Episode 280: Advanced Offal and Wild Game Butchery with Anna Borgman

Episode 280: Advanced Offal and Wild Game Butchery with Anna Borgman

Author: Harvesting Nature August 4, 2026 Duration: 58:22
Summary: Justin and Anna Borgman explore the fascinating world of organ meats, butchery, and processing wild and domestic animals. They share practical tips, cultural insights, and personal stories to inspire a deeper appreciation for the whole animal. - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Leave a Review of the Podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Buy our Wild Fish and Game Spices⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Art of Venison Sausage Making Chaos Farms Chaos Farms Instagram Anna Borgman Instagram Recipes: Curried Steak and Kidney Pie⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Smoked Rocky Mountain Oysters Dried Venison Soup with Timpsila (Bapa Wohanpi) Chapters: 00:00 Introduction and Overview of the Episode 01:04 Anna Borgman's Background in Butchery and Cooking 03:13 Upcoming Whitetail Deer Camp and Butchery Workshops 04:07 Anna's Journey into Culinary School and Butchery 06:04 Transition from Shop Work to Field Slaughter 07:31 Motivations for Moving into Field Harvesting 08:55 Challenges Facing Small Meat Shops and Regulations 11:25 Demand for In-Field and At-Home Butchery 13:00 Wild Game Seasons and Processing in Montana 14:38 Philosophy of Offal and Organ Meat Consumption 15:37 Kids and Organ Meat Acceptance 19:06 Processing and Cooking Organ Meats: Tips and Techniques 22:36 The Use and Identification of Organs in Field Dressing 27:01 Cleaning and Preparing Intestines for Sausage Casings 32:32 Using Caul Fat and Fat in Cooking 35:58 Keeping Things Clean During Butchery and Processing 42:13 The Culinary Appeal of Cheeks and Trotters 48:16 Experiences with Tripe and Offal Dishes 55:14 Exploring Feet, Tails, and Other Offal Parts 01:00:00 Sharing the Joy of Organ Meats with Family 01:02:56 Closing Remarks and Future Events Takeaways: The importance of using the whole animal in butchery Practical tips for processing wild game and domestic animals Cultural and culinary significance of organ meats and offal Techniques for cleaning and preparing organs like liver, heart, and tripe The role of fat, caul fat, and tails in cooking and flavoring Encouraging the next generation to try organ meats and offal Keywords: Butchery, organ meats, wild game, processing, cooking, fat, tripe, sweetbreads, offal, hunting Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Justin Townsend and the team from Harvesting Nature host Wild Fish and Game Podcast, a series that treats wild food as a starting point for much wider conversations. Rather than just a collection of tactics or recipes, this podcast digs into the entire cycle of bringing food from the landscape to the table and beyond. You’ll hear discussions that connect the act of hunting or fishing to the rhythms of the season, the specifics of a place, and the cultural traditions that shape our approach to harvest. Episodes move through every stage of the process-the pursuit, the careful work of butchery, the various methods of preservation, and finally, the cooking that turns ingredients into a meal. It’s about the craft involved in each step and how these skills integrate into a practical, meaningful lifestyle. The conversations often explore how these harvested foods are carried through real life, nourishing families and communities. For anyone curious about the depth and connectivity of a life centered on wild foods, this podcast offers a thoughtful, comprehensive look at a system that is as much about philosophy and responsibility as it is about sustenance. Tune in for a consistently engaging exploration of what it truly means to know where your food comes from.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

Wild Fish and Game Podcast
Podcast Episodes
Episode 271: The Wild Pantry, Part III - Dehydrating and Drying [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 47:52
Summary: Explore the ancient and modern techniques of drying and dehydrating food, its scientific principles, and practical applications in wild food lifestyle. Learn how to preserve, enhance, and utilize wild ingredient…
Episode 270: The Wild Harvest Report - April 2026 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 12:09
Summary: A comprehensive overview of April's seasonal activities across North America, focusing on hunting, fishing, foraging, and cooking wild foods. The report highlights regional differences, key species in season, an…
Episode 269: Wild Game Is More Than Protein [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 33:59
Summary: This episode explores the full value of wild animals beyond just protein, emphasizing traditional and cultural uses of all animal parts, including fat, marrow, organs, and connective tissues. It highlights how m…
Episode 268: Wild American Foodscapes - Newfoundland [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:02
Summary: Justin and Adam explore Newfoundland's unique food landscape shaped by environmental constraints, historical fishing practices, and cultural resilience. From wild fish and seal to the impact of ecological manage…
Episode 267: What If the Grocery Stores Didn’t Open Tomorrow? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 39:28
Summary: Explore the fragility of our food systems and the importance of community resilience. This episode examines historical and modern disruptions to food supply, the interconnectedness of grocery stores, and how hun…
Episode 266: The Wild Harvest Report - March 2026 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 11:04
Summary: The March Food for Field Bulletin discusses the seasonal shifts in hunting, fishing, and foraging across North America, highlighting the transition from winter to spring. It covers regional variations in wildlif…
Episode 265: The Wild Pantry, Part II - Salting and Curing [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 42:59
Summary In this episode, Justin Townsend and Adam Berkelmans explore the ancient art of food preservation through salting and curing. They discuss the historical significance of salting, the science behind how it works,…
Episode 264: Wild American Foodscapes - Hawai'i [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 34:12
Summary Justin and Adam are joined by several guests for a conversation exploring the intricate relationship between food and culture in Hawaii, emphasizing the historical significance of traditional practices, the impac…
Episode 262: The Harvest Report - February 2026 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 19:03
Summary The Wild Harvest Report for February 2026 provides a comprehensive overview of seasonal opportunities for hunting, fishing, and foraging across North America. The report explores regions from the Southeast to the…