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Field Animal Protein Sources: Fish, Game, and Safe Preparation

Quick Summary​

Animal protein provides essential nutrients and calories in extended off-grid situations. This guide covers identifying safe sources, basic catching methods, and proper preparation techniques for fish, shellfish, birds, and small game.

Why This Matters​

When you're camping for extended periods, dealing with supply disruptions, or in remote locations, knowing how to safely obtain and prepare animal protein can be critical:

  • Nutritional needs: Protein and fat are essential for energy and health during physical stress
  • Calorie density: Animal protein provides more calories per pound than most plant foods
  • Silent methods: Many techniques work quietly without alerting others to your presence
  • Abundant resources: Fish and small game are often more plentiful than large mammals

Shellfish and Mollusks​

What to Look For​

Freshwater locations:

  • River snails in streams and lakes of northern forests
  • Mussels in shallow areas with sandy or muddy bottoms
  • Look for narrow trails in mud or dark elliptical slits of open valves

Saltwater locations:

  • Tidal pools and wet sand areas
  • Rocks along beaches or extending into deeper water
  • Snails and limpets on rocks and seaweed from low water mark upward
  • Mussel colonies in rock pools, on logs, or at base of boulders

Safe Collection Guidelines​

Critical Safety Rules
  • Never eat shellfish not covered by water at high tide
  • Avoid mussels in tropical zones during summer months
  • Don't collect within 72 hours of red tide occurrence

Preparation​

Steam, boil, or bake mollusks in their shells. They make excellent stews when combined with edible plants and tubers.

Fish: Your Best Protein Source​

Why Fish Are Ideal​

  • More abundant than mammals in most environments
  • Catching methods are silent
  • Provide both protein and essential fats
  • No poisonous freshwater fish exist

Understanding Fish Behavior​

Prime feeding times:

  • Heavy feeding before storms
  • Poor feeding after storms when water is muddy
  • Night feeding when attracted to light

Where to find fish:

  • Eddies near rocks in strong current
  • Deep pools under overhanging brush
  • Around submerged logs and vegetation
  • Areas that provide natural shelter

Safety Considerations​

Freshwater fish:

  • Always cook thoroughly to kill parasites
  • Catfish have sharp, needlelike fins that cause infected wounds

Saltwater fish:

  • Cook fish caught within reefs or near freshwater sources
  • Ocean fish caught far from shore can be eaten raw
  • Beware of ciguatera poisoning in tropical waters

Dangerous species to avoid:

  • Porcupine fish, cowfish, thorn fish, oilfish, puffer fish
  • In tropical waters: barracuda, jacks, mackerel, triggerfish, snappers, groupers

Basic Fishing Methods​

Improvised Fishhooks​

Make hooks from:

  • Pins, needles, small nails, wire
  • Bone, wood, thorns, shells
  • Combination materials

Wooden hook construction:

  1. Cut hardwood piece 1 inch (2.5 cm) long, 1/4 inch (6 mm) diameter
  2. Cut notch in one end for the point
  3. Insert sharp material (bone, wire, nail) in notch
  4. Tie securely so point cannot move

Gorge/Skewer Method​

  • Sharp on both ends, notched in middle for line
  • Bait lengthwise - fish swallows entire piece
  • Don't pull when fish bites - let it swallow completely

Simple Fish Traps​

Basket traps:

  • Lash sticks into funnel shape with vines
  • Close top, leaving entrance hole
  • Place in fish runs or near feeding areas

Tidal traps:

  • Build at low tide in areas fish approach during high tide
  • Use natural rock pools or create stone walls
  • Block openings as tide recedes

Modern Fishing Gear Recommendations​

Budget Option​

Basic Fishing Kit - $15-25

  • Small hooks (sizes 6-12)
  • 20lb test line
  • Split shot weights
  • Good for: Emergency kits, car camping

Best Value ⭐​

Compact Fishing System - $35-50

  • Telescoping rod (6-8 feet)
  • Spinning reel with drag
  • Tackle box with variety of lures
  • Good for: Backpacking, extended trips

Premium Option​

Professional Field Kit - $125-200

  • High-quality multi-piece rod
  • Sealed bearing reel
  • Complete tackle selection
  • Good for: Serious anglers, guides, professionals

Small Game and Birds​

Birds: Easiest to Catch​

All bird species are edible (except Pitohui in New Guinea)

Catching techniques:

  • Hand-catch roosting birds at night
  • Net across regular flyways
  • Trap at roosting sites and water sources
  • Collect eggs (leave 2-3 marked eggs so bird continues laying)

Preparation:

  • Pluck or skin (skinning removes some nutrition)
  • Remove entrails, save heart and liver
  • Cut off feet
  • Boil scavenger birds 20+ minutes to kill parasites

