Hunt, Gather, Talk with Hank Shaw

In this episode, I geek out on basic cheesemaking -- the original way to preserve milk and dairy products -- with Claudia Lucero of Urban Cheesecraft in Portland, Oregon. It's a fun, super useful conversation about what equipment you need (hint: not much), where to get good milk, and how to actually make a few basic cheeses at home.  

In this episode of Hunt Gather Talk, forager and chef Alan Bergo joins me to geek out on all the ways to preserve mushrooms, wild or cultivated. There's a whole lot more out there than just drying. We talk about which mushrooms are best preserved in other ways, like fermentation and pickling and just plain freezing. 

I am excited to share with you my conversation with fermentation guru Sandor Katz, who is as knowledgeable as he is fun to talk with. We range all over the wild fermentation world in this episode, literally and figuratively since Sandor has traveled the globe in search of wild ferments. Strap yourself in for this one -- it's gonna be a ride! 

Pressure canning scares people. Canning expert Cathy Barrow and I are here to dispel that fear. In this podcast, we explain all about pressure canning, dispelling myths and fears, and talking about our favorite projects. Cathy drops so much knowledge in this episode, it'll blow your mind! 

From marinated mushrooms and peppers to pasta, pickles and sweets, the Italians are masters of preservation. I talk with cookbook author Rosetta Costantino about Southern Italian methods of preserving food; Rosetta is from Calabria and leads culinary tours there. If you want to learn how to do things the Calabrian way, this episode is for you. 

We all have memories -- or notions -- of canning being this gigantic task, in sweaty summer kitchens, lasting hours and producing whole cupboards full of jams or pickles or somesuch. Well, while that certainly does happen, you can put food by in small batches, even as small as one pint!  Canning expert Marisa McLellan of Food in Jars joins me to geek out on small batch canning. If you live in an apartment, as she does, or if you just want to preserve small bits of precious things, like ramps or mushrooms or other wild foods, this episode is for you. 

If you've ever wondered about freeze drying, this episode's for you. Spoiler alert: Freeze drying is more than just astronaut ice cream. In this episode, I talk with Shannon Waters, a former chef and restaurant consultant who is making waves with Third Wave freeze-dried meals through her company Gastro Gnome Meals. Shannon and I talk about freeze drying at home: When it makes sense, when it doesn't, what foods work well with freeze drying, as well as some memorable failures...  

A conversation about salting fish: How to make it and how to use it, with Newfoundlander Lori McCarthy of Food Culture Place. Salt fish, and salt cod in particular, played a huge role in Western history and remains a vital part of the culture of Newfoundland and Scandinavia. We talk about that, plus the more practical topics of how to go about salting whatever fish you have near you, as well as how best to use it later, on this episode of Hunt Gather Talk. 

Season 4 of Hunt Gather Talk will be all about preservation, from drying and fermenting to canning to charcuterie, meat, fish, plants, mushrooms. We kick off the season with a conversation about dry aging, with Jess Pryles of Hardcore Carnivore. Jess is not only a barbecue maven, she's also a trained meat scientist. We go over the ins and outs of dry aging, with an emphasis on beef and venison. 

Everything you wanted to know (or not!) about the parasites in fish and seafood. John Burrows of the Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute and I break it all down in this episode.

Catfish are an iconic American fish, loved by many, hated by some. I talk with my friend Jonathan Wilkins of Black Duck Revival about catfish, and we range from mechanical details on how to catch them to cooking and prepping them to the cultural baggage catfish can sometimes bring with them to the dinner table. 

Andrew Zimmern, who many of you know from his TV show "Bizarre Foods," has eaten more fish and seafood over the years than anyone I know. So who better to talk about the details of flavor and texture with fish and seafood, from the sublime to the slimy. 

If you're a fan of the survival shows, you know that fishing is a big part of how suvivalists make it through their challenges. In this episode, I talk with the grandmaster of survival, Les Stroud of Survivorman, all about how to fish in a survival situation, as well as why some of those shows are not all that they appear to be...

