Apocrypha: My Field to Table Hunting/Learning Vacation

For my vacation this year, I spent four days with Outdoor Solutions, taking one of their Field to Table hunting classes. I am interested in developing my skills as a hunter, to be able to provide ethical, high-quality meat for myself and my wife. Most hunters are introduced to the field by fathers, uncles, or other close family, but my own family does not have any hunters, and I was at a bit of a loss for where to start in learning. I've got the shooting part down, but how does one get introduced to things like gutting, skinning, butchering, and preparing wild game?
Well, I found Outdoor Solutions on a recommendation and signed up for a class. I had a fantastic time, learned a tremendous amount, and really did come away with the knowledge and confidence to do this on my own now. The company did not sponsor or pay for this at all; I was simply a paying client - but I found everyone involved to be really great people. From my classmates (there were 8 of us in total) to Greg (who runs the outfit) and his son Eddie, Chef Albert, and the guides and lodge staff it was just an excellent time. So I'm happy to recommend them to anyone who is looking for the same sort of education I was!
You can see their upcoming events as well as recipes, hunting and shooting tips, and much more at their web site:
fromfieldtotable.com
Apocrypha is normally a video series available only to my supporters on Patreon. I'm posting this video for everyone as a reminder that this sort of thing (although almost never this long) is a Patreon perk, and because I would like to help Outdoor Solutions. So, if you'd like to see more (including my complete video about the haggis I came home with), sign up to help support Forgotten Weapons over on Patreon or Floatplane:
/ forgottenweapons
www.floatplane.com/channel/Fo...

[@glueguzzler9548]

my name is Ian McCollum and today we are going to dissasemblimg a pig, now this isnt a very forgotten weapon, however it has a very unique action, and a very intresting choice of materials

[@food_toobs8333]

It's becoming a forgotten technique tho, as lots of people have no idea where their food comes from, let alone how to process it

[@jic1]

There's a video on his old channel of his wife disassembling a trout, so I suppose it's now a family tradition.

[@KeggleStomp_Pogrompa]

It’s a forgotten weapon because we no longer need them to scare off war elephants

[@johnb.8622]

"Note that the reassembly process is quite difficult."

[@KhrisMiddletonFitnessOfficial]

@@food_toobs8333 Well I do not think store bought pork or beef is cleaned in this manner......

[@svtirefire]

"reassembly is a little tricky on this model"

[@surfingmonke8841]

😆

[@Popo_Gigio]

Now that Ian has disassembled the pig, I wanna see him put it back together.

[@jayzenitram9621]

Ha! I see what you did there.

[@shawnr771]

and complete a functions check.

[@comraderevo2362]

Reassembling is quite a tricky endeavor on this particular model...

[@TiglathPileser3]

Wasn't that the kitchen part? Every Texas pig dreams of being with an Italian dish.

[@kohinarec6580]

"we just pull this guy back and then it allows me to see the gas system".

[@spacereptile3720]

"Mary I swear that was the man from all those internet memes serving us dinner" "Whatever you say dear"

[@RyanRyzzo]

Ah, so this is a Hoggis.

[@thijsvandervoort8261]

This is a very underrated comment

[@M.M.83-U]

A very clever comment.

[@DrBunnyMedicinal]

Oh, bravo! *applauds*

[@sammitra]

r/underratedcomments r/angryupvote

[@ph43drus]

I found this comment funny and had to tell my Pennsylvania Dutch wife, and was told it is actually called "hogmaw" So hog haggis is a thing.

[@Dhomazhir]

My wife, a professional chef (she's even taking her CEC practical soon), watched entranced. She has now added a trip like this to her bucket list.

[@dbmail545]

Ian looked like he was having the time of his life taking those from on the hoof to on the plate.

[@Dhomazhir]

@@dbmail545 I was reminded of when Andrew Zimmern did a hog hunt in southern Louisiana on Bizarre Foods America just with less buckshot & airboats. Same good knosh though. :)

[@IamOutOfNames]

Introduce her to The Bearded Butchers: kzbin.info/www/bejne/rZLdmGmraKqGmdE I've worked in the kitchen for over ten years now and I've still learned a lot from them.

[@OutdoorSolutions]

We would love to host you both for the same experience Ian had

[@Dhomazhir]

@@IamOutOfNames thanks! Just subscribed.

[@davidgreen40]

That’s what I like about Forgotten Weapons. It makes a topic that is a boar, interesting.

[@ErenJeagerBomb]

You. Stop it.

[@bloodvue]

Booo

[@bluedracolich13]

Stop it. Get some help.

[@sethbuchanan1566]

That terrible pun makes me suspect that you are a boor. Post Script: I am trying to be funny, and I bear no ill will towards you.

[@nottheatf5608]

Why must you hurt all of us in this way?

[@kenelt]

after butchering the animal ian:"ok lets put this back together" and all other attendees watch in horror as ian created a frankenstain abomination out of the butcher hogs.

