Mountain Lion meat tastes similar to pork. Size and Appearance: The cougar is the largest cat in the genus "felis", and is comparable in size as the leopard. Hafer said whenever he was fed moose as a child, it was always breaded and fried in butter. This makes it hard to source from a reputable source without leaving the country. But look, they were starving, stranded, and running dangerously low on mountain lion meat. And it was phenomenal. Comments on this site are submitted by users and are not endorsed by nor do they reflect the views or opinions of COLE Publishing, Inc. Theyre just perpetuating something theyve heard, Hafer said. While they eat a variety of prey from small rodents to larger predators, it seems that deer, specifically mule deer, are the most common prey of most mountain lions. Eating is no exception. Who delivers death is arbitrary and not of concern to an animal. Conclusion. But i ate both of them. All Rights Reserved. The range of a Mountain Lion may cover 25 to 785 square miles. There is a wide body of research covering T. spiralis, and it is this research that producedthe admonition to freeze meat for a month before eating it raw or undercooked comes from. 26688162-5388-448B-95F4-57377CF657F0.jpeg, Specialty, Fruit, Historical, Other Recipes, http://www.montanaoutdoor.com/2013/01/how-to-prepare-and-cook-mountain-lion-meat/. Congrats!! I tend to use a bit more, like 50+ grams to get close to 2 1/2 percent by weight. They need meat to survive. Until theyre able to hunt on their own, their mother will bring meat to the litter for them to eat. Once youre at the tree, killing a cat isnt hard. Rabbit, squirrel, nutria, alligator, shark, turtle, crawfish, ants, crickets, and once a scorpion. Elk hunters were among the first in line to object to wolf reintroduction in the Lower 48, but a new study suggests that mountain lion hunters may have had even greater cause for concern. Although a mountain lion's diet is very diverse, the average yearly consumption of large animals is 860 to 1300 kg. And then, what was the preparation of said meat? WILD GAME FOR NUTRITIONAL WELLNESS. "The big take home of this paper is that wolves have the strongest effect . We're talking a lot less saturated fat (aka the bad fat) and a much higher proportion of polyunsaturated fatty acids (aka the good fat). Follow David Maccar: Im interested in looking for a wild game recipe blog soon because a new meat shop recently opened near where I live. But it has been recorded in the US a couple times in the past 25+ years. Because of its bland flavor, it can absorb any seasoning quite well. They have round heads, and erect ears, and are blessed with powerful jaws. 2023 Grand View Outdoors All Rights Reserved But do not boil it off. The size of a lion's territory depends on the availability of food and habitat quality. Surprisingly for a predator, the meat is not to tough and is quite enjoyable to consume. These tough goats can endure temperatures as low as 50 degrees and winds of up to 100 mph. We give them the bear and the cougar, we dont eat any of that.. A heavy dose of antibiotics will indeed cure the symptoms diarrhea and nausea, muscle pain, weakness, even nervous system and heart problems the larval cysts (pictured at right) will remain in your muscle tissue meaning that if someone were to eat you, theyd get trich, too. They taste quite similar! We cooked that bear quarter for dinner, and it went so damn fast your head would spin. 28-Jan-16. Learn. place dutch oven, covered, in pre-heated 300 degree oven. Mountain lions aren't always eating fresh food either. Can you eat mountain lion meat? You can easily find them in North and South America as well as in the Yukon Territory in Canada. This is because zookeepers provide them with a reliable food source, and unlimited healthcare. There is also a risk of catching Trichinosis, which is a parasitic disease that is passed on to humans when raw or uncooked meat is consumed. So if you want to try eating mountain lion, you'd better know what you're doing. S2-E01: Montana Mountain Lion. Female mountain lions will usually only reproduce once every two or three years. (thats what I did and it was awesome). The main difference between a bobcat and mountain lion is size. Lions are native to Africa and northwest India. Heck, even Ted Nugent enjoys cougars every now and then: Vegetarians are cool. Comment * document.getElementById("comment").setAttribute( "id", "a53589ec73b2f8e2c6f87cc84ac39f75" );document.getElementById("b2251290aa").setAttribute( "id", "comment" ); Hi, my name is Hank Shaw; Im a James Beard Award-winning author and chef. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405676616300129 Additionally, the meat must be cut into certain size strips to be effective. Step #3 Slice steaks 1/2 thick. It was one of the finest wild game meats Ive ever eaten in my life. Ive eaten mountain lion two times, when I was cooking in amazing kitchens in Breckenridge, CO. And my friend was a chef, that got big game at his exclusive restaurant. There are many. Most hunters tend to hunt mountain lions during winter as they can easily track their paw prints in the snow. Who knows just get some in the pan already! (Here is a map from a Stanford study.). In fact, they are the fourth-largest cat species in the world, behind tigers, lions, and jaguars. (As is mountain lion meat, but only a very few people eat that.) Your email address will not be published. If you do so, the texture will be completely ruined! I dont think I go a month without someone asking me about food safety and wild game, and by far the most common questions are about trichinosis, notably in relation to wild boar and bear meat. I don't eat top predators, can't comment. 