In this episode, I talk with my friend Kirk Lombard all about gathering the fruits of the seashore, from clams and such to little fish, monkeyface eels and more. Kirk's book "The Sea Forager" is a fantastic guide to nearshore gathering and fishing, and we totally geek out on odd tidepool edibles.

I've always had a thing about catch and release; I don't like participating in fisheries where there is no take allowed. (Obviously, I release lots of fish that are undersized or incidental catch though). But my opinion, even though it's based on research, isn't nearly as important to listen to as are the research findings of Stephanie Shaw of the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. (And no, we're not related.) Catch and release is Stephanie's specialty, and together we bust some myths and talk about best practices for catch and release, primarily in freshwater fishing, but relevant to saltwater, too. 

I am not a spearfisherman, but I've always been interested in the pursuit. It's the closest thing to hunting you can do in the water because, well, it's hunting. I talk with spearfisherman Valentine Thomas all about what it's like to chase fish with a speargun, and about how to get started if you're interested in taking up the pursuit. 

We explore both the romance and the realities of commercial fishing. Tyson Fick and I crewed together on the F/V Heather Anne, a gillnet boat in Alaska, fishing for salmon. We talk about the tough realities of making a living on the water -- as well as why we love it so much! 

Most of us think fish and other sea creatures aren't terribly bright. Most of is are wrong. In this episode, I talk with renowned scientist Culum Brown, a leading authority on cognition in aquatic animals, all about how smart our watery friends are. Spoiler alert: They're a lot smarter than we ever thought! 

I join my friends Joe Baya and Butch Thierry of Great Days Outdoors to share stories from life as a deckhand -- all three of us have worked that job, and yeah, we have stories to tell. We also talk a lot about how you can be a better fishing charter client. 

I geek out with marine biologist Crystal Hightower of the University of South Alabama on snappers: red snapper, beeliners, mangroves, you name it. These popular game fish are fascinating in their own right, but they are also one of the most controversial fisheries in America. We break down not only the biology, but also the reason why people fight over these fish. 

I am not a fly angler, so I called up fly fishing expert April Vokey of Anchored Outdoors to challenge me on my thinking. What starts as a joke -- "Fly fishing sucks. Change my mind." -- develops into a great conversation about where and when fly gear works better than conventional, and when it doesn't. This is a fantastic into for the "fly curious" angler. 

In this episode, I talk with Andrew Tsui of the Ike Jime Federation all about this Japanese method of killing fish, which is not only more humane, but also results in much, much higher quality fish for the table. I was and am fascinated by this practice, and we talk about how you can get started with it, too. 

Australian chef Josh Niland is changing the way we look at fish and seafood. Young, skilled and unafraid to zig where others zag, Niland's cookbooks The Whole Fish Cookbook and Take One Fish are required reading among seafood chefs worldwide. We talk about using the whole fish, new ways of aging and breaking down fish, how Australia is different from the United States and how you at home can apply some of this new magic. You won't want to miss this one!  Get full access to To The Bone at tothebone.substack.com/subscribe

In recent years there has been a huge move to connect commercial fishermen with consumers, which helps the fishermen make more money and the consumer to get fresher, better fish and seafood. I talk with Natalie Sattler of Alaskans Own, a community supported fishery in Alaska, and Jeffrey Tedmori of E-Fish, which acts as a broker to connect small, dayboat fishermen with customers via express mail order fish. Topics include why seek out such a market, how to find one, what are the advantages and disadvantages, and where the sea to table industry is headed. Get full access to To The Bone at tothebone.substack.com/subscribe

Tommy Gomes has been in the fish business for a generation, and he knows all about how to source, select, buy, and store fish and seafood. We go into detail about how you can master the market, as well as talk about the largely unknown treasure that is the Southern California commercial fishery.  Get full access to To The Bone at tothebone.substack.com/subscribe