[@jpegwithallthecrust2649]

ian got bored of disassembling guns so he tried disassembling some pigs

[@markusahonen6710]

you mean boared

[@jpegwithallthecrust2649]

@@markusahonen6710 god dammit

[@thecommunistloli1042]

Next he is gonna disassemble a man

[@6Sally5]

Ian this was, for me, probably the best and most informative video you have done. Like you, I had never hunted in my life (I’m 69), until last year I was invited to a veteran hunt (also in Abilene, btw) with Operation Pay It Forward. I took a Black Buck and also learned how to field dress it. I wish I could have had the opportunity to butcher and cook, but that’s another experience later! Thanks for posting!

[@stevekreitler9349]

A lot of ranchers around here introduce blackbuck because they are handy to have around, and won't jump a cattle guard.

[@petebeatminister]

Just a tip from a former chef: if you do this again, get some cut proof gloves before. Doesn't have to be the chainmail kind of the pro butchers, as they are expensive, but at least some knitted safety gloves. They are worth every penny, also for other jobs, like sharpening knifes ect. Because its very easy to slip when you take meat apart, and with those knifes that usually lands you in a ER.

[@Mildcat743]

This really brought me back to British Ration Week in a strange way. We actually used that series in one of my foods classes in high school as a teaching aid.

[@Alpha.Phenix]

''this was my vacation'' I am glad to hear you have those, sir.

[@lptomtom]

As a European guy, only taking a single vacation in a year sounds absolutely insane...

[@lptomtom]

@Eric Pro Wow dude that sounds depressing tbh, I'm not sure "cool shit" is worth that kind of slavery. Plus, what kind of cool shit can you only get in America? SMGs maybe?

[@Kerithanos]

@@lptomtom Not everyone hates working. Do you honestly believe that having such a negative view of productivity is healthy?

[@lptomtom]

@@Kerithanos Productivity and long work hours are two different things. The average annual labor hours per worker in 2017 in the US was 1757. In Germany, it was 1353, almost 30% less. Those lazy Germans, no wonder they're so poor...

[@Kerithanos]

@@lptomtom What a completely meaningless statistic. Both those numbers are less than a basic 40-hour-a-week job, so all it can tell us is (presumably?) how many part-time jobs there are in each country, or something along those lines - underemployment, or something similar, but you'd of course need more statistics to analyze the data better. I'm not especially interested in statistics though, much less national stereotypes. I know I work a lot more than either of those numbers, I'm well compensated for it, and I would be embarrassed to spend however many weeks of vacation I'm sure you advocate in decadent idleness - and so would any decent hard-working American who takes pride in his labor.

[@II-zw7vw]

You never have to apologize my dude you went out of your way to make this for us and we appreciate it.

[@Gameprojordan]

It's still great quality. The way he was apologizing at the beginning i figured he was going to be filming footage off a cell phone or something

[@quattroconcept4]

What's the best title? Forgotten Foods, Cooking with Ian, Ian McCollum's "Chauchat Meals", Chassepot-o'-hog,...

[@MarvinCZ]

Apocrypha works well enough. They are various odds and ends.

[@tylerm9509]

My local high school started teaching students how to butcher roadkill moose, which makes me happy because not everyone has relatives to teach them.

[@octavulg]

Schools teaching random shit is the best. Mine taught me to fillet fish and not drown in grain. And use a compass.

[@jonminer9891]

Hi, Ian. This was very educational, and you did a great job. You both learned and taught. The camera work was very well done as well. The butcher, or chef, I don't know which, did an outstanding job of teaching you how to properly butcher an animal to get the best cuts of mean without ruining it by cutting where you should not cut. I will save this movie and send it to my son. It is more likely that he will have an opportunity to go hunting. I have seen butchering tutorials before, but this was done by an expert. I am sure you will enjoy eating a delicious meal. Thanks for sharing! Stay healthy!

[@murrayterry834]

getting good training and proper technick is very important good teachers

[@OutdoorSolutions]

The dishes were amazing.

[@vulekv93]

@@OutdoorSolutions If you are the butcher in this video, great job man. Information was conveyed so well, it was a pleasure watching this! (sry if I sound weird, English is not my 1st language)

[@OutdoorSolutions]

@@vulekv93 Thank you. We have a great team!

[@OutdoorSolutions]

@@johndaugherty4127 Good stuff

[@andrewsuryali8540]

Am I the only one who felt something was "off" when Ian's butchering the meat only to realize later that all his cuts look "backwards" because he's left-handed?

[@tannercrooks3100]

Oh my God your right!

[@Balvanix]

That is IT! Thank you sir, I could not put my finger on what is off :-D

[@janne65olsson]

Yes. We lefties do it the right way... 😁😉😆👍

[@Dhomazhir]

Just gotta learn to butcher in both directions like the fellas from that butcher show in NYC. ☺ EDIT: the show is Prime Time. Hosted by Ben and Brent of The Meat Hook.

[@justindunlap1235]

A truly good butcher is ambidextrous.

[@hymanocohann2698]

Ian, so confident with a gun, looking tenitive wielding a knife.lol.

[@ForgottenWeapons]

Knives are dangerous!

[@MrSplic3r]

To be fair, there's no safety on a filet knife and it's always loaded

[@zajagter2888]

@starshipeleven yeah nah assault knives, weapons of mass destruction and murder

[@Artguitars]

I’ll bet he does guns a million times better than you do knives.

