Q&A with Lydia Strohl and Tanner Henderson
What's been your most memorable meal cooked in the field, and what made it special?
The first bird we ever shot over our dog Hutch was a sharp-tailed grouse in Eastern Montana. We were camping that night and made fajitas with the birds. The meal was really quite simple, but it was special because it symbolized the start of an amazing adventure we were about to embark on with our first bird dog.
Can you walk us through your field cooking setup? What essential equipment do you always pack and what have you learned to leave behind?
Must-Haves:
- 1 good sharp knife
- Cutting board
- 1 Cast Iron pan
- Good hot sauce
- Olive oil
- A few of the spices you cook with the most. Mine are salt, pepper, garlic powder, ancho chili powder, and cumin. I put a good amount of each spice into a small baggie and stuff them all in a jar and keep them in our cooking box.
- 2 lighters (you will definitely lose one at some point)
- MSR and extra fuel always stays in our cooking box in case we can't get a fire going
- Aluminum foil
Leave Behind: More than one cooking utensil– tongs can really do just about everything you need.
How do your dogs factor into your field cooking routine?
They always get a bite of whatever we’re cooking!
How does cooking in the field enhance your overall hunting experience compared to waiting until you get home?
I love cooking outside. It's fun to pack up all your cooking stuff and go enjoy a meal in a beautiful place. It's one of my favorite hobbies!
When we cook, we always talk about the highlights of the day and take a moment to soak in the surroundings instead of going home and immediately jumping back into our normal routine. Even though we do it almost every weekend during hunting season, spending the weekend hunting and camping feels like a mini vacation to me. It's a really awesome connection to your food to be able to go out and harvest birds, cook them, and eat them all in the same place.
What are some of your favorite things to cook in the field?
Tacos: We’re big taco people, and we make a lot of salsa and guacamole in the field.
Soups: Our favorite is a pheasant and wild rice soup, but you can use any kind of bird. It’s such a cozy meal for those colder hunting days.
Kabobs: Easy to prep and put together in the field.
Stir fry or curry: Two of our go-to meals since they’re easy to put together after a long day of hunting. Good curry paste is key– our favorite is Maesri Thai Green Curry Paste.
Lydia’s personal favorite: A dutch oven chocolate chip cookie
Want more meal ideas to cook up after a hunt? Check out some of our favorite recipes here.