West African food is something more Americans should get to know, although, if you know where to look, you can see West Africa all over America's Southern cuisine. I talk with cookbook author Zoe Adjonyoh about the food of Ghana, and its rich fish and seafood traditions.  Get full access to To The Bone at tothebone.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode I talk with acclaimed seafood expert and fellow cookbook author Barton Seaver about the ins and outs of farmed versus wild fish and seafood. If you think all farmed fish are bad, it just isn't that simple. We bust some myths and shed some light on this thorny topic.  Get full access to To The Bone at tothebone.substack.com/subscribe

One person's trash is another's treasure. So it is with so-called trash fish or rough fish. I talk about these animals with Scott Leysath, host of the TV show "Dead Meat," which focuses on offbeat fish and game, as well as Tom Dickson of the Montana Dept. of Fish, Wildlife and Parks; Dickson co-wrote a book on rough fish called "Fishing for Buffalo."  We go into why some fish are hated on, as well as why this is, mostly, unjust. We also go into how to catch and eat many of North America's least liked fish.  Get full access to To The Bone at tothebone.substack.com/subscribe

If Gene Wilder were a marine biologist, he'd be Milton Love. This episode is a fantastic conversation with one of the world's preeminent fish biologists, who also happens to be a really funny guy. We explore All Things Rockfish in this episode, and even if you're nowhere near the Pacific, you'll want to give this a listen.  Get full access to To The Bone at tothebone.substack.com/subscribe

Hunting rabbits was what first got me into hunting. I join Jonathan O'Dell of the Arizona Dept. of Game & Fish on a deep dive into the biology, lore, trivia, habits, hunting and yes, cooking any and all rabbit and hare species, of where there are many in North America.  Get full access to To The Bone at tothebone.substack.com/subscribe

A fun, spirited conversation with Lori McCarthy of Cod Sounds in Newfoundland, and Wade Truong of Elevated Wild in Virginia, all about cooking small game -- birds, rabbits, squirrels, and yep, we stray into big game, too. You asked for it, an all-cooking episode, and here it is!  Get full access to To The Bone at tothebone.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode we chase the desert quail of the American Southwest: Gambel's, Mearns (Montezuma) and scaled quail. I talk with hunter-biologist Kirby Bristow all about how to hunt these birds, and I share some cooking and cleaning tips at the end.  Get full access to To The Bone at tothebone.substack.com/subscribe

To many, the ruffed grouse is the king of all gamebirds. In this episode, I talk with hunter-biologists Rocky Gutierrez and Heather Shaw all about this amazing game bird, which ranges all the way from California to the Canadian Maritimes.  Get full access to To The Bone at tothebone.substack.com/subscribe

This episode concentrates on hunting wild turkeys in the fall, just in time for Thanksgiving. I talk with turkey hunting expert Tony Caggiano of World Slam Adventures not only about hunting turkeys all over North America, but also how to target autumn birds -- and then how to cook them.  Get full access to To The Bone at tothebone.substack.com/subscribe

I talk with the renowned game bird biologist Rocky Gutierrez about mountain quail and a whole lot more. Rocky is arguably the Yoda of game bird biology, with 175+ peer reviewed articles going back 45 years. He is a deep well of knowledge and also happens to be one of the leading experts on mountain quail, which is the ostensible topic of our talk -- but we go into a whole lot more.  Get full access to To The Bone at tothebone.substack.com/subscribe

Pheasants are by far the most popular upland game bird hunted in North America, and in this episode, Bob St. Pierre of Pheasants Forever, outdoor writer Chris Niskanen and I dig deep into the ditch parrot's biology, conservation status, hunting strategies -- both with and without a dog -- as well as gear and dog tips, and of course a lengthy discussion on how to cook these birds.  Get full access to To The Bone at tothebone.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode we talk woodcock... yes, juvenile jokes aside, this game bird is an icon of the Northeast as well as the Upper Midwest, and is both challenging and tasty. Project Upland's A.J. DeRosa and Covey Rise magazine's Matt Soberg join me for an in-depth discussion.  Get full access to To The Bone at tothebone.substack.com/subscribe