[@hymanocohann2698]

@@Artguitars wouldn't be a bit surprised, I do know the first rule in knife fighting, never show yer blade till it's red with blood...

[@keenanmcbreen7073]

This is a fundamental human skill that gets lost in our super market, super processed food system and culture. Pretty awesome experience! I still need to do this.

[@breumelhofbreumelhof6771]

as do i even if it is a Rabit

[@ISAFSoldier]

@@murderyoutubeworkersandceos And not everyone can walk down to the store and grab a packaged cut of chicken breast.... fuk off, m8....

[@tommygun1853]

@@murderyoutubeworkersandceos go ahead and buy your meat. I enjoy knowing where my food came from, I enjoy knowing it’s healthier, there’s no preservatives or any of that junk, and it’s very lean. Hunting is very efficient

[@tommygun1853]

@@murderyoutubeworkersandceos and who said you have to live in the wilderness? 😂 I know so many people who live in the city that come out to hunt. Just proving to me you’re not educated on the topic and your opinions are irrelevant to mine. If you don’t want to hunt so be it it’s not for everyone.

[@tommygun1853]

@@murderyoutubeworkersandceos I sure do my friend, there’s only certain things they eat, I can tell by the amount of fat whether or not it’s been in a farm field, also do you just think deer pop up like it’s nothing my friend? You have to track around you get to know where they go to get water you get to know there habits and what they eat and where they go to get it. You don’t know what you’re talking about so pipe down friend.

[@bebop_557]

Ian McCollum doing a hog hunt in Texas: "I want to appreciate nature and show people an often misunderstood American subculture." Lena Miculek doing a hog hunt in Texas: "I got my night vision and 30 round mags of .308, let's smash some swine!!"

[@bebop_557]

@Alexandr Soldiernetizen If by "physique" you mean them both having an absolute shelf of an ass ...yes

[@charlesadams1721]

Two different 'hunts' Ian was trying to reduce the experience of hunting an animal, killing it, and making it food. The other was nothing more than a necessary exercise in the attempted control or even eradication of a dangerous invasive species that is destroying the environment It may be easy to confuse the two, but it is also intellectually lazy and not recognizing what are the motivating factors. What may not be known to many people it the damage that feral swine do to the various North American ecosystems. Their presence is doing not only tremendous economic damage to farms all throughout the US, but not reported the incredible damage that the invasive swine do to areas under reserve or on public lands.

[@Hansengineering]

Most states have the eradication of feral swine in mind. They're incredibly damaging to many animals AND plants in NA.

[@lairdcummings9092]

@@charlesadams1721 brilliantly said, Sir.

[@bebop_557]

@@charlesadams1721 Yes. That was the joke, Einstein.

[@matthaught4707]

This is so cool. I grew up hunting, but we never processed our own meats. I had a great uncle who owned a meat packing operation, so we'd just drop it off there and pick it up a couple days later all wrapped in butcher paper. Watching the sausage being made, so to speak, is fascinating.

[@Taistelukalkkuna]

"All things have their end. Except sausage which has two." - Old Norse Saying -

[@worldtraveler930]

The same thing here.

[@thomasbecker9676]

Ditto, though since my dad passed, my uncles don't go out as much, and I've fallen out of it. I miss venison.

[@mydude_az4096]

90% when my family and I go out on hunts we clean and butcher our harvest right there in the middle of the desert.

[@OutdoorSolutions]

The sausage turned out amazing.

[@Crazyninja30]

I'm just sitting here watching Ian butcher a pig, and all i can think is..... Im hungry. and that pork look tasty

[@ForgottenWeapons]

It is! I'm eating some right now while checking comments. :)

[@TheOnlyRatDragon]

So, does this mean Ian is adding a chef's hat to his hat collection?

[@richardtalbott6215]

A camo chef hat

[@ttcherrick]

8:31: Some random dude in the background says “butthole”. This may be the first time I’ve ever heard the word used to refer to an actual, physical butthole.

[@GianmarioScotti]

When Ian smiles, he reminds me of Ned Flanders.

[@Velts125]

Diddley

[@5000rgb]

I never saw it before, now I can't not see it.

[@1978garfield]

Hi Diddly Ho Boararino! BANG

[@zstrongerspredators990]

Lev Nikolajevič Tolstoj

[@run5077]

It’s always satisfying peeling off the backstrap after a successful hunt.

[@OutdoorSolutions]

Something about it and cutting out tenderloins

[@Riflelock]

To be fair, I dont eat my back straps first. I save mine for special supper. Sunday evening or something like it.

[@dadragonfireoutdoors5642]

The backstraps are the two long strips on the top of the spine.

[@jkoeberlein1]

@The Emperor Nope, the backstrap is outside the spine and the tenderloin us on the unside.

[@jattenborgon5891]

I got four sets to pulls of this week and I haven’t been happier, deer season went really well this year

[@outputcoupler7819]

I did a lot of deer hunting back in high school in Alabama. About half the school was staunchly anti-hunting. After I got my first deer, I had tons of people coming up to me to say "You shot Bambi!" To which I replied, with glee, "No, it was a doe. I shot Bambi's mom."

