In the winter of 1985 I was driving through the Mojave Desert with a friend, talking about our apparent need for new river gear. As we passed the Twenty Nine Palms Marine Base, a man unexpectedly appeared on the side of the road selling used ammo cans. My friend and I laughed wildly and quickly came to realize that the moment was "All In A Days' Karma". This blog contains the occasional ramblings of a died-in-the-wool westerner who loves seeing, understanding, and being alive upon these landscapes. I cherish the moments of bliss and irony that come to all of us as we explore the planet and its residents (and perhaps visitors) in the short time we are here.

Monday, April 4, 2011

Lifetime Desire Met!

Everywhere you go in the southwest, symbols and images of Bighorn sheep are prevalent. And in many wildlife reserves and parks, wild bighorn roam the landscape. So imagine my surprise and delight in being able to savor the meat of this wild icon while attending an event in Flagstaff on Saturday, April 2! It was a dream come true. A friend of mine is an avid hunter and was able to obtain some bighorn meat recently from a colleague who had a successful hunt.

I have always been curious as to why those ancient ones were so enamored of this species. They painted so many sheep on the walls of their canyon homes - much more than the corn, beans, and squash that completed their diet. At the Flagstaff feast wild quail breasts and tiny drumsticks, elk meat, and venison were also served. And to be honest, I could not tell the difference between the elk, venison or bighorn. In fact, had no one told me that we were tasting wild game, I might not have have thought it was anything but beef.

All of the varieties (except the quail) were cut into 1 inch squares, lightly breaded, and skewered before roasting. It was like eating bighorn nuggets!

I know that some people may be aghast at such blatant hedonism. Not everyone may have a desire to taste wild game. But for me, this was a welcome rite of passage. Bighorn numbers are well managed and thriving in the southwest.

I have finally tasted the meat of Bighorn! My primal male curiosity is satisfied. Yum!


If this post does not "meet" to your liking, watch this hilarious video instead about the benefits of eating red meat.