I've been asigned (suckered) to get the food for deer camp {NEED HELP!}

One year we ate nothing but

- baked beans;
- sauerkraut;
- fried onions;
- bacon; and
- beer.

We regretted it....:p
 
atr said:
Premake breakfast . Into mashed potatoes mix brown beans , rice , bacon bits and lots of butter with a few eggs . Make them into patties , large , and fry them for breakfast . Taste good and tons of carbs loaded for the hunt . Brown bread and a glass of O.J.

That's the common breakfast of the ECO-Challenge . Lots of carbs for extended energy without massive bulk making you want to lay down for a nap .

Now someone else come up with a good lunch keeping in mind that by lunch time our hard hunters may have burned 1,500 calories . They need energy and nutrician without massive bulk .

Who has a good , light mid-morning and mid-afternoon snack that can be carried in the pocket of a hunting jacket ?

Supper . A variety of meat that can be fried , steaks , chops . I have no problem with potatoes in a can . I hate peeling them and the accompanying water necessary to peel and wash . Spuds can be fried with the meat or boiled . Bags of assorted veggies . Stir fry or boil . Condiments . Pre-made , off the shelf cakes and pies . Tim Hortons coffee for every meal and don't forget a few bags of oatmeal raisin cookies .

Good to go .:)
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nice idea, added that to the list!

We have home fried potatoes now and then, when the guys don't eat every potatoe in sight the night before.
 
atr said:
Who has a good , light mid-morning and mid-afternoon snack that can be carried in the pocket of a hunting jacket ?
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Keep in mind that beans + rice is a complete protien, therefore chili (eg; campin-and-didn't-get-a-deer grouse chili) or any meal that contains beans can be combined with rice and made into a burrito the night before to provide a super-power lunch on the run. Beans are also about 50% fibre, by volume. Add grated cheese for extra flavor and a little bit of extra milk protien, and cheese also glues the whole mess together :D I use whole-wheat tortilla shells, but there are basil & garlic or tomato flavored shells available for those who don't like whole wheat. If you're in BC, stop by any Extra Foods or Superstore or Real Canadian Wholesale or whatever it is they name their other branches these days, they'll have the multi-flavor tortillas.

If you're looking for a mid-day snack, my mom makes wicked high-fibre rice krispy squares with granola, not only do you sh!t like an Ox (a problem on any hunting/camping trip, I find), there's enough carbs from the rice krispies + sugars to keep you going for 4 hours or so. My dad won't go hunting or fishing without them, that's how good they are. Don't discount sugar as an easily-burned carbohydrate, when you're active (ie; hiking) or cold there's nothing that's easier for your body to burn than simple sugars. Even a Mars bar will do the trick. Do it up!
 
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atr said:
Premake breakfast . Into mashed potatoes mix brown beans , rice , bacon bits and lots of butter with a few eggs . Make them into patties , large , and fry them for breakfast . Taste good and tons of carbs loaded for the hunt . Brown bread and a glass of O.J.
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That's a wicked idea, I'm stealing it and using it on my next hunting trip :D Thanx a mil!
atr said:
I have no problem with potatoes in a can . I hate peeling them and the accompanying water necessary to peel and wash
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Costco sells McCain instant mash potatoes, which are basically dehydrated micro-potato flakes. They have garlic salt in 'em, and make wicked mash-potatoes over the fire. I highly reccomend them :D
 
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Did they give you a budget??? If not I would just have the whole affair catered... come to think of it I would get the special uniforms for the serving girls too.;) :cool:
If this comes to fruition I want an invite... I'm serious...:)
 
BIGREDD said:
Did they give you a budget??? If not I would just have the whole affair catered... come to think of it I would get the special uniforms for the serving girls too.;) :cool:
If this comes to fruition I want an invite... I'm serious...:)
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No real budget, but, seeing as I have to pay too, and I'm a cheapskate (I'm serious :) ) They don't have to worry much.
The camp has always had low low fees. For a camp with all we have, we're still only paying $250.00 each.
 
