Eat for weeks on $2.20

in Outdoors and more2 days ago

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Sound improbable? Impossible. Well no, it's true.

It costs me $2.20 to make a single round for my hunting rifle - I make them in batches of 100. I don't (usually) shoot that many all at once though and the other day I went hunting and shot a single round...and got me a deer.

I field dressed it then took it to a friend's place and hung it for a while. It was cut up into bits and bagged a little while later and I ended up with a lot of venison in my freezer - more than I could feasibly eat.

I made calls and sent some text messages and soon trades were taking place - I started bartering my venison for other products like honey, bacon, eggs, milk, bread, fruits and vegetables, jams, preserves, nuts and other produce my friends (and others) grow or make themselves. I retained a good deal of venison of course, it's scrumptious.

I'll have to buy food still but I've got a decent haul of food all gained by swapping my venison shot with that single bullet costing me $2.20 to make. Pretty good going I reckon.


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Having the skills to provide for myself through hunting and farming is something I am proud of and value; one never knows when that skill will be important to have. Building a group around me with similar skills to barter with is equally important. I wonder if you've had similar experiences.

Could you provide for yourself and family if there was nothing at the shop? Do you have a group you trade and barter with for produce, services and skills? Do you wish you had this kind of skill and if you don't, why haven't you sought to learn?

Comment below if you wish.



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Dem's good eats! I love barter and you parlayed that venison into a decent amount of groceries. The only think I've traded this week is 8 ounces of spinning Wool for three dahlia tubers 😆, neither one edible, but I'm happy and so is she.

I could make do for myself, but it wouldn't be pretty!

Dahlias...maybe a dahlia and carrot soup? Ok, that won't work.

I think, for a lot of people, life would be very difficult if there had to rely on themselves for food and water, medical and other general things. It's how society is geared these days; the corporations don't want people to be self reliant and neither do the government. Even for people like me there's a reliance-factor (as much as that pains me to say).

That is a good buy on meat considering how much it is these days. Can't beat it at all. Long as someone doesn't mind the getting a little dirty.

I am rusty as far as hunting. But could manage. Imagine with some prep work, I could start trapping as well. As I know a little there too. Fresh water fishing I got. Growing veggies...hopefully the wife is with me for that. I have a black thumb. Can't seem to grow anything but tomatoes. They aren't even that much to brag about. Bottom line, my skills could get us through. Problem would be finding people to barter with. Not sure if the standard farmer markets would still be going if shit hit the fan.

Shooting and hunting skills are definitely perishable but if one was proficient before they can and will be again if they get back to it. I feel really fortunate to have the skills and the chance to keep them sharp. I also feel quite fortunate to have my barter-group of like minded people around me.

Deer it's so good! I remember a while ago I ate pasta with it in a restaurant, what a taste

I'd be gardening some food if I had the space but apartment doesn't leave much room outside and with burning sun in summer it burns all the plants, killed all my strawberries... I think farmers around here do barter though

Venison pasta? Yum!

I'm probably very fortunate to have the space to grow food and the ability and skills to hunt it. One never knows when those skills may come in handy.

Yep, venison pasta! I love pasta with savage animals sauce, even boar is great!

Yeah, looking at how fucked up is the world you might need them soon

Impending Apocalypse..?

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I will meet you at the cave. You had me at Venison and Honey.

I got a few really good neighbors. We have talked about the possible futures. People do not realize we are 30 seconds from destruction. If they think they can stop the Russian Nuclear tipped Supersonic and over 600 submarines they are fools and they just keep poking the Bear with their NATO encroachment on Moscow. Again NATO believers are being fooled. We all are being misled...

I live 100 mile in all 4 compass directions N.W.E.S. From military bases. I do not feel safe at all. I feel like I am a...

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People are generally clueless about how to fend for themselves I think. A reliance on supermarkets, Uber food delivery, electricity, and anyone but themselves is getting worse and worse and with no thought to at least building some skills...well, I see them as victims when compared to those who have skills.

The really funny part is they are oblivious. Say things like, that'll never happen and yet...2020. stupid cunts.

As for all the conflicts and possible escalation, I have to agree. There's a lot going on and when the ICBM's start flying...won't go well. I love several minutes from an airforce base and in a State that assists the US in their tracking and surveillance operations globally so I get your point on proximity.

I'm not a hunter, so if I had to hunt something to feed myself, I'd probably be a herbivore 🙂

Only the fish I caught fell under my knife, but I couldn't shoot such a beautiful creature.

OK, I know, you're going to say, pests and state-licensed hunting and shooting, but I'd be sorry to pull the trigger.
Although, in a situation where I was starving, I'm not sure I'd feel sorry for this doe...

Well, the situation determines how we will act.
In this situation (today, while I'm not endangered), if I had to shoot it myself and process it into a steak for stew, I believe I would become a vegan 🤣

But I agree that it is useful to exchange experiences, if not pure goods...
In the cottage(the village), we often exchange vegetables and fruits that we produce ourselves for chicken or pork meat, eggs, fat...
And I sometimes help my neighbors with IT issues, setting up computers, internet modems, television receivers, and so I often provide (get) dried or fresh meat, eggs, wheat flour or something else that that neighbor has in his own production.

I know a few who say they couldn't kill their own food...but are happy to eat food killed by others. I'm glad to have the skills and feel quite confident that these, and others, have come in quote handy for me...and will again.

It's almost a job for you (you wrote about it before).

My relatives who live in the countryside kill all the animals they raise themselves, but I have never taken a knife or a gun in my hands and judged any animal except fish 🙂

If I lived in the countryside, I would probably be "my own butcher" 🙂
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If I sharpened my knives that quickly I'd have no fingers. 🤣

I think if things went down I have a good group of people who would be able to help me out. I think my biggest issue is most of my skills are technical like computers and if crap hit the fan those skills wouldn't be in very high demand. I can do some physical work though, so I could offer that in return. I don't own my 30/30 anymore, but I have a .22 and a couple shotguns. I could bag some squirrels or birds....

Precision pays off big