The Complete Guide to Hunting, Butchering, and Cooking Wild Game: Volume 1: Big Game

by Steven Rinella, John Hafner (Photographer)

A comprehensive big-game hunting guide for hunters ranging from first-time novices to seasoned experts, with more than 400 full-color photographs, including work by renowned outdoor photographer John Hafner
 
Steven Rinella was raised in a hunting family and has been pursuing wild game his entire life. In this first-ever complete guide to hunting—from hunting an animal to butchering and cooking it—the host of the popular hunting show MeatEater shares his own expertise with us, and imparts strategies and tactics from many of the most experienced hunters in the United States as well.
 
This invaluable book includes
• recommendations on what equipment you will need—and what you can do without—from clothing to cutlery to camping gear to weapons
• basic and advanced hunting strategies, including spot-and-stalk hunting, ambush hunting, still hunting, drive hunting, and backpack hunting
• how to effectively use decoys and calling for big game
• how to find hunting locations, on both public and private land, and how to locate areas that other hunters aren’t using
• how and when to scout hunting locations for maximum effectiveness
• basic information on procuring hunting tags, including limited-entry “draw” tags
• a species-by-species description of fourteen big-game animals, from their mating rituals and preferred habitats to the best hunting techniques—both firearm and archery—for each species
• how to plan and pack for backcountry hunts
• instructions on how to break down any big-game animal and transport it from your hunting site
• how to butcher your own big-game animals and select the proper cuts for sausages, roasts, and steaks, and how to utilize underappreciated cuts such as ribs and shanks
• cooking techniques and recipes, for both outdoor and indoor preparation of wild game

Genres: Nonfiction, Outdoors, Cookbooks, Food, Reference, Nature, Cooking

416 pages, Paperback

First published September 2, 2014

About the author

Steven Rinella is the host of the Netflix Original series MeatEater and The MeatEater Podcast. He's also the author of six books dealing with wildlife, hunting, fishing and wild game cooking, including the bestselling MeatEater Fish and Game Cookbook: Recipes and Techniques for Every Hunter and Angler.

Reviews

[BoondocksGlam · Rating 5 out of 5]

While this is my husband's book, and I didn't read the entire book, it's an extremely well written book. I was most interested in the sections of the book related to breaking down big game as I help with all of the butchering. Many useful tips, I particularly liked the section on showing maximum respect to your prey. While my husband does the cooking, I can attest that the recipes he has tried from this book have been amazing. I'd recommend this book to any big game hunters and also to anyone who butchers or cooks with it even if they don't do the hunting. I'd also encourage those who have been hesitant to try venison, or those who've tried it in the past and not liked it to give it another try using some of these tips and recipes. It makes all the difference if it's cooked properly. As well, there is great satisfaction in knowing where your food comes from and doing it all yourself.

[Jim Ingerson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was interested in this book after I saw the show Meateater and was fortunate enough to receive it as a Christmas gift. In less than two months this book has become very well used - it's my new go-to book on the weekends and while I've only used recipes for my smoker so far, I'm excited to try the rest. This is a great book, written in an easy to follow format, filled with very useful information and tips and I would highly recommend it to any sports enthusiast.

[Kyle Jackson · Rating 5 out of 5]

The recipe section alone is worth the purchase the rest of the book is equally great but the respect shown to the game through the artful and tasty preparations is the show stopper for me.

[Elwin Kline · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read quite a few hunting books, at least five) and I can honestly say that this is best in class for a welcome to hunting/getting started book.

Steve Rinella has dedicated his life to hunting and fishing and has been extremely successful with his own show and other ventures such as this book. You are getting the material from a tired and true expert who has spent hours hunting and outdoors than most of us folks with families, jobs, and live in a city will ever come close to.

Weapon of take, gear coverage, species with unique hunting tips and other important information on the animal, butchering, and a short wild game cookbook at the end as a finisher was absolutely the perfect delivery for a 'Complete Guide'.

Lots of respect for Steve and this is a very good book.

Perfect gift for wannabe hunters or folks with 3 years or less of experience.

[Matt Norville · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a first generation hunter this book helped me harvest a deer and elk my first season. Some topics give just enough information to be dangerous and produce additional questions, but the book is a good general reference. Overall, Rinella goes over the top with practices such as a meatloaf recipe with spinach, pine nuts and 20+ other ingredients... Another subject I question is leaving the bone in a lot of cuts of meat. According to my fellow hunters, friends, and relatives using a hacksaw to make bonein roasts, ribs, etc.. is not a good way to butcher meat. In conclusion, the book is a great overview of big game hunting, but is somewhat ideal in some of the practices preached.