[@maximilianmustermann5763]

*Half* the high school was anti-hunting *in Alabama* ? Now I am once and for all sure that the western world is done. It's over, just wait for the collapse.

[@talisikid1618]

Huntsville is to Alabama what Austin is to Texas in some ways.

[@ArchieKeen1]

I’m kinda sad he didn’t bring a french rifle hunting lol

[@DirtRider999]

@@mpeugeot Americans like France 🇫🇷 i know it was a joke but its true

[@MrRowrow22]

I was expecting a lebel 1886

[@squirrelsquirt]

The FAMAS might be frowned upon

[@ragnarragnarsson3128]

He needed a berthier with a long bayonet to finish off the piggies with a stab to the heart.lol

[@sumvs5992]

Well trying to zero would probably cost 200 dollars all on it's own, not to mention all the other shots Ian will make

[@BerndFelsche]

There's no warning that this video would have me salivating.

[@OutdoorSolutions]

Well done Ian. It was a pleasure to share camp with you and Deb. We hope to see you again.

[@26declanjones]

And here between the snout and the intestines is the trunnion.

[@jan-hendrikbussmann4644]

As a hunter from Germany, where you go through several months of training with theoretical and practical exams before you can apply for a hunting license, I really enjoyed this video. Many hunting videos from the US feel to me, and this is just my personal opinion, like any other type of sports event with a few dead animals as a result, lacking the seriousness that should be there. This, however, is what hunting is about to me. A way to get meat from free ranging animals in a responsible way. Thank you, Ian.

[@spartanumismatics8165]

Most of the hunters around here hunt for meat not sport

[@TheMCD1989]

You would be amazed (not in a positive way) some of the people roaming around with guns "hunting" in the US. I used to hunt fairly often, but rarely do now, due to the amount of people with loaded firearms who I am not always sure know which end from the other. I farm and it's tough here with the people who just assume they can use, access and open any land they come across without asking permission regardless if there are cattle on pasture or not. I am not anti-hunting, but the vetting process or the people hunting has drastically gone downhill the last decade here in the US. It used to be "a few bad apples", now I think the people who give hunting a GOOD name are few and far between.

[@jan-hendrikbussmann4644]

@@spartanumismatics8165 And so it should be. Please do not take my comment personally, I merely referenced to some videos that I have seen, not to American hunters in general. We have idiots over here, too, no worries.

[@NM-wd7kx]

@@Strawberry92fs this has been my argument for years, slaughter houses are unpleasant places for all concerned

[@NM-wd7kx]

@@TheMCD1989 it always seemed to me that the more restrictive nature of firearm access and limited land in Britain led to a more 'professional' outlook compared to the US

[@Getpojke]

I enjoyed that, nice to see a hunter giving respect to what he just shot. Hate to talk stereotypes but some countries have some funny ideas as to safety and respect when out. Germans and Scandinavians were always our favoured clients when taking them out here in Scotland. On the haggis front, good on you for making it, not the easiest dish, a lot of work. Used to quite often make some from deer and rabbits we shot, though you have to add a bit more fat as they're quite lean.

[@maximilianmustermann5763]

To get a hunting licence in Germany, you have to do a lot of studying and take a bunch of classes. In the end there's exams in biology/wildlife, hunting ethics, law and safety, and also practical exams in firearms handling and shooting. All of these exams are not easy, they'd probably qualify as a bachelor college degree in the United States (not kidding). Then if you want to keep on hunting after you got your licence, unless you are filthy rich and buy your own land with hunting rights, you always have to apply as a hunter with someone who is responsible for the land and owns the hunting rights. But that person is also liable to the state and law for everything that happens on his land, so he only wants the most responsible hunters. This whole process totally weeds out the "hooraa-raa Rambo-types" and leaves us with very professional hunters in Germany. Which is good because our country is packed full of people and if we had a system like in the US where every dumbo can take his AR and go shoot around in the woods, we'd probably have dozens of people killed every month. I'm not a fan of general gun laws in Germany, but I'm okay with the (most of the) strict laws around hunting. It keeps other people safe and it prevents animal cruelty.

[@DilsonRochedo]

Next week on Forgotten Recipes: Pork Haggis,Texas style.

[@KhrisMiddletonFitnessOfficial]

Just a friendly reminder to never cut the backstrap off of a pistol.

[@mfree80286]

@@harlanmcdiarmid It's incredibly tough, almost inedible.

[@spiritofthetime]

The most difficult part of gralloching for me has always been the first incision in the abdomen. Pierced intestines is not the glorious end you invisage to your afternoon 💩. Really pleased that you're sharing this experience, I think it should be a life skill like first aid that everyone learns.

[@dh1040]

I agree. The first cut and watching out for the bladder is important.

[@ADITADDICTS]

Yep, reading your comment brought back one or two bad memories. Lol

[@juggeist]

I prefer to do that part at home with the animal hanging if possible tend to be easier and cleaner.

[@jimyeats]

@@juggeist Yeah I had a deer I got close to home and close to the truck once that I was able to quickly throw in and get home and gut in a nice hanging environment and it was way easier.

