There are varying degrees of skill when it comes to hunting, fishing, sports, business, and anything else, and your snack game is no different. I’ve spent some miserable days in the woods and on the water in all levels of weather and with some uncooperative critters. Good snacks can sure boost morale in those rough conditions and heighten the satisfaction on even the best days outdoors. When hunger pains strike, these snacks can extend the time you spend hunting and fishing. The following are some good choices that I either pack for myself or have seen others take when hunting or fishing.
Candy Bar
One great go-to choice for many outdoorsmen or women, of course, is a candy bar. It doesn’t matter whether you’re in a goose pit or squirrel hunting; a Snickers is scientifically proven to satisfy. Reece’s anything is also a strong move, and I would never kick you out of the blind for eating anything covered in chocolate. Maybe more nutritious snacks exist, but I can’t think of any off the top of my head.
Baked Potato in Foil
I once knew an old timer who would bake potatoes and wrap them in foil. On cold mornings during rifle season, he would nuke a tater before he left home and carry it around wrapped in foil as a hand warmer. As he warmed up later in the day, he would pull out butter and cheese and eat his hand warmer. I don’t know how long it would stay hot or if it kept his hands warm, but I bet people were always jealous of him at lunchtime.
Hearty Soup in a Thermos
If you want to make friends in a cold duck boat, pull out an old Stanley thermos full of chili or beef stew, enough for everyone. If I see a dude weathered-looking with a slight limp carrying a beat-up Stanley thermos and a single call around his neck headed to his duck hole, that’s a guy I want to hunt with. We might not shoot our shotguns, but we will eat. We will eat real good!
Jerky of the Animal You’re Pursuing
There is something about enjoying a hunk of deer jerky while deer hunting. It’s a power move, obviously, and it helps build self-confidence. In all seriousness, jerky is a tasty treat and energy boost while pursuing any outdoor adventure. It travels well and takes up little space in your pack.
Potted and Canned Meat
Vienna sausages, smoked oysters, or pickled bologna are all choices a seasoned veteran of the great outdoors would make. Add crackers and hot sauce; I can live off these shelf-stable treats for days. Things might be dicey gastrointestinally speaking but no guts, no glory!
Bacon and Egg Sandwich
I’ve never had a bad one that I can recall, and sitting in a jon boat hidden behind an Avery blind in a cold north wind, the bacon and fried egg sandwich is greatness. Sausage and egg sandwiches are just as good. Also, nothing makes me want to grab the white bread and build a breakfast sandwich more than cooking on a propane turkey fryer with a skillet teetering on the rack while the open flame warms the air. Pro-tip – relieve yourself while you’re cooking, and ducks will suddenly appear as well. Don’t forget the salt, pepper, and Crystal hot sauce.
Flank Steak and Fancy Bread
Throw a flank steak into a gallon Ziploc bag with a lot of worcestershire sauce, red onion, minced garlic, vegetable oil, salt, and pepper. Freeze it the night before if necessary but break that puppy out and grill it on a campfire at deer or fish camp or on an overnight hiking trip. Toast some crusty French bread and carve thin slices of flank steak for a killer dinner.
Cowboy Steak
My Uncle Phil, who tragically passed away two years ago, was a true cowboy. I grew up trail riding quarter horses with him all over the country, and we would sometimes find ourselves way off the beaten path. One trip we took several times a year was to Mammoth Cave National Park. We trailered the horses up there and rode and camped for several days. On one particular occasion, my Uncle’s buddy Clark went with us, and he cooked three of the best ribeye steaks ever by setting them on a bed of coals and covering them with coals – no foil, no grate, just steaks lying on coals and covered with coals. Looking back, it’s possible that the steaks weren’t even good; however, out there under the stars, nestled among the soft, dark pine canopy, it was a steak fit for a king. I never asked Clark where he learned that cooking technique or if it was just a spur-of-the-moment plan to impress a kid. Some things are better left unknown, I suppose. Just dust off the coal clinging to the steaks and serve. They’ll eat.
With the right outdoor activities app and hunting app, your snacking game can reach pro levels, enhancing your overall outdoor experience. Whether you’re tracking game or casting your line, these snacks will keep you fueled and ready for whatever nature throws your way.
Article By: John Kirby
