Survival and Jerky

Jerky is great for survival. It’s high in protein, and it lasts a long time without refrigeration. All jerky isn’t equal, however, when it comes to its own survival. Beef jerky usually holds up the longest, especially if it’s made from lean beef. Jerky made from lean meat, in general, keeps for longer periods of time than jerky made from meats with a high fat content. Also, jerky that was made commercially almost always has a longer shelf life - up to a year - than homemade jerky. Another important point: jerky made from wild game won’t keep as long as jerky made from beef.

So, is it a big waste of time making your own venison jerky? Absolutely not! Making jerky from deer and other wild game animals is a great way to preserve some of the meat. Homemade jerky from deer, for example, will usually stay good for about three months at room temperature, when stored in a dark, cool, dry place. You can keep it a lot longer, however, if you store it in the freezer.

Freezing jerky is good for survival. Since most of the moisture has been removed in the drying process, jerky is a concentrated form of protein. It won’t take up nearly as much room in your freezer as the same amount of protein would in its normal state.