[@spiritofthetime]

@@juggeist it's a tricky trade-off, letting your adrenaline subside and doing it in a well lit, comfortable environment, vs the relative ease of doing it whilst it's still hot, minimising taint and the convenience of disposing the guts in the field.

[@snowdogs01]

As a North Carolinian, I could only think about BARBECUE as you disassembled the piggy. Red slaw and hushpuppies!

[@ForgottenWeapons]

As an Arizonan, the first thing we made was green chile pork stew. :)

[@snowdogs01]

..... I could almost smell the aroma of the saltimbocca as y'all prepared the dish. Really enjoyed this video!

[@RalphReagan]

Not the red slaw though. Eastern bbq!

[@snowdogs01]

@@RalphReagan : Kepley's in High Point, Stamey's here in Greensboro, and the Barbecue Center in Lexington; in that order.

[@austinduong-van6071]

It probably makes great tacos, too

[@jakebrady6024]

This is a step in the right direction for the channel Ian you are showing how the stereotypical fudd hunter is not the norm in America and I applaud you for rethinking your role in the ecosystem. Humans are predators and we are animals but a code of morals like you display would be a great role model for those who want to get into hunting and do so in an ethical way. I will watch any forgotten weapons hunting video in the future no doubt. Also those recipes looked amazing

[@waso122463]

Everyone should experience this you never know what's around the bend in life.

[@PitPwny]

People that do experience this are often denigrated and unfairly labeled cruel mistreater of animals. Yet people have no issue going to the store to pickup a family sized package of chicken breasts. (Or they’re vegan and don’t understand nature) Out of sight out of mind, I suppose.

[@RandyLeftHandy]

Shooting hogs is always around the bend

[@enlg3750]

​@@PitPwny We should always appreciate the service of these people who made the food we eat available while relieving us from having to witness the bloody process, yet some just can't get their head beyond 3 yards of their immediate sight.

[@waso122463]

@@PitPwny Well if things go south and the grocery stores are bare I guess they go hungry.

[@JackTheCarver]

@@PitPwny Ah yes, the only way to understand nature is to kill and destroy it.

[@cheyennereynoso4116]

I’m surprised by the amount of positive comments but I’m also happy to see the gun community can come together in a wholesome way and support one another. The gun community is not full of crazy people but people who are extremely responsible and sound minded.

[@cheyennereynoso4116]

@@spraynpray Hahahah my bad 😅

[@DominicAmann]

As a card carrying liberal I can tell you that this kind of video would go a long way to calming the fears the average city person has of rural hunters and their guns.

[@cheyennereynoso4116]

@@DominicAmann That’s awesome; you’re so right. I think there’s a stigma with this kind of thing. Though there is justification for it in some instances for the most part, at the end of the day, it’s just like any other hobby or pass time.

[@DominicAmann]

@@cheyennereynoso4116 I have always dealt with "the hunting question" with my city friends with the following statement/question: "If you are prepared to eat meat, then which is better: an animal raised on a factory farm and slaughtered in a factory, or a wild animal running free, killed suddenly in a sustainable controlled hunt and prepared by the hunter themselves?" The answer has always been that they prefer the latter.

[@An_Lei_Laoshi]

@@DominicAmann As a city guy who has never ever hunted because reasons, I do agree with you. A free animal living its life happily and killed suddenly is way better than an unhappy animal raised in a limited space with only the purpose to be killed. I would never give up eating meat, but there is no reason to treat animals so badly as we do in factories

[@michaelblanco2668]

The Steyr scout is sick though

[@justindunlap1235]

It's been my dream hunting rifle since I first understood the theory behind it.

[@nikitaastakhov9252]

@@justindunlap1235 what theory

[@FirstDagger]

@@justindunlap1235 ; Be sure to watch Ian's critique of the "theory" in way Cooper layed it out /watch?v=-BD2tCsV2uA

[@nikitaastakhov9252]

@@FirstDagger pls explain

[@mousse7020]

@@nikitaastakhov9252 For better explanation you can watch Ian's video about the gun. The basic concept is lightweight, easy to carry, not too long hunting rifle with a round that can kill dears, hogs and bigger animals. Not something crazy like an elephant but effective aganist many different animals. While the recoil might be a problem for a normal shooting scenerio, you problably only going to take 1 or 2 shots, so making it lightweight and weak is not a important.

[@KMondy]

Just what I didn't know that I needed. Brought up as a city boy who found his way into 2a life.

[@williamdixon8283]

Grew up on a farm, dad was a meat cutter for 17 years who then managed restaurants for another 32 years. I owe him such a debt, every time I see these kinds of videos, I can smell the animal, feel the blood, the bones and hair. Setting down to a meal and gingerly biting in to a rabbit, or pheasant, or quail; because you never get all the shot out. Ian, you have a lifetime to look forward to learning about time and temperatures, flavors that work together, methods that work for different cuts, the list goes on. Dad is 77 this year and his neuropathy is beginning to take a toll, wish I could give him the hug he deserves.

[@tynado1173]

I really expected you to bring out a Berthier or something crazy haha. I took my first deer with a Type 99 Arisaka.

