Back straps beware

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Daniel Lile
  • 14th Flying Training Wing Public Affairs
COLUMBUS AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. --  There are many aspects to hunting that most people are unaware of. Killing an animal is just the beginning; what you do with the animal after the fact is very important. Processing meat can be an art in and of itself. Many hunters have their own styles and preferences on how to best cut and cook the meat, but regardless, processing animal meat yourself is fun and a great way to save money.

"I have been hunting and processing meat since I could pick up a rifle when I was a little kid," said Tech. Sgt. Eric Bauer, 14th Operations Support Squadron and an avid hunter. "I did my whole first animal myself, I learned mostly through trial and error on my own."

There are deer processors where you can pay to process and cut your meat for you, however many hunters prefer to do it all themselves. Doing it yourself saves money and you know without any doubt that is was done properly.

"From the time I pull the trigger to the freezer and finally to the pan, it is 100 percent done by myself," said Bauer. "I really enjoy doing the whole process. It saves a lot of money rather than taking it to a processor, and I know that all of the meat was handled correctly and was done right."

Saving money is not the only reason hunters process their animals themselves; harvesting meat from a wild animal is the cleanest, healthiest and most natural meat available to Airmen and their families.

"Processing your own meat is a lot cleaner than buying it at a store," said Staff Sgt. Charles Woford, 14th Flying Trainings Wing Chapel and an avid hunter. My wife is pregnant right now and we have talked about just eating deer because it is the healthiest and doesn't have any steroids or other substances in it."

Some hunters go as far as preferring archery hunting rather than with a gun due to the fact that there could be small amounts of lead left in the animal.

"I really prefer archery for processing my meat because when hunting with a gun there might be some lead in the meat," said Woford. "I like to be able to harvest the animal knowing there are no steroids in it and it is packed full of protein. I know, without a doubt, that the meat is healthy."

There are many different ways you can choose to utilize the meat you harvest. Hunters traditionally enjoy using the back strap as the best cut of meat on the animal.

"If you want, you can cut steaks, quarter shoulders, cut roast and you always have your back straps," said Woford. "I love to cut back straps into tenderloins or cut them up for shish kabobs. It really depends on how you want to use the meat that you have harvested."

If an Airman is unsure or doesn't know how to process an animal it is easily learned. Airmen just need the will to get it done, and a sharp knife.

"Just jump in and do it, you really can't mess it up," said Bauer. "You're going to throw it in the freezer and eat it either way. Ask around and find somebody that knows how to do it and learn from them. Even if you can't find someone I'm sure there are videos that will walk you through everything."