GEAR
Meat Tools
by Brad Fitzpatrick
The chill of night fades with silver morning light until the silence is broken by a bugle from dark timber. You work in close and suddenly the bull appears, head high with his crown of antlers. This is the moment you’ve waited for.
The shot looks good and the bull is hit. Hard. He’s going down. But now the weight of the upcoming effort hits.
Nothing is more important to field dressing and quartering your elk than a sharp knife. And nothing may be worse than trying to carve out quarters with a dull blade—so choose wisely.
One of my favorite field knives is Montana Knife Company’s Stonewall Skinner.
This fixed-blade, American-made knife retails for $325 and was designed by certified master bladesmith and company founder Josh Smith, who named it for rugged Stonewall Mountain in Montana’s Scapegoat Wilderness. MAGNACUT stainless steel ensures the knife holds its edge through skinning, cutting and even chopping. The Stonewall’s 4½-inch corrosion-resistant blade balances nicely atop surehanded G10 grips in a package that cleans easily. Every time I pick up my Stonewall, I can’t help but admire Montana Knife Company’s famous craftsmanship.
I’m also a big fan of Buck’s new 663 Alpha Guide Select
knife for working up a downed elk. At $72.99, the knife is a good value to keep in your hunting pack and comes from one of the most trusted names in hunting knives. I’ve really appreciated the 663’s comfortable textured grip and drop-point hardened blade built with 420HC steel that make it practical for a variety of field tasks. Buck has done a great job designing a rugged knife that won’t bend or break when faced with quartering an elk yet is nimble enough for detailed skinning.
You’ve arrived back at basecamp after nightfall with your elk—hopefully all that time over the summer getting in “elk shape” paid off during the packout. Quarters are hung on the meatpole and a light drizzle starts to fall. This is when one of my must-have pieces of camp gear shines. The YETI Panga (300) is a versatile all-purpose duffel. Its clever ThickSkin flexible exterior is puncture resistant and completely protects contents from the elements (it’s IPX7 rated as waterproof to 1 meter for 30 minutes). Yet unlike hard-sided storage, it flexes and can ride easily in your pickup, kayak or on horseback. When you think “YETI,” your first thought might go to their excellent coolers, but I’ve used a Panga 50L duffel for several years now and can safely say it’s one of the industry’s best.
You’ve gotten your bull off the mountain and back home. It’s time to decide how you’ll enjoy the meat for the rest of the year.
Processing your own game can be one of the most rewarding parts of the hunt, and it pays to have the right gear to make it as enjoyable and efficient as possible. As you begin processing you’ll need plenty of tools to get things organized. Cabela’s has been my first stop for all the accessories needed to keep everything running smoothly. Start with a couple of their durable polymer meat tubs
priced from $9.99 to $12.99. They come in 5- and 7-inch sizes and clean up easily. I’d also recommend Cabela’s Foremost Sportsman’s Cutting Boards
that retail from $29.99 to $54.99 to help slice and trim your steaks.
Speaking of which, knives are just as important while processing game at home as in the field, but putting together the ideal selection of knives for skinning, boning and butchering can be expensive and cumbersome. Enter the Outdoor Edge Ergomax 6-Piece Professional Grade Processing Knife Set that gives you every tool you’ll need for the job at hand. Priced at $99.99, the set includes an 8-inch Granton butcher knife, 6-inch semi-stiff straight boning knife, 6-inch mid-flex curved boning knife, 5-inch deep-bellied skinner and 4-inch drop-point knife—plus sharpener. All five feature black titanium-coated blades. I like the feel of the Ergomax handles in my hand for those long processing sessions, and I especially like having all my knives in one kit that’s ready to roll each year.
Whether spaghetti, tacos or a good grilled burger, some of my family’s favorite meals start with ground meat. And with an elk, you’ll be doing a lot of grinding.
Many grinders can get the job done, but that generally requires two passes through the machine. With the 1 HP Dual Grind from MEAT! Your Maker,
I’ve been able to reduce that to a single grind, which makes processing burger much more efficient (especially with hundreds of pounds of elk to process). With a choice of coarse and fine grinding plates, your burger comes out any way you’d like. The one-horsepower motor is powerful enough to process 11 to 14 pounds of meat per minute, and I’ve found I also really appreciate the optional foot pedal to further streamline the process. The grinder is priced at $699.99, but think of what you’ll save on buying beef from the grocery store and having the peace of mind knowing where all your burger came from and what’s in it. For even more power, you can step up to the MEAT! Your Maker 1.5 horsepower grinder for $799.99.
Weston also offers a powerful 1.5 HP Pro Series #22 grinder for $659.99 that’s capable of grinding up to 14 pounds of meat per minute. With both forward and reverse modes, the grinder features a patented auger-grabbing stomper, a storage tray with cover and a sausage making kit.
There’s even a built-in knife sharpener for keeping blades keen. Be careful, though, because when your friends find out you’ve got a heavy-duty grinder they’ll want you to help with their processing, too.