Mammals: High Reward, Higher Risk​

Advantages:

  • Excellent protein source
  • Familiar taste for most people
  • High calorie content

Risks:

  • All mammals bite in self-defense
  • Mothers are extremely protective
  • Cornered animals will fight
  • Size correlates with potential injury

Safety notes:

  • All mammals are edible
  • Exception: Polar bear and bearded seal liver (toxic vitamin A levels)
  • Platypus has poisonous claws (Australia/Tasmania only)
  • Scavenging mammals may carry diseases

Basic Trapping Principles​

Essential Requirements​

  1. Know your target species - different animals need different approaches
  2. Proper construction - trap must be built correctly for the animal
  3. Scent control - human scent will alarm most mammals
  4. Correct placement - traps only work where animals actually travel

Finding Animal Sign​

Look for:

  • Runs and trails (runs = single species, trails = multiple species)
  • Tracks in mud, sand, or snow
  • Droppings indicating regular use
  • Chewed or rubbed vegetation
  • Nesting or roosting sites
  • Feeding and watering areas

Scent Control Methods​

Remove human scent:

  • Use fluid from gall bladder and urine of previous kills
  • Coat hands and trap with mud from rotting vegetation areas
  • Smoke trap parts over fire (animals recognize natural smoke)
  • Allow trap to weather for several days before setting

Simple Trap Designs​

Basic Snare​

  • Noose over trail or den hole
  • Attached to firmly planted stake
  • Use wire (better than cordage)
  • Size noose to pass over animal's head

Bottle Trap (Mice/Voles)​

  • Dig hole 12-18 inches deep, wider at bottom
  • Cover with bark held up 1-2 inches
  • Small animals hide underneath and fall in
  • Caution: Check carefully - snakes also use these holes

Safe Preparation and Cooking​

Fish Preparation​

Spoilage signs to avoid:

  • Sunken eyes
  • Peculiar odor
  • Faded coloring (gills should be red/pink)
  • Flesh stays dented when pressed
  • Slimy (not moist) body
  • Sharp or peppery taste

Preparation steps:

  1. Clean immediately after catching
  2. Cut out gills and large blood vessels near spine
  3. Gut fish over 4 inches (10 cm) long
  4. Scale or skin

Cooking methods:

  • Best: Boil with skin on (preserves fats and oils)
  • Impale whole on stick over fire
  • Pack in clay ball and bury in coals
  • Fish is done when meat flakes easily

Game Preparation​

Small Game (Rabbits, Squirrels)​

  1. Bleed: Cut throat immediately
  2. Skin: Cut hide around body, insert fingers, pull off both pieces
  3. Clean: Remove entrails by splitting body and pulling out
  4. Inspect: Check heart and liver for parasites or disease

Larger Game​

  1. Field dress near water source if possible
  2. Skin: Split hide from throat to tail, avoiding sexual organs
  3. Remove musk glands to prevent tainting meat
  4. Remove entrails: Cut around anus, reach in and pull out lower intestine
  5. Save organs: Heart and liver (inspect for disease first)

Meat Preservation​

Smoking (1 week preservation)​

Setup:

  • Build enclosure around fire (two tarps work)
  • Use hardwood, not resinous wood
  • Wood should be somewhat green
  • Keep fire small - want smoke and heat, not flame

Process:

  • Cut meat into 1/4 inch (6mm) strips
  • Hang on framework, pieces not touching
  • Smoke overnight for 1 week preservation
  • Smoke 2 days continuously for 2-4 week preservation
  • Properly smoked meat looks dark, curled, and brittle

Air Drying (Jerky)​

  • Cut meat into 1/4 inch strips with the grain
  • Hang in sunny location with good airflow
  • Keep away from animals and flies
  • Properly dried meat feels dry and crisp, not cool to touch

Critical Safety Warnings​

Medical Emergencies

Fish poisoning symptoms (1-6 hours after eating):

  • Diarrhea, nausea, cramps, vomiting
  • Itching, paralysis, metallic taste
  • Action: Induce vomiting immediately
Disease Prevention

All reptiles carry salmonella - cook thoroughly and wash hands Mammal bites - any bite can cause serious infection Undercooked meat - can contain dangerous parasites

When to Seek Help​

  • Any signs of food poisoning (vomiting, diarrhea, fever)

  • Animal bites that show signs of infection

  • Severe allergic reactions to unfamiliar foods

  • If you're unsure about any animal's safety

  • Before this: Plant Food Identification

  • After this: Food Storage Methods

  • Related: Water Purification - essential for cleaning game

Source

Adapted from Field Manual FM-3-05.70

Last updated: January 18, 2026