If you want to make homefries and you have no potatoes left over from the previous night, you are not out of luck. You can use the canned potatoes somebody else mentioned, or just throw some whole uncooked potatoes in the microwave for 5-10 mins depending on size. Don't bother peeling them till after nuking, the skin will pull off easily. These are now ready for the frying pan. This is the method a lot of restaurants use if they don't have enough baked potatoes left over from the previous night.
 
brown onions and burgermeat.cut up peppers add reconstituted refried beans, beaten eggs and smmer. In another pan heat some oil, flop a large tortilla in and scoop a significant amount of the above on top sprinkle drained canned diced tomatoe, grated montery jack and shredded lettuce or cabbage, fold into a burrito and brown all sides, if you have an oven you can keep them warm until you have enough otherwise place under a dish towel. If you make enough wrap extras in tinfoil separately reheat for breakfast or better yet a quick mid day lunch.
 
1. If I did not have other commitments I could look after these minor details for you, I have cooked for dozens of hunt camps and fish camps.

2. Please give me a call and we can discuss hunt camp menus, groceries, meal planning and all that good stuff. Doctor Doug's Hunt-Camp Pleasin' Venison Shepherd's Pie and other delicacies await.....

3. Anybody that advises you to eat canned potatoes should be shot, and survivors shot again. Canned potatoes are for people that are in dire straits, deserts, isolated posts, and otherwise unable to peel and eat the real thing.

4. Anybody that advises you to have guys bring meals from home is NOT a hunt camp cook, and your gang will definitely be shortchanged unless every single gang member has somebody at home that is going to send something DELICIOUS. Probability less than 10 percent.......... We were in a camp where the first week boys brought casseroles, and we cooked everything from scratch. We looked forward to meal times, they did not, need I say more.......

5. Food is very close to the top of the list as to what constitutues a good hunt camp. I think YOU as the designated guy need to spend more time on menu planning and etc than you need to spend on hunt preparations.

Doug
 
Hi Doug:
I guess this is a case of situational conditions. Our camp is on Crown land, no electricity or running water other than the river and we must bring in everything by boat in a two hour trip up river.
What cooking is done is on a Coleman stove, by one of the fellow hunters.
While I have been in camps with a dedicated cook, (and it's great), in our current situation, we found waiting around for food to be prepared for 7 to 9 guys in those conditions takes too long. They even start whining over the delay when we tried to BBQ some steaks for the gang.
Someday, if we all get flush with cash and find a suitable spot, we'll have a permanent camp with buildings and all the amenities, but until then, we're cursed with pre-cooked and frozen stuff we've brought with us.
 
Back to Cool Pool Boy..........yes indeed, I agree with you about expedient meals, for people in dire straits etc etc like you describe. John Y is going into a luxurious set-up where weight and space are not issues at all, so he should be using nothing but fresh ingredients. Perhaps I stated my case somewhat too forcefully, myself feeling somewhat uncharitable last evening - please see my story Triple D Deer hunt for details............

Doug
 
JohnY : Allow one TV dinner per man per meal...done...best part:confused:

Nver have to do it again :D

Seriously not to bad a job, just take the time to sit down & plan all meals, from there you can do a grocery list. After a few years you'll know who likes to cook what & what's needed.

Our camp doe's roasts, pork chops, roast chickens, lasagna?? (pre-preparred), same with spaggetti, it's nice to have a couple quicky meals for late evening skinning or camp visiting nights :D & of course we do 40lbs of wings on wings night with fries in a comercial deep fryer:D & a couple hams early in the week to have meat for sandwiches left over.

Allways eat better at camp than home :D
 
Get a link of good kielbasa. cut into ring slices, fry both sides,, now pour your scramble eggs in with it and fry,, faster and easier than bacon and eggs.


Pizza casserole(prepare ahead of time and freeze, makes good openner meal, just take out and let defrost on the morning you plan on cooking it)

1.5 lbs lean ground beef, browned and drained
.5lbs chopped and fryed bacon
1 stick pepperoni chopped
1 large green pepper
1 large red pepper
1 large onion
2 cans mushrooms drained
1 lb mozzerala cheese grated
2 large cans pizza sauce
1 lb elbow macaroni cooked and drained
(add or modify anything you want.)

combine 1/2lb cheese, 1 can of sauce and rest of ingredients in large bowl and mix.
Pour half of second can of pizza sauce into bottom of large aluminum baking pan, dump in mixed ingredients.(we use a turkey roasting pan)
Pour remaining sauce around the edge of the pan,, sprinkle remaining 1/2lb of cheese on top.
cover with aluminum foil.
cook for 1-1/4 hour at 325*
get a couple loafs of garlic bread that you throw in the oven for last 20 minutes.
bag of salad.

