Bobcat Barbacoa

Bobcat meat is very similar to that of pork. It holds many of the same textures and flavors that pork holds. It’s mild, lean and tender when cooked correctly. It takes on any flavor you introduce to it, this is why slow cooking it, really is the best way.

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There is this misconception that we can’t or shouldn’t eat bobcats, coyotes and other such animals because they are predators and meat eaters. I’m here to tell you we can eat such animals and should if you kill them at least try it. I always respond to fellow hunters or negative naysayers when they say “Don’t eat that because it eats meat.” I ask the simple question. “Do you eat fish? chicken or turkey? do you eat pig?”. All of these creatures eat meat. It’s been said that if fish had legs we would all be doomed because they are such aggressive predators.

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Another misconception is that Bobcats are a scavenger animal, which is true in some cases, but for the most part they are opportunist hunters. They prefer to stalk and kill its in their DNA. If they are found scavenging a kill it will be within the first 24 hours of its death. This is why so many hunters who are trying to manage game on property kill coyotes and bobcats, because they HUNT! They eat eggs, quail, turkey, deer fawns, fish and other creatures. We need to get beyond the EWW factor and eat what we kill.

In India they don’t eat cows because they have risen them to a level of godhood. They place them on a higher playing field than human life. While visiting India I was told you go to prison for 3-7 years for killing a human, but could go to jail for 10-life for killing a cow. Though here in the states we raise, slaughter and grill them up med-rare with a side of mashed without even thinking of what that cow looked liked.

In the same way in the US we have placed many species on this very same field that India has placed their cow. We view them as pets and as equals. There was a study done were more people helped an animal that was in trouble over a human in the same situation. He have cats and dogs as pets, they sleep on our beds and eat better food than most in third world countries. Yet in other parts of the world cats and dogs are raised to be eaten just like we do cows, sheep and pigs.

I’m not here to preach I am simple here to show you that if you kill it, you eat it. Meat is Meat and it’s that simple.

Let us get down to the real reason you are here and some helpful tips on cooking up that Bobcat.

Brine:

Why should we brine bobcat?

Bobcat can tend to be a very tight muscled meat. This firmness can cause it to be super tough when cooked. By brining you are allowing the meat to rest and the muscle tissue itself to loosen with the introduction of liquid.  Another reason we brine them if to help leach out any blood that is still in the meat. Again being such a stiff muscular animal they blood tends to linger and in turn can give the meat a “Wild” taste to it, much more so then you’d like.

Below is a simple brine i do on most of my game animals.

• Fill ice chest with 50% ice and 50% water
• add 1/4 cup salt to every gallon of water
• submerge meat in mixture and brine for 12-36 hours.
• if brining longer than 12 hours change mixture every 12 hours to introduce clean liquid and remove blood from water.
• I do my bobcats and coyotes for 36 hours and it works beautifully.

Here is a killer recipe to create using any wild game animal especially your Bobcat and Coyotes.

Bobcat Barbacoa

Ingredients:
2 Bobcat hams (hind ends)
½ cup cilantro, chopped
1 cup red onion, sliced
3 chipotle in adobo sauce, chopped
2 cups game stock or chicken
2 jalapenos, chopped
2 limes, juiced
8 oz of green chilies
6 cloves garlic, minced
1 tablespoon cracked pepper
1 teaspoon cumin
1 teaspoon dried oregano
Pinch of salt
4oz can tomato paste
½ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)

Directions:

1. Mix pepper, cumin, oregano, salt and red pepper. Rub mixture evenly on all sides of Bobcat roast
2. Turn crockpot to high and add remaining ingredients, mix together
3. Add bobcat to mixture and put lid on and walk away for 8-10 hours
4. Enjoy the amazing smell from your kitchen every time you enter the house
5. After 8-10 hours of cooking remove bobcat and place in large glass bowl, with two forks shred meat
6. Add meat back to liquid in crockpot and mix together
7. Remove from crockpot place on your favorite tortilla and cover in your favorite toppings