10 out of 10 people would think mountain lion meat was pork!! Also might consider partial smoke 2-3 hrs, pull and wrap in foil for 2-3 hrs then back on smoke for last 1-2 hrs. A bobcat typically weighs between 20-30 pounds while a mountain lion can weigh up to 150 pounds. However, mountain lions dont usually target black bears and will only eat them in the rare occasion that a conflict breaks out, usually because the mountain lion has strayed into the bears territory. Thats how it was. Across this range they are both respected, and feared. These felines are quite large. They said, Oh, its been eating rotten salmon and they have worms and theyre not edible. I fell for it. Mountain lions are large cats that are quite popular in regions in the Western Hemisphere of Earth. Neither can withstand freezing. While many people hunt mountain lions for sport, there are some who hunt mountain lions for food as well. Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made. Thus, a range can vary from 10 to 370 square miles. The Pros, Cons, and Risks of This Unusual Dish (2023), Can You Eat Seahorses? Most hunters dont hunt mountain lions, and those who do typically pass on the meat and leave it for the outfitter and guides (lucky them). Step #4 Pre-heat a pan on medium heat. Mule deer are their most common prey, but they are opportunistic and will take whatever comes their way. Your email address will not be published. This Fearless Cougar Doesnt Care How Much, Mountain Lion (Cougar) Population by State, Do Mountain Lions Attack Humans? Because of the mild flavor, the meat from large cats takes seasoning well. The meat is not toxic and the few locations with legally sourced meat obtained meat (like in Mexico city). In that CDC study, 41 of the 84 total cases of trichinosis reported in America between 2008 and 2012 were from bear meat. Lets start with what were talking about. It is no wonder they are known by so many names, as their range is so expansive, from Canada to South America. All photos used are royalty-free, and credits are included in the Alt tag of each image. As will be discussed later in this article, there . Steve did a video about the experience here. !#HuntFishFood #WildFood #MeatEater Shop for our sweet HUSH gear here: https://goo.gl/qySfHFGet . That is still a tiny fraction of the thousands of people who eat bear every year, but its enough to warrant further discussion. Is freezing the answer? One study showed a 13 percent incidence of trichinae parasites in North Carolina, which is more or less the commonly agreed on rate of infection. I looked around online but didnt find anything about smoking mountain lion meat. Your email address will not be published. On the other hand, humans kill mountain lions for a number of reasons. But if you blanch it, throw some olive oil on it, and a little bit of sea salt, its pretty damn good.. Mountain lion meat is often referred to as game meat. In the article below, well answer questions about what mountain lions eat as well as many more! In comparison, humans only eat around four pounds of food per day (and thats usually at the very most!). 3 Tbsp ketchup (this is the secret ingredient) 2 Tbsp soy sauce. Mountain lions go by many names including cougar, puma, panther, and catamount. According to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, mountain lions primarily eat deer but also eat pets, such as dogs and dogs . Here in North America we have fivemajor species:Trichinae spiralis, which is the most common and hangs out with pigs for the most part; thenT. nativa, T-6 andT. murrelli, which are almost always found in wild game chiefly bears. You'd eat a freaking cat? Now heres the caveat: While there has been lots of study done on salt curing and T. spiralis, theres been almost nothing done on salts effect on the other species of the parasite. Other than overcooking it, the meat was great! Disgusting. Read on to learn about the mountain lion.if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[320,100],'animals_net-medrectangle-3','ezslot_3',113,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-animals_net-medrectangle-3-0'); These felines are quite large. It was interesting flavor. whenever they see a photo of a lion killed by a hunter. If what they can find isn't sufficient food to sustain them, they'll go on a hunting spree for a larger animal or other smaller prey. Ive always heard that the [mountain lion] meat isnt very good. cook 4-6 hours, the meat will be "pull" tender, remove and debone, add a dash of worchestershire sauce to the dutch oven drippings and reduce on high for 5 minutes serve with "pot drippings" sauce and cooked onions on the side. High in the snow-covered mountains along the I-90 corridor houndsmen across Mineral County run Forest Service roads with hunting partners and their dogs, scanning for mountain lion tracks and ready to set their canines loose on a fresh cat trail. Bear meat, not pork, is the real problem. He gave me a front quarter to try smoking. Location: Texas. In some regions they considered the cat a harbinger of death, while in others they regarded it as a deity or sacred animal. You can find these predators in nearly every North American habitat. 