Now that you’ve got elk steaks cut and burger ready to go, it’s time to get it ready for the freezer. And there’s simply no better way to preserve meat than with a vacuum sealer. Weston offers their Professional Advantage Vacuum Sealer for $199.99 in a lightweight
air-cooled package that can seal bags up to 11-inches wide. If you’re looking for something larger, I’d suggest MEAT! Your Maker’s Chamber Vacuum Sealer. Priced at $999.99, the Chamber Vacuum Sealer is built to stand up to heavy use and won’t overheat even after hours of sealing packages. With multiple adjustments, an easy-to-read digital time display as well as a pressure gauge, this sealer produces professional-quality results right in your home.
Hunting season has passed, and with your elk processed and packed, anytime you want high-quality protein there’s nothing more you need to do than head to your freezer and prepare a meal for family and friends.
When you hear the name “Buck” your first thought is likely the company’s American-made hunting knives like the one I mentioned previously. But I’d also recommend checking out the Buck Four-Piece Cutlery Set that’s perfect for the kitchen. The versatile set sells for $224.99 and includes a chef knife, slicing knife and paring knife, all of which store conveniently in slots in the fourth piece of this collection—a wooden kitchen block for easy access. Knife blades are hardened 420HC steel for maximum durability, and with a choice between comfortable-to-hold PaperStone or Dymalux Rosewood grips, you’ll be prepared to cut, trim, cook and serve any meat from steaks to roasts to shanks.
If you’ve ever considered a meat slicer, the Cabela’s Commercial Grade 10-inch Food Slicer is a great addition to your kitchen. I love being able to cut thin, even slices of meat for jerky, and if you’re tired of having the same steaks, roasts or burger with your big game, why not try making thin-sliced elk salami, summer sausage or similar snacks?
The Cabela’s Commercial Grade Food Slicer line is available in sizes from 8.7 to 12 inches starting at $349.99, all powered by a 300-watt motor. Besides meat they’re great for slicing fresh vegetables and cheeses, making this one tool that will spend plenty of time on your countertop.
Whether you’re hosting a Christmas get-together or a barbecue to celebrate the arrival of spring, there’s never a wrong time to fire up an outdoor grill. One of my favorite grills is the Grilla Silverbac All-Terrain priced at $1,099. The heavy-duty barrel-style smoker can now connect to WiFi, allowing you to monitor the progress of your food from anywhere. Start or stop your grill remotely, check or change temperatures or set probe and temperature alarms from your smartphone. This vastly simplifies the smoking process while also preventing accidental overcooking.
Just set the temperature from 180 to 500 degrees and cook meat, vegetables or anything else to perfection.
Sometimes those backyard barbeques require some serious cooking real estate to serve everyone. I’d recommend checking out the Traeger Timberline XL Grill for $3,799. The Timberline XL is simple and convenient to operate and offers a list of features that ensure your meat is cooked just how you like it, every time. Fully insulated construction and Traeger’s trademarked SmartCombustion technology offer a consistent, efficient pellet burn so that meat cooks evenly on its 1,320-square-inch grill. If you’re fan of wood-fired smoky flavor like I am, you’ll appreciate its Super Smoke Mode. The Timberline XL also offers WiFIRE technology that allows you to cook from anywhere and can be used with Traeger X MEATER wireless Bluetooth meat temperature probes. One of my favorite features is the Traeger Induction stovetop attached to the side of the main grill which is ideal for preparing vegetables or other side dishes as your meat cooks next door.
Elk season is still far off, but you don’t need a tag to head into the high country. Whether it’s a spring campout with friends or a scouting trip in late summer, you can enjoy fresh, delicious elk steaks thanks to the CanCooker Weekender Kit. CanCooker pioneered portable steam convection cooking with a clever one-piece shouldered can design that preserves the moisture in food for more flavorful dishes. Priced at $109.99, the Weekender Kit cooks for up to eight people at a time. Also included is CanCooker’s Multi-Fuel Cooktop, which is a convenient and versatile heat source perfect for cooking almost anywhere. The entire weekender kit runs on either butane or propane, and is light and portable enough that you can take it to hunting camp.
Want a great snack for the backcountry? You can always dehydrate some meat to make jerky for go-anywhere protein that’s low in fat. Save a few prime cuts of meat or various fruits and other items to place in your Weston 6 Tray Digital Dehydrator that retails for $79.99. The Weston offers a full 5 square feet of drying space and comes with adjustable temperature control, a digital timer and auto shutoff—features that ensure consistent, delicious results every time.
It’s been almost a full year since the cold autumn morning when you killed your elk, and since that day you’ve had all-natural protein at your fingertips. Quartering, butchering, packing and processing a big elk (or multiple elk if you’re a family of hunters) can be overwhelming, but having the right tools makes the job much simpler and ultimately puts better meat in your freezer. For many hunters, field-to-table is more than just a motto—it’s a lifestyle. And it’s a healthy, natural lifestyle that offers you complete control over your food from the pack-out until it hits the plate.
