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 261: The Wild Pantry, Part I - Freezing as Preservation [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:09
Summary In this episode, Justin Townsend and Adam Berkelmans explore the significance of freezing as a method of food preservation. They discuss the historical context of freezing, the science behind how freezing affects…
Episode 258: The Future of Wild Food: What 2026 Gets Right and Wrong [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 48:31
Summary In this episode, Justin and Adam examine how wild food culture is evolving as it moves into the mainstream. They discuss the influence of technology and AI on hunting, foraging, and social media, the growing resp…
Episode 257: How to Transform Holiday Wild Game Leftovers [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 33:31
Summary In this episode, Justin Townsend and Adam Berkelmans explore the creative potential of holiday leftovers, particularly focusing on wild game. They discuss various ways to transform leftovers into exciting new dis…
Episode 256: Wild Food Has No Single Culture [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 58:15
Summary In this engaging conversation, Justin Townsend speaks with Nikhil Khanna and Shiven Singh, the duo behind 'Two Brown Guys Hunt.' They explore the intersection of hunting, cooking, and cultural heritage, emphasizi…
Episode 255: North America’s Invasive Species Double Standard [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 46:15
Summary This conversation explores the complex perceptions surrounding invasive species, examining why some are celebrated while others are vilified. The discussion delves into cultural, economic, and ecological factors…
Episode 254: The Best Wild Game Recipes for the Holidays [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 45:55
Summary In this conversation, Justin Townsend and Adam Berkelmans explore the creative and experimental aspects of cooking, particularly focusing on unique roasts that combine various meats. They discuss the idea of a 'F…
Episode 253: Why Hunters Value the First Meal After the Hunt [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 55:24
Summary In this episode, Justin Townsend and Adam Berkelmans dig into the ancient first bite traditions of hunting—those raw, fire-lit moments when hunters taste the animal they’ve just harvested. They explore the histor…
Episode 252: Wild Food Horror Stories, Legends, and Myths [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 40:37
In this conversation, Justin Townsend and Adam Berkelmans explore the haunting aspects of wild food, sharing real-life horror stories that highlight the dangers of foraging and hunting. They discuss the importance of cau…