[@AndyKraken]

As someone that grew up in a tiny place where hunting is extremely common, this was a really enjoyable video! Even though focus was on the experience and not filming, I think it turned out quite well

[@DoomGoober]

As someone who has never fired a firearm outside of a range, I also enjoyed this video. I don't think I'll ever butcher an animal, but next time I'm cooking a pork chop, I will think back to this video.

[@robertclayton5029]

Same here! #forgottenweapons has been my favorite channel for about 5 years, tho Ian has said from the beginning he was not a hunter. As someone who's 11 year old daughter got her first deer last week, it brings me incredible joy seeing someone connect with the outdoors for the first time. Especially a person you respect or care about!

[@jussayinmipeece1069]

my wife who is 105 soaking wet and in a winter coat just called Ian a pussy LOL. I am like why? She was like well look how hes holding that knife like its going to bite him. Did i mention that i met her when she shot a huge moose that was about to have me for lunch?

[@insertname3977]

@@jussayinmipeece1069 funny enough I've known more people who've had to go to the hospital over being too confident with a knife than being too confident with a firearm.

[@SlavicCelery]

@@jussayinmipeece1069 If we know anything about Ian, it's that in a year he'll be running a wild game butcher shop in Arizona in addition to everything else. And handling his knives like he's not afraid of them. He needs to choke up on them.

[@Chiefpigloo]

"Meateater" on Netflix is a great series on the hunt and culinary process.

[@Perry2186]

I got Steve's cookbook

[@eganengelhardt3078]

This video makes me proud. Not only proud to be a member of the hunting community. but a member of the forgotten weapons community.

[@oshof801]

I thoroughly enjoyed the f*#$ out of this video.

[@nunyabeeswax2575]

The FORK did you mean to say?

[@nunyabeeswax2575]

@My Dixie Wrecked nothing Fowl about this vidjayho.

[@Afrohare]

Game is criminally underrated - oh, and so are organs. Tongue, kidneys and heart are delicious! Well, they are if prepared properly.

[@stonercat1232]

For me the only thing liver is good for us catfish bait

[@Afrohare]

Kidneys? Ditto. Liver? Cattle is fine too.

[@eddyguizonde401]

americans as a rule have a very "meek" palate. i heard americans sneer at the french for eating duck and frogs, yet the average snooty american will gawp at foie gras without knowing it's goose or duck liver. same for black sausage, andouillette, (blood and intestines, respectively). in england, it's shepherd's pie (iirc, beef or mutton kidney's)... eating organs is a huge part of european food culture, much less so in the usa, from the time i lived there

[@jasonhill8696]

Eddy Guizonde as an American who’s eaten frogs and snails the reason I don’t like to eat organs is because of the texture

[@stonercat1232]

@@eddyguizonde401 who tf said eating duck is bad where did you get that from

[@kevinhays2000]

I am so happy that "KZbin" did not "ban" this video. It showed the complete cycle that the animal goes though "from field to table". Thank you. I been a fan 5 plus years - this is a better video - thank you.

[@tacticalrepair]

Really cool to see you enjoying yourself and expanding your skillset Ian. I'm glad to see you enjoying yourself and making steps toward becoming a more self sufficient person.

[@ElTejon47901]

Ian: I prefer to stalk. *blinks in Midwestern* You mean everyone doesn't hunt from stands?

[@51WCDodge]

Some places in UK shoot from stands. But in Scotland the whole point is the Stalk. Works up an appetite to do the animal justice. Following the escape of farmed Boar, and they are bloody dangerous , in UK, they are now legal to hunt again with no closed season as they are considered vermin.

[@stevekreitler9349]

One of the main reasons for stand hunting in Texas is that the land is all privately owned. People pay big money to hunt on that private land, and crossing property lines isn't tolerated.

[@51WCDodge]

@@stevekreitler9349 Sounds very familar, money talks.Though to be fair you have to have income to keep a place up. Regardless of what some think, you can't live on a good view.

[@euanhastie4671]

Or chase the pig with dogs through NZ bush and stick it with a knife.

[@mrfancypanzer549]

Personally i think its more "fair" to hunt on foot, Its like you are putting some effort into what you are doing and the game has a chance get away.

[@Mamiya645]

This made me hungry. During childhood we'd spend summer away living off the land, not just because the nearest stores were over an hour's drive away. Fishing, farming and hunting. Learning the circle of life, appreciating nature and being thankful for all it has to give. Wish I could partake. I'm from the last generation that grew up without cellphones and internet in my country, and this is my favorite channel on the Citadel.

[@Ideo7Z]

Hmmm Citadel: I see you're a man of culture. May Garrus bless your range days and varren hunts.

[@win300mag1]

I’ve been an avid hunter since I was 13 years old. I was fortunate enough to have a grand father and several uncles who took me out and taught me over the years. Very cool to see something like this to help someone who would like to get into it but does not have access to decades of combined knowledge. Welcome to the hunting community Ian! It’s been the greatest thing I’ve ever been a part of.

