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Myths, lies and old wives’ tales loom large in the outdoor pursuits. Here at MeatEater, we’re dedicated to separating facts from bullsh*t, so we created this series to examine suspect yarns. If there’s a belief, rumor or long-held assumption you’d like us to fact check, drop us a note at factchecker@themeateater.com.
Claim
It’s unsafe to eat wild rabbits or hares before the first hard frost of the year. If you eat a wild rabbit sooner, the meat...

It’s no secret the MeatEater crew loves small game hunting as much as we enjoy chasing big bucks or calling in spring gobblers. We grew up small game hunting with friends and family, and we never gave it up, but despite the rich tradition and history of small game hunting in this country, the majority of current American hunters spend little time, if any at all, hunting small game. Squirrels and rabbits barely register as worth the effort. Even...

At MeatEater, one of the most common questions that pops up in our inbox is some version of, “I’ve never hunted before, but I really want to get started. What do I need to do?”
With hunter numbers on the decline nationally, it’s exciting to see so many new folks are interested in joining the hunting community, but it’s also a big, multi-tiered topic. So, in the interest of making things easier for prospective hunters who aren’t sure how to...

At some point, most hunters will make a real mistake out in the field. I’m not talking about forgetting your rain gear or spooking a critter, but serious lapses in judgement.
It’s easy to get caught up in the moment when excitement gets the best of us. No hunter is perfect, and eventually we all slip up. It’s how we learn from those mistakes that will make us a better, safer hunter in the future. I know there are few times I’ve learned some...

At MeatEater, we get a lot of questions from adults about how to begin the process of becoming a hunter. Unlike youth hunters, who often have family members to show them the ropes, rookie adult hunters are often starting from square one without any mentors. And without the guidance of experienced family members or even close friends, getting started in hunting can be a very intimidating undertaking.
Here’s some advice on how to get started...

A smart hunter who values their meat supply would never intentionally avoid field dressing a big game animal for an entire day. Quickly removing the hide and guts from big game animals cools the meat quickly, which prevents spoilage and poor flavors. Many hunters, however, are not nearly as careful with their small game. They often let small game animals such as rabbits, grouse, and ducks ride around in their truck or hunting vest for an entire...

Beavers have been an important source of fur and food for thousands of years in North America. They were highly valued by Native Americans, colonial trappers and American mountain men. Even as demand for their fur has plummeted in modern times, beavers have continued shaping the landscape throughout North America. In fact, beavers alter their environments more than any other creature except for man. But whereas many of our modifications on the...

The subject of non-toxic ammunition has been a contentious issue with many hunters ever since the initial ban on lead ammunition for waterfowl hunting and only grew more controversial when the state of California banned lead ammunition for all types of hunting, and we receive a lot of questions here at MeatEater on the subject.
Steve does shoot lead ammunition on some hunts, but he has used non-toxic options successfully on everything from ducks...