by the cheaper course but was hoping to hear that the $35 course would get more actual hunting information through to me.
I may just go that route and hope for the best since it's pay only when you pass and it is a once in a lifetime thing.
Edit: I'm in Texas as well.
Thought I'd mention that I picked up This book based on recommendations from this sub and it's good. I'm thinking I'll get what I was hoping for from the hunters education course but just through this book.
Even less now! $10.60 (62% off)!
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/081299406X
I'm in the same boat as you - in the process of 'self-teaching'. I just picked up this book and found it very helpful.
I've decided to start with a bow - and I've found archery to be an awesome hobby outside of hunting as well. Hopefully I'll get lucky and get a deer before the seasons out - although I haven't seen anything in WI since gun season started
http://www.amazon.com/Complete-Guide-Hunting-Butchering-Cooking/dp/081299406X
Use amazon smile to donate a potion to charity. I like the Rocky Mountain Elk. Great book for your geography; doesn't help as much in thick swamps by me.
I wouldn't worry about removing too much. With a rotary tool like a dremel and a sanding drum on medium-low it would take you maybe 5 minutes. Long smooth strokes and even pressure with the dremel so you don't carve a dip in the stock. You can also use sand paper by hand but damn if power tools don't make life easier. Try it for a few minutes and tighten the action down. See if you have it cleared and mentally mark spots that still touch and repeat.
I would highly recommend hunting down a torque wrench in Inch/Pounds for tightening the action screws. It is supposed to be around 15 in/lbs for the Boyds stocks; too much and you'll crush the wood. If you tinker a lot with rifles then get the FAT Wrench from amazon. Can't tell you how often I've used the thing. If you don't tinker then track one down a borrow one.
https://www.amazon.com/Complete-Guide-Hunting-Butchering-Cooking/dp/081299406X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1502480212&sr=8-1&keywords=steve+rinella
and
https://www.amazon.com/Complete-Guide-Hunting-Butchering-Cooking/dp/0812987055/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1502480212&sr=8-2&keywords=steve+rinella
I will post these until I am blue in the face.
I watch a lot of MeatEater on Netflix, then read this:
https://www.amazon.com/Complete-Guide-Hunting-Butchering-Cooking/dp/081299406X/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?keywords=steve+rinella&qid=1573953887&sprefix=steve+&sr=8-1
Sounds like you're pretty new to hunting as well as bow hunting given some of the questions in the thread about more than stalking like licenses etc... Just thought I'd throw this out there for you to check out, it's a good book with lots of good information for you. [Complete Guide to Hunting, Butchering and Cooking] (https://www.amazon.com/Complete-Guide-Hunting-Butchering-Cooking/dp/081299406X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1499369249&sr=8-1&keywords=steve+rinella+the+complete+guide+to+hunting)
https://www.amazon.com/Complete-Guide-Hunting-Butchering-Cooking/dp/081299406X
Real good IMO
Slow cooking works well for game because most wild meat is lean and easily overcooked otherwise, making it tough.
Steve Rinella has a two volume set that would make a great gift: https://www.amazon.com/Complete-Guide-Hunting-Butchering-Cooking/dp/081299406X
I don't have my shelf in front of me right now, but the one I can remember that I really like is Butchering.
Also, it's not purely butchering or farming, but Steve Rinella's two book series on hunting, butchering, storing, and preparing small to large game is a fantastic resource. Book 1. Book 2.