Eating Road Kill
More Articles Related to Survivalist BlogDuring the last Great Depression in the 1930’s road kill was considered a table delicacy for many who would otherwise be going without meat. Deer, various birds, rabbit, bear, raccoon, even porcupine and a variety of other animals killed by vehicles and left lying on the side of the road became an important source of protein for many a family.
An important feature of road kill is that the hunting has been done for you. There the animal lay; all you need to do is pick it up, skin it out, and cook it up. A gift from the Gods a hungry man should not pass up!
You Won't Eat Road Kill?
Don’t think you could eat road kill? That’s simply because at this time you can afford to snub your nose at such easy free meat.
Sure, right now many of you are squeamish at the thought of eating road kill. After all, your stomachs are regularly full and probably have been for all of your life. You likely have never experienced first hand what it is like to go hungry for several days straight – or even weeks. Your cupboards are well stocked, and as much food as you could possibly want is waiting for you at the local grocery. That could all change.
During times of natural and manmade disaster or economic collapse food sources can quickly dry up. It’s amazing how preconceived food prejudices are soon rejected when real knawing hunger sets in. After a few months without enough food and you will think nothing of eating insects, worms, rats, or anything else that comes your way. Served with wallpaper paste a nice road kill raccoon roast would be a seriously welcome addition to the dinner table.
When you think about it, what’s the difference whether that animal was dispatched at the meat processing plant, by a hunter in the forest, or a speeding automobile? None. As long as the meat is reasonably fresh and well cooked it will not matter one iota how the animal met its end. What does matter is feeding yourself and your family; road kill could put meat on the table when food is scarce and your survival is at stake.
Road Kill is Good Food
Road kill is traditionally accepted mealtime fare in many areas. In my neck of the woods moose are almost daily hit by motorists speeding through moose country. Referred to as the “bull of the woods”, moose are often afraid of nothing and are frequently encountered crossing roads. Besides totaling the vehicle, a 1000-pound moose is usually severely injured or even killed. As you can imagine a moose of this size has considerable quantities of meat. In some cases these road killed moose are given to poor families, charitable organizations, or even the owner of the vehicle that hit it.
As when you shop for meat at the supermarket, you want to insure your road kill meat is fresh and has not “gone by”. Although obvious signs of potentially spoiled meat include smell and the presence of scavenging insects, maggots, and the like, meat can also be spoiled without these signs. You must cook all meat thoroughly in order to destroy any disease causing organisms or parasites.
If you find road kill on a stretch of road you had just passed over several hours before, then chances are your road kill is reasonably fresh and you are in meat. As in all things, the best survivors are aware of their environment and open to opportunity as it presents itself, however unexpectedly. Road kill meat is a potentially valuable resource in times of need and not to be overlooked by the hungry survivor.
Washington State
You are absolutely right! When I was in Alaska years ago the counties and cities recovered fresh roadkill animals for food for the poor. From what I know it is just as good or better than the meat that is inhumanely processed in the factory butcher plants that supply the grocery stores. Really good article!
I have never been a fan of all the politics involved with deer hunting, but have always enjoyed the meat. In Tennessee and Kentucky deer hit by cars is common, and in winter I would regularly collect them. Fortunately in those parts all you have to do is report it to the Fish and Wildlife folks.
WA Yelm
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Canada
More than just food for thought. "Desperate times require desperate measures."