[Jeremy Dombrock · Rating 4 out of 5]

Most of the book is very detailed and includes diagrams/examples that are simple to follow. Many recommendations and realistic scenarios. However, the butchering section leaves a little to be desired. "..insert your knife below the brisket...," for example... I don't know what a brisket is and it seems he decided to stop using diagrams in this section. There are pictures, but it would've been much better, imo, if he had added step numbers to show 1) insert knife HERE, 2) cut down to HERE, etc. I would definitely need to go to youtube or reference a different book to feel confident butchering an animal, and for that reason I would disagree that this is "The Complete" guide.

[Gregory Pedersen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book seems like a definitive work for those who want to know anything and everything about hunting. I've read some of Steven Rinella's other books about hunting and the outdoors, and they are quite enjoyable. Rinella's knowledge comes from decades of hunting experience and studious scholarship pertaining to the subject. I really enjoyed his show Meat Eater as well. This particular book is a how-to guide supplemented by Rinella's direct personal experiences as well as lots of great tried and proven recipes for cooking the wild game.

[Robert Cox · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great 30,000ft view of big game hunting. Would be an exceptional book for anyone just starting out, and its actually very readable, I took the cover to cover approach and tore through it very quickly.

Look at it this way, its enough to make you dangerous and get you into the woods, most the rest can only come from first hand experience.

[Dalton Ayres · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was a really good book. Some awesome recipes in the back of the book. As far as information, it would be a very good book for a novice Hunter to read. For the more experienced folks, like my self who has hunted all landscapes, and deep in the ecology of animals, you might find yourself skimming most of it. But great book of you still only 10 years into the hunting scene.

[Alberto Garcia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing content

This guy describes things the way I imagine them. After I read what he says and my mind starts drawing the picture it clearly makes sense. I love that he takes you on a journey starting from how to prepare and even what to look for. Definitely a must for any hunter out there.

[Henry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Geez I wish that I read this before taking an Aoudad. I would have saved so much more meat. Lessons learned. Will apply to bear in a few days. I most certainly suggest this book to beginners like me and to possibly add something new to a seasoned hunter’s abilities.

[Gregory Shaffer Jr · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic read

Enthralled me from the get go. Couldn't put it down. Informational and motivational. Looking forward to trying some of Steve's techniques this season in the field and in the kitchen!

[Victoria Dassen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Now I'm Hungry

Like his Meat Eater TV series, this book brings hunting big game into a realistic perspective.
One looking forward to my first hunting experiences, and learning how to put Steven 's advice into practice

[Ethan Cornett · Rating 5 out of 5]

For a new hunter, this book is a treasure trove of insight and guidance. Rinella does a great job making hunting accessible for novices, and writes in a way that is straight forward about the task at hand, yet sophisticated when it comes to the history and culture.

[East To · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book with a comprehensive overview of big game hunting gear, techniques, butchering, and cooking - just what it says!

[Dude Man · Rating 5 out of 5]

There is no better mentor for a new hunter and conservationist than Steven Rinella.

[Ross · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book.

[Sean · Rating 5 out of 5]

Seriously good. Thorough, detailed, straight forward and simple. I love this guy’s style.

[Devon Simmons · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book!

This is an exceptional resource for the beginner to novice hunter. Very easy to get caught up all night reading.

[Megan R · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great information. Wonderful recipes. And Steven Rinella is an engaging writer.

[Matthew · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great broad overview and basics of big game hunting. A good launching point for digging into more specific materials.

[Connor Caler · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ll be referencing this book for years to come, I’m sure.

[Daniel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great hunting tips, especially the tips on hunting the different game species!

[Emily Steele · Rating 5 out of 5]

Comprehensive!

[Jake Lykins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great insights all around for anyone who wants to learn more about hunting, cooking, or even general information regarding big game in the United States!

[R.J. Batla · Rating 5 out of 5]

Must have for hunters

Great read, lots of useful information, something every outdoorsman should own at least for reference. Easy to read and informative.
Highly recommended.

[Pdaves · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great, comprehensive book with more info on hunting than I thought…more than half of the book is on how to hunt. Highly recommend for any novice hunter like me.

[Evan Fick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great guide, especially for beginners. Wish I had this when I was 14

[丁岳恩 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Obviously not a novel but really interesting to read as someone getting into hunting.

[Tim Partridge · Rating 4 out of 5]

Years of hunting experience hunting big game rolled into one book. How to hunt differently abs properly depending on your style as well as how to process and cook it.