[@lordsummerisle87]

I enjoyed the entirety of this video, but especially your use of a suppressor on your deer/hunting rifle. They are a very useful and sensible piece of kit that's been around for a century and, barring such aberrations as the US, Canada and Australia, are either strongly encouraged or virtually mandatory in most western nations for non-range shooting. Prohibitions or restrictions on their use and ownership are ridiculous and need reform.

[@mattkrea]

In exactly the same position here. At 33 years old I just asked a friend of a friend to show me how to clean and butcher a deer because it was not something I experienced growing up.

[@DominicAmann]

Yup, I am learning these skills via the internet at 59.

[@shawnr771]

Luckily, I have good friends who are very fast at field dressing an animal. I just have to share the bounty. Which is no problem. The smoker usually gets fired up before the cut. That way when you are done cutting and wrapping for the freezer there is something ready to eat.

[@Nipplator99999999999]

I had hunted when younger, but lost my taste for it in the Army, but I never learned what the cuts were named. My family had the same cuts, but they were labeled as section of animal and cooking method, like stew, fry, bake, etc.

[@jokelius1]

Really makes me appreciate my situation when Ian, someone I sorta look up to, treats this as a special experience, while I get to do this pretty much weekly in the fall and winter

[@ceterfo]

20:32 the enthusiasm in that guy's eyes when talking about that vacuum machine is palpable.

[@sulla175]

Ironically, the guy in the background hollering "and don't be afraid!" was pretty frightening.

[@spiritofthetime]

I know what you mean! It's true though - my hunting partner was (and still is) a lot quicker at butchering than me because he's not worried about starting in the wrong place or having some rough edges. It's not like we're selling to a restaurant, and if one did manage to do a number on a joint it would still make excellent mince or burgers.

[@francescoperich7303]

Welcome to the first episode of Cooking with Ian !

[@tsufordman]

Very informative and a great reminder of why I only surgically remove the backstrap and hams on deer, backstrap and ribs on pig, and grind all the rest of the meat into tasty sausage. Aging and drying meat removes any chance of it being gamy and grinding takes care of having to remove all the gristly parts.

[@PsychoDad89]

Thanks for filming your vacation

[@swagnut9864]

I’m always happy to see new and different content from this channel. I mean we all came here to learn about our favorite firearms. But I think it’s also important that we get other forms of education even if it’s just one off videos like this. This is knowledge that I knew nothing about and I’m happy I’m able to learn about something new

[@LarpingSupply]

I am absolutely the same way. I really appreciate this video as someone raised in a non-hunting no gun owning family I have been on a very similar thought process as you and this seems like a very practical way to go about things.

[@jacobyoung3045]

This is awesome! Some of my most favorite memories are centered around hunting and there is nothing better than fresh wild game.

[@craighansen7594]

It's always good seeing a person who wants to experience the whole hunt. Prepping and eating what you have harvested from nature is just as important as the hunt itself.

[@CoalPoggers]

The legendary Chef Ian McCollum

[@ragingjaguarknight86]

He went from "Gun Jesus" to "Chef Jesus" ^_^

[@thasecondman]

Damn, the saltimbocca alla texana looked good!

[@Gagis]

This is some serious public service.

[@frcgfd107]

Hope you had as good a time as it looked! Thanks for even sharing your vacation with us and pointing out a good way to start hunting. Thanks!

[@carloslalik4346]

Excelent video!!!. It remember me my first hunt of guanaco (Lama Guanicoe) here in Argentine Patagonia....and I´m lefty too. My father was a sporting fisherman and a good shooter, but He doesn´t like hunting, so I must learning with friends and rural people. Please Keep learning and theaching because is the escense of life. Excelente video!!!. Me recordó a mi primer cacería de guanacos (Lama guanicoe) aquí en la Patagonia Argentina....y yo también soy zurdo. MI padre era un pescador deportivo y un buen trador, pero no le gustaba cazar. por lo tanto debí aprender con unos amigos y gente de campo. Por favor manténganse aprendiendo y enseñando, porque esa es la esencia de la vida

[@shawnr771]

Cool. Interesting experience. Glad you had a good time in Texas. An idea for Forgotten Weapons. The Texas Ranger Museum in Waco, Texas. They have a large quantity of firearms taken from various bandits over the last century and a half.

[@466chalk]

If it had been a sow, than it would have been... SOWthwestern haggis!

[@devinsn2]

Thank you for sharing Ian!

[@nmysights0185]

I went hunting a few times as a kid with my dad, who had never hunted before in his life. Thank God we didn't shoot anything, because as prepared as I thought I was, I would've had no idea what to do with anything I might have shot. Luckily, when I was 20, a friend of mine took the time to show me how to hunt for real. I shot my first deer (first 2 actually: a doe and a buck) this year at the age of 21. My friend showed me how to gut, skin, butcher, and package the animals, and now my freezer is full of fresh venison. I will never be able to repay him for all he has taught me over the last couple years, and I'm glad that there are places like this for people who don't have such a person in their lives to mentor them. It is an incredibly rewarding experience.

[@LittleRabbit1138]

As much as I love this, I'm a bit let down by the fact that you're not in full Victorian garb with a pith helmet and a double barrel 8 bore rifle....

[@samiam619]

Looking like the Big Game Hunter in Jumanji?

