Game Preparation & Cooking Course

Learn how to and get hands on experience of gutting, skinning & plucking!

Course Description

On this course we will take you through the process of identifying if your game is fit for consumption, how to prepare each animal for cooking and use some of the cuts to create simple but hearty campfire meals. We will also discuss the history and uses of the various non meat parts of the animal and talk about the processes our ancestors would have employed to make as much use of the animal as possible.

The day will be very much hands on and we will ensure the kettle is on to keep everyone topped up with brews.

Subjects Covered:

  • Benefits of game meat from a healthy eating and pest control objective.

  • Seasons: what can be hunted, when and by whom.

  • Checking the animal is fit for consumption.

  • Hygiene: making sure we are preparing food in a hygienic way in the outdoors needs a degree of thought and care!

  • Wood Pigeon: learn about the bird, how to identify it, what it eats, internal organs specific to most birds, specifics to look out for with birds that have been shot. You will then have a demo of preparing the bird, first with a knife then without tools. The meat will then be made ready for flash frying with elderberry balsamic and served in bread rolls with selected greens for lunch.

  • Rabbit: learn about the animal, its history, identification of disease, gutting, skinning and the uses of the skins, jointing the meat and suitable ways of cooking. The meat may be used for our final meal or you may take it way with you (bring some sealable food boxes or bags).

  • Deer: learn about the different animals, their history, what is gralloching? Then we will work on the skinning and prepare the skin for tanning while some of the group start on the jointing. We will look at selected prime cuts of meat and de bone as much as possible, the bones will be kept for use on other courses (using as much of the animal as possible).

  • Game Dinner: as a finale we will make a hearty game casserole to celebrate the animals and the day.

  • Bring: a plate, cutlery and mug, we will provide hot drinks throughout the day.

  • Note: due to the nature of game being wild animals and not farmed we cannot guarantee all the above will be available but if not a suitable substitute will be provided.

Suitable for:

This course is aimed at adults and accompanied mid / late teens.

  • I have attended Game prep course and Wild food course 2023. Peter and Nicky made us all feel welcome. Peter was knowledgeable and nothing was too much trouble for him. It was a lovely to spend time in nice company of lovely people, cooking on fire, drinking tea and sharing life experiences. Food was delicious too. Highly recommend.

    Miroslava Palkova

  • My son and I had a brilliant day on the game preparation course. We learnt the principals of fish, fowl & mammal preparation, through mostly hands on learning. Each animal was expertly explained before the practical and we were guided as a team throughout. The Red Oak team were great with my son, I will be exploring the other offerings from Red Oak in the future.

    Simon Wilson

  • My lovely wife surprised me for my birthday with a one-day game preparation course with Red Oaks Bushcrafts. Pre-course communication from the owner Peter was excellent, from the itinerary for the day, recommended kit list and medical/dietary requirements discussions to detailed information for locating the venue. The course was set in lovely woodland and Peter's camp set-up was wonderfully rustic and relaxing with better than expected toilet facilities. On arrival the participants were warmly greeted by the instructors, and the kettle was already boiling over a small fire ready for hot beverages. After introductions, camp familiarisation and a brief overview of the day, the group quickly got stuck in to the subject of the course. It was very hands-on and there was enough game to go around for everyone to have a go with each species covered. The level of interaction seemed just right. Participants were left to get on with each task but the instructors were always on hand to answer questions or assist where necessary. Hygiene standards were very high with hands and all implements and surfaces thoroughly cleaned between each activity. Timings for the day seemed well planned. Activities blended seamlessly with meal times and the kettle was always at the ready for a fresh brew. When not engrossed in an activity, the group discussed various bushcraft topics where we benefitted greatly from the knowledge of our instructors. Peter even threw in a bonus short walk through the woods to impart his wisdom on various aspects of the local flora and fauna. I found the course to be extremely enjoyable, informative, interactive and valuable. And after fond farewells, the icing on the cake was leaving with a sizeable quantity of venison for the freezer! If the rest of Red Oaks Bushcrafts' courses are anything like this one, I have no hesitation in recommending them.

    Dave Humpleby

  • Was on this course and all I can say if you dont do it, you are missing out on life changing skills, fabulous food, great company, wonderful surroundings and instructors who go way above and beyond the course criteria. Didnt want to come home and god willing they will see me again, GREAT DAY LOVED IT .

    Philip Craig

  • Outstanding quality of teaching. Couldn't recommend them enough as a provider. Professional and highly skilled but also great people and enjoyably funny. Will definitely be booking again, even with the three hours drive away.

    David Pegg

Course Details

Location: Peak District

Course Length: One Day

Start/End: 10.00-17.00

Max Course Size: 8

Price: £75

Course Dates

Click on the date to book your space:

  • Great value for money, when you saw what the kids learnt and how much fun we all had.

    I thought it was pitched brilliantly for the age of the children, more challenging and more involved than I was expecting and much better for it. The way you managed to get 7 children all safely having a go at starting their own fires... meanwhile the big fire getting toasty for the marshmallows etc, the perfect way to end a party. We could have had fun for 4 hours easily, it felt a shame to end.

    Gail

  • I had a great time on the Level 1 Bushcraft course!

    The weather was miserable but Peter was attentive and good humoured, always had a brew on over the fire and made sure that the activities could be done under the canopy as well as in the rain!

    Learnt lots of new skills and Peter told us about the benefits of various trees and bushes without it being dry. Peter also took photos and gave us access to the box so we could re-live the memories from the comfort of the sofa! I hope his new woodland offers even more!

    Hannah, Introduction to Bushcraft 1 day course

  • Thank you so much for today. It was wonderful - I don't think it could have been better.

    Callum was going to phone you to say thank you but he fell asleep!!

    Laura Hill, Introduction to Bushcraft Day

  • Bushcraft isn’t all about fire but we all know that’s the most rewarding skill to learn; I have since gone on to make fire by bow drill on my own after this course!

    I was bought a day course from my sister for a Christmas present to attend Red Oak Bushcraft day course and I only have positive praise for the course and Peter, the instructor. The course was organised but relaxed and Peter was never far away to offer advice when required. I learnt a lot for a relatively short Bushcraft course.

    Graham Chesterfield, Introduction to Bushcraft 1 day course

  • All of the students were super proud of themselves because they could light fire without matches and told their teachers and friends how it’s done!

    M Lomas, Buxton Community School, Introduction to Bushcraft Day

  • You were brilliant company, and a brilliant bush craft aficionado!

    Just wanted to say thank you so much for such a fantastic day!! We all enjoyed every minute of it - both us adults the bigger kids and even Gracie! The kids started the fires each night in our cottage with the fire steels and we all now are professional fire starters so thanks for those skills too!

    Kirsty Collings, Family Bushcraft Day

  • A really fun way to spend some quality family time, thanks!

    We went on a fantastic family bushcraft day with Red Oak Bushcrafts. It was really well paced day that the whole family (my wife & I and our 2 children aged 6 & 7) thoroughly enjoyed. The kids were never bored and stayed well engaged while we felt that we were also learning something worthwhile.

    John Hobson, Family Bushcraft Day

  • The brownies had a great time firelighting in the woods!

    They had to use their communication and teamwork skills to enable them to light their own little fires. After the initial whole group instruction, the leaders took the time to show each group how to practice and develop their firelighting skills. It was a very informal setting but they still covered literacy and numeracy skills and also re-enforced manners from the brownies! The brownies got to toast their marshmallows at the end and sing a campfire song. Definitely be back!

    Brown Owl Methodist Brownies, Buxton, Private Booking

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