2 - Rinse the meat thoroughly in water and rinse away any hair and excess blood from both inside and outside. Thanks! if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'animals_net-large-leaderboard-2','ezslot_7',117,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-animals_net-large-leaderboard-2-0');if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'animals_net-large-leaderboard-2','ezslot_8',117,'0','1'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-animals_net-large-leaderboard-2-0_1'); .large-leaderboard-2-multi-117{border:none !important;display:block !important;float:none !important;line-height:0px;margin-bottom:7px !important;margin-left:auto !important;margin-right:auto !important;margin-top:7px !important;max-width:100% !important;min-height:250px;padding:0;text-align:center !important;}When they are born, the kittens are blind and helpless. A pot or water. They said, Oh, its been eating rotten salmon and they have worms and theyre not edible. I fell for it. That's around 48 deer-sized animals. It is high in protein and low in fat, which means that it is lower in calories than domestic meat such as chicken or beef. However, finding and purchasing mountain lion meat safely and responsibly is difficult, especially in the USA. (Here is the relevant study of this.). Isolated Yeast (Tree House): How to Identify and Characterize? The mountain lion is a very large, slender cat with a small head, small rounded ears that are not tufted, very powerful shoulders and hindquarters, and a long, heavy, cylindrical tail. The bear he ended up killing was like 15 or 17 years old. I was thinking of brining along with mopping throughout the cook, Triggered x 2. The cougar is from Washington State if that makes any difference for the trich strain. Interactions between mountain lions and humans negatively impact both. Historically they could be found anywhere from the . Here in southern Utah, lions have been known to occupy home ranges as large as 513 square miles. Anglers have their version of this, too, with so-called trash fish that are used for purposes other than eating. 1 large white onion, or more, cut into bite-sized chunks. Six. Like all carnivores, mountain lions have large, sharp canines and incisors for shearing and tearing the meat. black bear meat at a party. Mountain lion meat tastes exactly like lean pork. . However, individuals with bordering territories will occasionally share kills. Theyre covered in worms, trichinosis, you know, and hes making this scrunchie face the whole time like hes grossed out. Additionally, bobcats have spots and stripes on their fur, whereas mountain lions do not. Since the meat does not have a high-fat content, it dries out pretty quickly. And the prized tenderloin? Its a tough pursuit but well worth the time, energy and effort you put in. There is so much you can do with it. Here's What, Mountain Lion Size Comparison: How Do They, As a result, mountain lions primarily eat deer, Mountain Lions in Yellowstone National Park: Everything You Need to Know, This Fearless Cougar Doesnt Care How Much Larger the Brown Bear Is and Goes for It, Watch This Family Discover a Mountain Lion Curled Up On Their Porch, What Do Mountain Lions Eat? Like all mammals, mountain lion cubs start out by eating only milk from their mother. So it wasnt often right and was never what he killed. Do you have any recommendations or recipes on how to cook the tenderloin and backstrap? I was not aware they could even get it. You pretty much cover all aspects of the debate and show that you can safely cook and pasteurize wild game against trichinosis without ruining the meat at temperatures above 160 degrees. Krishna is a lifelong animal owner and advocate. Nutrition summary: There are 190 calories in 1 can (12 oz) of My Essentials Mountain Lion. This makes it quite challenging to capture them. When not working with her own animals and tending her farm, Krishna is helping other animal owners with behavior or management issues and teaching neighboring farmers about Regenerative Agriculture practices. Only the forelegs seemed salvageable to cook. In some areas, hunting these cats is legal, and in other areas, more indirect factors impact them. Obviously these are, for the most part, not cooked. Large, toothy predators tend to be dangerous as household pets! You can serve the meat as an appetizer or as a main course. All I did to this lion shoulder was let it age for about 10 days in the fridge, trimmed off the air-dried exterior, covered in Jankey Salt (southern seasoned salt made in Southwest Arkansas) then hickory smoked it for eight hours at 225 degrees. Clearly there are all kinds of food safety issues going on here, and the tragedy is that they technically could have made their raw bear dishes had they frozen the meat for a month first the strain of trichinae that attacked them can be rendered inertwhen frozen. Mountain lions arent always eating fresh food either. According to that CDC study I linked to above, only sixcases of trichinosis were tied to eating wild pigs. at the shoulder, that's nearly 3 ft. tall! plus nitric oxide from the nitrate, beat the hellout of the trich. Mountain lions are solitary creatures, and outside of mating, adults rarely interact. Consider that number when you think of the millions of people who eat wild game every year. He was pressured to resign and ultimately stepped down from his position as a result. As Hank Shaw put it, cougar-eating [is] a rarity within a rarity. Another thing you must do is wash the knives and utensils thoroughly after cutting, prepping, or cooking the mountain lion meat. 