[@BradKarlovec]

This was so wicked cool! I loved watching the whole experience

[@Dr_Mauser]

Absolutely fascinating! Thank you for sharing your vacation with us.

[@skyflier8955]

I was really fun listening to the guy who was in charge of the butchering. He talks like he has so much knowledge and is eager to share with everyone.

[@SwordandKeyboard29]

I would love to see Ian on Steve Rinella's Meat Eater show

[@rustyshacklford245]

I was thinking the same thing, at the very least itd be cool to have Ian on the meateater podcast

[@johnkleinfelter8346]

We need to make this happen

[@clamum]

That would be tight

[@RyTrapp0]

Would love to see it - but both these boys have some serious schedules, and I can't imagine they would line up too easily lol

[@dh1040]

The look in his eyes and his breathing after taking that shot says all that needs to be said.

[@lairdcummings9092]

A bit of 'Buck Fever' there, but not too much; still a good clean shot.

[@nunyabeeswax2575]

@@brucebelvin2058 Good habit, occasionally a second one might poke its head out trying to work out what is going on.

[@Toropetskii]

Absolutely fascinating. Thanks for the education, Ian!

[@HalfWarrior]

Awesome Ian! Thank you!

[@gabrielalbeldaochoa8234]

I really would've loved to see how the sausage is done, the video felt like 10 minutes long because of how good it was

[@MarvinCZ]

The sausage video was posted before this one but it's for Patreon supporters only, like most Apocrypha videos.

[@gabrielalbeldaochoa8234]

@Alexandr Soldiernetizen Yeah, but wanted to know which spices suit better each meat, but I'll research it by my own

[@shaunalleyne2003]

I would watch the heck out of a Cooking with Ian series

[@shadowofthenight7316]

This was fun to watch! Thanks Ian

[@stevenclifton624]

This was great thanks for sharing your vacation

[@samjames1253]

It's good to see there are places like this that allow you to gain experience

[@TomSedgman]

🎶 “The foot bone’s connected to the leg bone, the leg bone’s connected to the hip bone”

[@76CelticDragon]

Not any more it isn’t 😂

[@colonthree]

*[Writes down on paper that somehow also materialises in real life too]*

[@knightofavalon86]

I love this style of hunting video. Never expected it from this channel, but I'm very excited to see this kind of content from Ian.

[@joegerman1998]

This is an amazing video, Ian. Thank you so much for sharing.

[@jakemarchbank]

As a Scot who loves haggis I have to say I approve of this 'Hoggis'. Remember my uncle tried to take some haggis to my mum in Canada and had to leave it behind, real shame because you can't get proper haggis there either

[@calebbrown4187]

Where outside of Abilene? That's my hometown and I've hunted all over that area.

[@ForgottenWeapons]

Between Hamlin and Aspermont.

[@calebbrown4187]

@@ForgottenWeapons Out near Kiowa Peak. That's awesome! I wish I could show you how I do it when I hunt hogs. You need at least one 30 rd. mag, a spotlight, and a good 4 wheel drive. Those hogs destroy winter wheat crops. Farmers will usually be thrilled if you eradicate as many as you can blast. If you find a smaller sow, you place a clean shot and drop them in their teracks like you did, but bigger sows and boars, you want to hit lower middle center body mass where you clip the lungs but not the heart. The reason for this is that they run to the thick brush but still die quickly. It would be completely different it the intent wasn't to eradicate an invasive species but instead harvest food. 30-100 in a herd. Poor vision but freakish sense of smell. Stalking them is crazy dangerous.

[@parkerhayward7349]

@@ForgottenWeapons that’s awesome I grew up hunting out near Hamlin

[@parkerhayward7349]

@@ForgottenWeapons that’s awesome I grew up hunting out near Hamlin

[@food_toobs8333]

@@calebbrown4187 same way we hunt them in north Louisiana. Sometime we'll use dogs and horses instead of four wheelers (easier to get through the woods).

[@TiglathPileser3]

YES! I loved it. Thanks for sharing.

[@comiketiger]

Very good video Ian. Thanks

[@kwakamonkey]

Good to hear you enjoyed the experience in Scotland Ian . Lots of good hunting in Scotland .

[@myparceltape1169]

A place where you could enjoy the stalk over many hours as you crawled through wet heather growing out of moss.

[@Fasdaff01]

I'm also in the position of having an interest in hunting but not knowing any hunters who I can learn from, and it definitely is hard to break into. Especially here in the northeast. One day I would love to take a course like this.

[@jtilton5]

I would suggest you take a look at your state's Fish and Game Department's website (or whatever name your state uses for it's fish and game department) Besides being able to sign up for Hunters Safety classes (A must if you want to get a hunting license and tags anywhere) Many now have information on hunting mentorship programs, which have become popular in many states to boost the number of people who hunt.

[@nickprentis4035]

In the NE I suggest upper Maine, although extremely wooded makes for good tracking and for some good sights

[@RyTrapp0]

Not hard to break in to - just hard to find the front door, lol

[@Longshot88]

Bringing yourself back to your roots is always a fun and educational experience.

[@siltyroach1584]

Thank you for sharing this cool experience!