Got hired by a buddy of mine that runs a small outfitter/guide service in the Davis Mountains, for aoudad/elk hunts on a couple ranches out that way, to be a camp cook for his upcoming hunt he has. The group has no food allergies of any kind and absolutely zero food requests. They told my buddy "surprise us", when he asked about food. I have a meal list I put together.

Are there any things on the list that you would take off or anything missing from the list you would add? Side note, the outfitter is the one that told me to cook jalapeño poppers before every evening meal. Not my idea, but whatever he wants me to do I guess.

That would be the best eating I've ever done on a hunt so I have nothing to add. I ate frozen corn dog bites that I microwaved on the last hunt.

Several places I've been, lunch is basically a buffet. Several breads, lunch. Meat and cheese selection, various single portion chips, crackers, cookies, fruit, soft drinks, water. Hunter puts together their own lunch.

Sounds like they will eat lunch on top of mountain while hunting. That is why I'm trying to come up with something easily packable to eat out of the bed of the Can-Am while still glassing for sheep.

Nothing to add onto the food list

How much does a hunt like that run? I know the elk is pricey, but for sure curious on an aoudad hunt like that. Feel free to share the outfitter if you don't mind

I honestly don't know his pricing on hunts. Other hunts I've seen advertised seem to go for +/-4-6k for free range hunts. The high end seems to be in mountain country in far west Texas, the lower end of pricing seems to be canyon country in southwest TX like Val Verde County around the Devils and Pecos Rivers.

TNT Outfitters is my buddies business. He also owns TNT Game processing. Based out of San Angelo.

Deerdude said:

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Several places I've been, lunch is basically a buffet. Several breads, lunch. Meat and cheese selection, various single portion chips, crackers, cookies, fruit, soft drinks, water. Hunter puts together their own lunch.

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I agree with this. Have plenty of variety for single serving packaged chips, crackers, cookies, nuts, candy etc along with different cheeses, lunch meats, breads and condiments and let the hunters make their own sandwich at the hunting location. No one wants a soggy sandwich that was made 7 hours prior, when they can easily do that themselves at lunch time. Plus the crackers, nuts, chips etc make for a nice snack when being out all day. Also, buy name brand stuff, not off brands it adds to the perception of quality of the operation. People paying thousands of dollars for a hunt appreciate Coke and Dr. Pepper vs HEB Diet Cola and Sam's Dr. Thunder.

I don't drink sodas any more, but when I did, I was definitely a name brand snob.

Definitely not gonna cheap out on anything, hope to impress all involved, so I can have a paid gig to get out to the mountains and cook/help guide hunts all the time.

Damn, I haven't eaten yet today and that makes me hungry reading that. I think it looks great. Maybe cook up some shi****o peppers as an appetizer for one of the dinners. Those are easy and always a hit.

Edit to say, I don't know why that word is blocked.

S h i s h I t o

Shrimp etouffee is easy to make, and then if anyone kills you can cube some backstrap and make some apps.

I went home and pigged out at lunch thanks to this thread.

wheelz said:

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Shrimp touffe is easy to make, and then if anyone kills you can cube some backstrap and make some apps.

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Skrimp and doo-dad etouffe?

JK. That is what I read at first and the mental image of the hunters being served a bowl of it was too much. I could see their faces now.

Recommend B-1's beans for side. Also prefer bagels over bread for sandwiches as they hold up better in a pack. Just my 2.

A killer homemade chimichurri on steak night will only set you back about $2. And it can be epic.

Great menu...would not add a thing.

I will use this opportunity to moan about poppers being the appetizer every night at virtually every event with a pit. Love them but they are typically greasy and filling. Can definitely distract from the main course. I would not want them 2-3 nights in a row.

/unpopularrant

I'm on board with you on it being overkill having poppers 3 nights in a row. I like them but not that much. I'll have other things to snack on for apps. Mainly due to the fact that I don't want to **** fire on the side of a mountain all weekend.

If you can make some good chili, I'd have a big pot hot the whole time in case somebody doesn't like something or wants a snack

Just did this last night. Splurged on a nice tri tip, served with a homemade chimichurri and fresh sourdough. Served 7 grown men for about fourty bucks all in

Great suggestion

sammies are great for lunch….. but summer sausage sliced and ziplocked along with some cheese and crackers is great also…. bonus points if you wrangle up venison summer sausage.
Ps not sure about your crowd but the crowd I hunt with has a couple fellas that will spend more time the next day squatting over a hole in the ground than they do hunting if they indulge on too many poppers

The guy that hired me has a processing company as well. He makes really badass summer sausage and all sorts of other good stuff. He told me he had all that covered!

Sounds like a heck of a meal plan for a hunting trip!

There would not be enough toilet paper in the county if I ate poppers every night. *That's because I love them and I am a dumba&& and would eat everyone you made.

If you're doing poppers every dinner change the poppers up a little. One night do cream cheese, one night do shrimp, one night do boudin, etc.

The rest of the menu looks really good.

Should add the OB Pinto Beans in there somewhere

Add some other side or veggie to dinner each night. Grilled veggies are easy and quick. Don't soak in butter. Just a lighter side for people that do t want heavy.

I have been a guide for a high end deer/elk ranch for the past 19 years. Your menu is great and very similar to meals prepared by the chef. Good luck and enjoy the trip.

Meals sound great. I agree with bassmaster07 that it would be good to have some healthy vegetables and a salad with each dinner. Also some fresh fruit and muffins for breakfast. I love to eat well, but I think most will want some variety over the three days.

Dirty-8-thirty Ag said:

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wheelz said:

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Shrimp touffe is easy to make, and then if anyone kills you can cube some backstrap and make some apps.

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Skrimp and doo-dad etouffe?

JK. That is what I read at first and the mental image of the hunters being served a bowl of it was too much. I could see their faces now.

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LOL it won't post etouffee with the accents.

Congratulations on landing the audition and good luck with it I hope it works out for both of you, and it sounds like a great opportunity to get out into the field/mountains. The menu seems pretty good, and some of the more healthy minded suggestions should add a lot.

I would do a charcuterie board one night instead of poppers. Also I would add some fresh fruit for bkfst and lunch. It would definitely be appreciated.

That is already on the menu for Friday night apps before steaks.

So this is pretty new to me. My sister is a charc board enthusiast and makes them all the time so I've had them quite a few times.

This is what I have worked up for the charc. board. Ran it by my sister and she said it seemed "totally fine". No clue if she was just being nice, or if she was busy or if it is actually a decent spread.

Am I way off on the selection of items?

Just my personal preference but I'd go away from Ritz and add some cheddar cheese

Man that's dynamite and going to make a hell of a spread. Agreed with the above, I would replace Ritz with some water crackers but everything else looks good.

I do not understand the hatred of Ritz, but I would keep them as an option. People will definitely be pissing outdoors and likely ****ting outdoors given the propensity of jalapeno poppers on the menu so they aren't too good for a RItz cracker.

TAMUallen said:

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Just my personal preference but I'd go away from Ritz and add some cheddar cheese

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Saw a great tshirt. Said" Titz on a Ritz. Mmm, good cracker.