Uploaded January 2026 | Updated September 2026, 51 minutes ago
Long before electricity and food preservatives, our ancestors knew how to preserve meat without refrigerating it. All over the world, meat has been smoked and dried to make it shelf stable for months. Much of this ancestral knowledge is lost today but these food preservation methods are still as viable today as they were many thousands of years ago. In this wilderness survival skills video I build a primitive smoker (as well as show how to NOT build one), cut and prepare deer meat for smoking, and smoke and dry an entire deer. Knowing how to preserve food for long term storage is one of those wilderness life skills essentials to survival in the absence of our current food distribution network. In previous videos I've shown how to air dry meat, like biltong and jerky, which is a great method. But in cool damp weather, smoking and drying meat is a much better option.
The folks below are a HUGE part of what makes these videos possible! Please show'em some love! If you use the links below they'll know where ya came from!
Montana Knife Co. - alnk.to/hDswDFv
Kifaru Backpacks & Gear (been using these packs for 5 years) - alnk.to/881gcQI
I've got my archery supplies from these guys for decades! - 3riversarchery.com
I've carried these Vortex binos everywhere! - alnk.to/e79Q0z6
Been wearing FirstLite since 2009! - firstlite.pxf.io/gOQQdg
Camera Gear - amzn.to/47HZFrz
Other random gear I frequently use - amzn.to/3u6H0If
Surviving Alone by Clay Hayes - amzn.to/3Qqou3l
You can also connect with me on my other media outlets!
Website: twistedstave.com
Facebook: facebook.com/clayhayeshunter
Instagram: instagram.com/clayhayeshunter
Patreon: patreon.com/clayhayes
Long before electricity and food preservatives, our ancestors knew how to preserve meat without refrigerating it. All over the world, meat has been smoked and dried to make it shelf stable for months. Much of this ancestral knowledge is lost today but these food preservation methods are still as viable today as they were many thousands of years ago. In this wilderness survival skills video I build a primitive smoker (as well as show how to NOT build one), cut and prepare deer meat for smoking, and smoke and dry an entire deer. Knowing how to preserve food for long term storage is one of those wilderness life skills essentials to survival in the absence of our current food distribution network. In previous videos I've shown how to air dry meat, like biltong and jerky, which is a great method. But in cool damp weather, smoking and drying meat is a much better option.
The folks below are a HUGE part of what makes these videos possible! Please show'em some love! If you use the links below they'll know where ya came from!
Montana Knife Co. - alnk.to/hDswDFv
Kifaru Backpacks & Gear (been using these packs for 5 years) - alnk.to/881gcQI
I've got my archery supplies from these guys for decades! - 3riversarchery.com
I've carried these Vortex binos everywhere! - alnk.to/e79Q0z6
Been wearing FirstLite since 2009! - firstlite.pxf.io/gOQQdg
Camera Gear - amzn.to/47HZFrz
Other random gear I frequently use - amzn.to/3u6H0If
Surviving Alone by Clay Hayes - amzn.to/3Qqou3l
You can also connect with me on my other media outlets!
Website: twistedstave.com
Facebook: facebook.com/clayhayeshunter
Instagram: instagram.com/clayhayeshunter
Patreon: patreon.com/clayhayes
