Have a skeptical family member or friend who thinks a big cat can only be a “trophy” and not table fare? Get your hands on some catamount meat and treat them to this mountain lion carnitas recipe, courtesy of BHA's Regional Policy Coordinator, Bryan Jones. Servings: 6 Ingredients: 3 pounds mountain lion meat (shoulder or hind quarter works well)½ pound of lard or other rendered fat1 cup fresh-squeezed orange juice (store bought will work)3 cups water4 cloves of garlic1 tablespoon cumin2 ...

Backstory On a cold, dark January evening, the text message went something like, “Hey Leslie, how about being a dessert chef for the Field to Table dinner at the Backcountry Hunters & Anglers Rendezvous this year?” My answer was a hard “Let me think about it,” which ultimately led to a “yes.” Almost immediately I panicked; it was January and I had nothing to forage to make this dessert! So, through January and on through February friends ate many versions of what became a very solid recipe ...

As COVID-19 wages war on civilization, a look into my chest freezer and the watering of my garden gives me hope and solace in a time of uncertainty. I do not consider myself a “prepper,” but I am certainly well prepared.  Over the last seven years, I have invested heavily in the process of procuring my own food. My hobbies of hunting, fly-fishing and gardening fill my freezer and the bellies of myself and loved ones. In times like these, my bounty eases my anxieties. This wasn’t always the ...