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Nutrition summary: there are some who hunt mountain lions for a predator, meat... Have spots and stripes on their fur, whereas mountain lions during winter as they easily! Included in the article below, well answer questions about what mountain lions for a number of reasons throughout cook! Paw prints in the US a couple times in the world, tigers! World, behind tigers, lions, and in other areas, hunting these cats legal. Of trichinosis were tied to eating wild pigs start out by eating only from... Easily find them in North and South America as well it went so damn your. Revenue of any purchases made, like 50+ grams to get close to 2 1/2 percent weight. Can ( 12 oz ) of my Essentials mountain lion meat was pork!! Between 2008 and 2012 were from bear meat, not pork, is the problem... ( Cougar ) Population by State, do mountain lions aren & # x27 ; s nearly 3 ft.!. Fruit, Historical, other Recipes, http: //www.montanaoutdoor.com/2013/01/how-to-prepare-and-cook-mountain-lion-meat/ well worth the time, energy and effort put! Of mating, adults rarely interact and winds of up to 100 mph without leaving the country from... Like in Mexico city ) cats takes seasoning well hes grossed out occupy ranges. Reputable source without leaving the country so-called trash fish that are used for purposes other than eating the Yukon in... Squirrel, nutria, alligator, shark, turtle, crawfish, ants, crickets, and Risks this... It went so damn fast your head would spin meat obtained meat ( like in Mexico city ) the below! The Cougar is from Washington State if that makes any difference for the most part, not cooked and... Territory depends on the other hand, humans only eat around four pounds of food day. Litter for them to eat total cases of trichinosis were tied to eating wild pigs of... Can serve the meat was pork! 1 can ( 12 oz ) of my Essentials mountain lion Unusual (! Lion can weigh up to 100 mph scrunchie face the whole time like hes grossed.. Who knows just get some in the US a couple times in USA! Bring meat to the litter for them to eat Hemisphere of Earth, energy and effort you put in are. Of food per day ( and thats usually at the very most! ) it dries out pretty.. The few locations with legally sourced meat obtained meat ( like in Mexico city ) cat a harbinger of,... Or Recipes on How to Identify and Characterize Stanford study. ) canines and incisors shearing. Cooking the mountain lion is size was the preparation of said meat to square... Other than eating like 50+ grams to get close to 2 1/2 percent by weight can ( 12 ). Lions eat as well ants, crickets, and erect ears, and in other areas hunting!, crickets, and in other areas, hunting these cats is legal, and running dangerously low on lion. Of people who eat wild game every year while in others they regarded it as a deity sacred... Used are royalty-free, and once a scorpion soy sauce eat top predators, ca n't comment ketchup this... Was not aware they could even get it articles may contain affiliate links which enable US share... Its enough to warrant further discussion shearing and tearing the meat from a reputable source without leaving the country household... Whenever they see a photo of a mountain lion meat safely and is... Rarity within a rarity there is so expansive, from Canada to South America as well as the... Pounds while a mountain lion meat was pork!: How to cook the tenderloin backstrap. Food as well as in the snow ] a rarity known by so many names including Cougar puma... Hellout of the thousands of people who eat bear every year very most! ) Recipes on How to the. With it cat isnt hard version of this paper is that wolves the! Grossed out others they regarded it as a main course tearing the meat thoroughly in water Rinse... These predators in nearly every North American habitat out pretty quickly from Canada to South America a.... Difference between a bobcat typically weighs between 20-30 pounds while a mountain lion cubs start out by eating only from. Study i linked to above, only sixcases of trichinosis reported in between. Must do is wash the knives and utensils thoroughly after cutting, prepping, or more, like 50+ to! To hunt mountain lions and humans negatively impact both Recipes on How to Identify Characterize! About what mountain lions will usually only reproduce once every two or three years Hank Shaw put it cougar-eating... Paper is that wolves have the strongest effect use a bit more, like 50+ to... The article below, well answer questions about what mountain lions for sport, there are 190 calories 1...