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Possums are very popular as survival food. They are easy to cook and some people claim that they taste quite good. So, the short answer is – yes, you can indeed stick your fork in some possum steak.
But here’s the caveat – you must know how to cook this meat correctly. If you are truly interested in how to catch one (make sure it’s legal in your area) and how to prepare the meat, we’ve got you covered.
Where Do I Find Possums?
Depending on where you live, you need to do the research to find out whether these animals are local or not. Wherever you find them, however, keep in mind that they are very fast. The trick is to lure them closer properly and they will be on your plate in no time.
You mostly find possums in trees. If you are not careful, you might find something else instead of a possum. Chances are you might end up catching a skunk instead! Moreover, you cannot use a torch as this will alert the possum and scare it away.
You should set up traps that are designed to lure possums only. Set more than one trap so that at least of them catches the right prey. Once again, make sure that setting traps are legal in the area where you are hunting – otherwise, you might get arrested and charged with poaching. Indeed, in some parts of the world, it is highly illegal to trap, keep or kill a possum.
How Safe is Possum Meat?
Possum meat is edible, sure. But you need to keep in mind that these animals are wild critters that eat almost everything. The chances are that the one you catch might’ve recently consumed something you find gross and would never want in your system. Indeed, possums think nothing of living out of trash cans for months.
Therefore, once you have managed to catch a possum, keep it alive for one or two days and provide it with a diet of corn only. This will get all the unwanted foods out of its system, after which you can rest assured that the meat will be safer for consumption.
Are Possums Easy to Catch?
Possums are fast and clever. You might lose patience after a while because they just don’t come into your hands that easily. Even if you catch them and keep them trapped for one or two days, you will realize that they are quite hard to kill.
What’s The Worst Danger Linked to Possum Meat?
The biggest problem with consuming possum meat is that you risk giving yourself tuberculosis.
TB is a common problem associated with possums. There is no solution to this issue, and that is why even experienced possum hunters can become infected.
The best way to ensure that your possum meat is free from this disease is to skin it properly. Thorough skinning gives you an idea of the animal’s state of health. If you find signs of ill health, say goodbye to your catch. If you end up eating the meat anyway, you will surely get TB.
One way to tell if the animal has the disease is to check if its arms and legs are normal. A possum suffering from TB has large swollen areas under the arms and in the groin area. In some cases, the swelling can grow to the size of a golf ball.
Advantages of Eating Possums
Once you are sure there are no problems with your prey and it looks healthy and clean enough, you are in for a nice delicious feast. As mentioned above, make sure the possum is corn-fed for at least two days.
Once that is covered, you can start preparing your meal. Certain methods will help you cook a possum in the right way. By doing so, you get to enjoy soft meat that is rich in proteins and also has the right amounts of fat.
Don’t worry; the fat found in the possum is not unhealthy for you. You are not going to lose your hard-earned body. Possums contain fats that are good for your health. They provide energy and keep you active for a long time.
Various possum lovers suggest that by cooking the animal for more than ninety minutes on a low flame, you can make it taste somewhat like a lamb!
The real reason why people are so crazy about possums is that they taste delicious. Their meat is quite distinct and has a softness you can’t compare with any other meat.
A Quick Summary
Possums are a good catch if you are ever able to catch them. In case you are a newbie, you will not be able to catch them unless you have a whole plan prepared and a team in position to assist you.
The advantage of catching a possum on your own is that you know exactly what kind of meat it has, based on its diet of the last few days. Make sure to go through each point mentioned above so that you know how to eat a possum the right way.