Scaled quail are a special species of quail that favors dry, dusty, grassy deserts dotted with yuccas. They are most common in west Texas and New Mexico, and I talk with biologist Ryan O'Shaughnessy of West Texas Outfitters -- yes, he's a PhD and an outfitter! -- about these birds.  Get full access to To The Bone at tothebone.substack.com/subscribe

The band-tailed pigeon is the last huntable native pigeon in the United States, and it is the closest relative to the extinct passenger pigeon. I talk with US Fish & Wildlife biologist Mark Seamans all about this iconic bird, from conservation to biology to hunting and cooking tips.  Get full access to To The Bone at tothebone.substack.com/subscribe

This episode of Hunt Gather Talk is all about spruce grouse, the grouse of the boreal forest. Joining me are biologist Bailey Petersen of the Minnesota Dept. of Natural Resources and filmmaker Kevin Kossowan of the Canadian TV show From the Wild. Get full access to To The Bone at tothebone.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode, I talk with biologist Ed Arnett of the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership all about sage grouse. Ed and I are acid bird hunters, and we go into depth about the conservation of this icon of the American West, as well as how to hunt them ethically given their declining populations.  Get full access to To The Bone at tothebone.substack.com/subscribe

Jorge Ramirez of Upland Jitsu and biologist Owen Fitzsimmons of the Texas Dept. of Parks and Wildlife join me for an in-depth discussion on all things dove: The habits and biology of the various species, hunting tips, the history of dove hunting -- and its controversial past -- as well as lots of information about prepping and cooking these tasty game birds.  Get full access to To The Bone at tothebone.substack.com/subscribe

Travis Warren of the Upchukar podcast is my guest on this deep dive into what I call "hateful gray birds," the chukar partridge of America's Great Basin. Hard to hunt, but worth it at the table, chukars are among America's most challenging upland game.  Get full access to To The Bone at tothebone.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode I'm talking with Rick Merizon and Forrest Bowers of the Alaska Dept. of Fish & Game about sooty grouse, the grouse that lives along the Pacific Coast from Alaska to California. This is the only grouse you can hunt in spring, up in Southeast Alaska.  Get full access to To The Bone at tothebone.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode, I talk with rail biologist Auriel Fournier and rail hunter Dave DiBenedetto, editor of the magazine Garden & Gun, all about these mysterious denizens of the marsh. One of the least hunted and least known gamebirds in America, there are four huntable rails: the Virginia rail, clapper rail, king rail and the sora.  Get full access to To The Bone at tothebone.substack.com/subscribe

This episode of Hank Shaw's Hunt Gather Talk podcast focuses on Great Plains grouse, the prairie chicken and the sharp-tailed grouse, with Marilyn Vetter. Get full access to To The Bone at tothebone.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode of Hunt Gather Talk, we are delving deep into Gentleman Bob, the bobwhite quail. we are paying special attention to why this iconic game bird is disappearing from part of its habitat. Get full access to To The Bone at tothebone.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode of Hunt Gather Talk, we are all about the wily Hungarian, or gray partridge. Often called the quail of the North, this is a challenging bird to hunt and a fantastic one to cook!  Get full access to To The Bone at tothebone.substack.com/subscribe

Episode 3 of Season Two of the Hunt Gather Talk podcast, this hour is all about snipe... yes, it's a real bird. I talk with Scott Lindars of Marshdoodle about the shorebird's biology, habitat, how to identify them, hunt them and, of course prepping and eating snipe.  Get full access to To The Bone at tothebone.substack.com/subscribe

Hank Shaw's podcast Hunt Gather Talk, Season Two. This episode is all about ptarmigan and Himalayan snowcock with Jim Millensifer of Kansas. Get full access to To The Bone at tothebone.substack.com/subscribe