while everyone is out hanging deer you can be inside slaving away!;)


Ribs(this one can also be prepared ahead of time,, just defrost on the day of cooking)
cut into individual rib pieces
season and brown all sides using the broiler
Place indidual ribs in large roasting pan
Mix in small pot
2 cups ketchup
2 cups water
2 tablespoons mustard
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1 large diced onion
Mix all ingredients and pour over ribs, cover with aluminum foil and place in oven at 325* for 1.5 hours. half way through open it up and spoon liquid back over ribs. remove aluminum foil last 15 minutes.(these are greatm they fall off the bone)
throw some baking potatoes in the oven
bag of salad
(this one may not be good if there are any diabetics in camp,, lots of sugar in ketchup + brown sugar)

We always make a pile of perch and pickeral one night. buns, coleslaw and bags of frozen french fries.

chicken or steak kabobs with pita and ceasar salad.

roast a 12-14lb turkey breast ahead of time,, make a mason jar full of mushroom gravy for it. Can either make hot turkey sandwiches or clubhouses with it.

boil a 10lb bag of new potatoes the day before you leave. Let them cool and put them into ziploc bags. You can either reheat and mash, cut and fry, or make potato salad with it.

steaks(I bought whole tenderloins)
pork chops
chicken
bags of salad for every dinner

Hit a deli close too home,, buy a whole corned beef or pastrami brisket cooked,, have them slice it and vaccum seal it. Time for lunch just boil water and drop in the vaccum sealed packages too heat. some ryw bread, chicken soup and dill pickles your all set.

I used to be camp cook usually took 1/2 day shopping and 1 day too prepare most meals before we went up. Camp cook doesnt pay for his share of food bill! usually 250-300 for 5-6 guys for 1 week.
 
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Damn this is a good thread.
I'm not totally new at this guys, I've been envolved with the groceries time after time in the past, though this is the first time I'm on my own.
Just trying to liven up the menu that we've had over the years.

I get a laugh out of you guys that figure you have to eat canned #### because you don't have running water.
Hell, the first camp we had the ony way you got running water was if you ran carrying it back from the lake.
Snow used to drift in through the walls, and the flames used to lick out around the damned stove lids and smoke us up so bad everyone had a headache.
Our fridge was propane, and barely big enough for milk and eggs. We set up a cold room, by moving some furniture into one cold corner, and setting a plywood on top. We used an army blanket for a door. It was surprizingly effective, we always had cold beer.
We used to roll out pastry for biscuits with a beer bottle.
We had dumplings in our stew.
We made meat loaf right in camp.
We used to cover the top of that old stove with tin foil, and cook inch thick steaks right on the surface. (Get a good bed of coals first)
We did turkey in that old wood stove, even though we had to prop a stick against the door to keep it shut. by the way, grouse and turkey cook well together, so does rabbit.
Food has always been top notch at our camp, and I want to keep it that way.
It's just getting boring, same old stuff.


Thanks for the great recipes.
Please keep them comming. Lots of guys here learning, not just me! I've already printed a bunch of this off
 
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John Y Cannuck said:
I get a laugh out of you guys that figure you have to eat canned s**t because you don't have running water.
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Me too!

Our deer camp was a cabin, basicly 4 walls and a roof. It had no running water, no electricity(we used marine batteries and 4 watt light bulbs) an outhouse and heated the cabin with an oil burning furnace. We heated water on the stove and poured it into those cheap solar shower bags too shower a couple times a week.

We did have a 3 burner stove and 2 propane bbq's. We placed cassaroles and such on the bbq's,, they are basicly an oven. We prepared some foods ahead of time and reheated,, but Ill tell you those were some of the best meals weve ever eaten!

We had one guy come up with us one year and when he found out where we were going he said he'd buy the groceries. O.K. we want too see your list first,, canned beans, canned soups, and sausages you could boil or bbq and boxes of cereal, packages of bologna. We said uhhhhh NO!!! well just tell you what you owe and we will take care of it, he just about sh^& a brick when we pulled out a roasted turkey one day then surf and turf the next!
 
Our moose camp, current, has only a two burner propane stove, propane lights, no hydro, a propane fridge, and a wood cookstove.
We always eat top notch. I plan on stealing some of our camp chef's recipies this comming week during the hunt.
 
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