Books & Offline Knowledge
Taking an animal is only the start; field dressing, butchering and cooking it right is what puts food on the table. The Prepared recommends Steven Rinella's two-volume Complete Guide to Hunting, Butchering, and Cooking Wild Game: Volume 1 covers big game like deer and elk, and Volume 2 covers small game and birds, with hundreds of step-by-step photos. Basic Butchering of Livestock & Game is the classic for beef, pork, lamb, poultry, rabbit and venison, with preserving tips. Always check your state's hunting regulations and tagging rules.
Why it's hereThe Prepared's hunting pick by the MeatEater host: scouting, shooting, field dressing, butchering and cooking deer, elk and more, with hundreds of photos.
Recommended by The PreparedPaperback.
| Rank | Product & source | Key note | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ★ Top Pick | The Complete Guide to Hunting, Butchering, and Cooking Wild Game, Vol. 1: Big Game (Steven Rinella)Recommended by The Prepared | The Prepared's hunting pick by the MeatEater host: scouting, shooting, field dressing, butchering and cooking deer, elk and more, with hundreds of… | ~$28Price checked Oct 20, 2026at barnesandnoble.com View product | |
| Runner-up | The Complete Guide to Hunting, Butchering, and Cooking Wild Game, Vol. 2: Small Game and Fowl (Steven Rinella)Recommended by The Prepared | The companion volume for rabbits, squirrels, upland birds and waterfowl. | ~$28Price checked Oct 20, 2026at barnesandnoble.com View product | |
| Runner-up | Basic Butchering of Livestock & Game (John J. Mettler)Recommended by The Prepared | The Prepared calls it a well-reviewed classic: butchering beef, pork, lamb, poultry, rabbit and venison, plus preserving the meat. | ~$17.99Price checked Oct 20, 2026at shop.hachettebookgroup.com View product | |
