Life In A Longhunter's Camp

Life in camp wasn't necessarily chewing on jerky or making Johnny Cakes in the glowing coals of your camp fire. A longhunter camp must meet the immediate needs of the weary frontier trekker but is also a time to take stock of the day, and see to the necessary chores and routine repairs necessary for the next day's travel.

It is important to remember that conservation was a constant theme for the longhunter. On a trek, one needed to conserve energy and portable foodstuffs, in addition to conserving powder and shot. It would make sense for  lone hunter to set a snare in the hopes of catching a small mammal, such as a rabbit.

Barking: I included this video on cooking a single serving animal such as a rabbit, which might serve two trekkers if accompanied by a Johnny Cake. The squirrel is probably a single serving item, though I think it would make for a lean meal. Tradition has it that squirrels were "barked", or shot indirectly. I looked it up, and found a black powder forum that had a thread on barking. To quote one contributor:

"...I understand how people like brains, but on a squirrel, they amount to less than 1/2 a teaspoon, and that is not worth the bother, IMHO. Brains are Sweet tasting, for those who have never eaten them. In poor areas without ready sources of sugar, or sorghum, brains were about the only part of a diet that were sweet..."

What's a Johnny Cake? Click here.