Hunting down that wild game resource is not easy and often not legal. Best to become a hunter or fisherman yourself or close friends with one. Most wild game domestically is not usually wild but "free range" ranched or farmed and from reputable dealers, USDA inspected. Most exotic imports are best to buy with a USDA inspection triangle. For animals and birds that fall outside mandatory guidelines the USDA has a volunteer program. If herds such as elk, bison or deer are not managed herds, there is no real way to determine the health of the bird or animal and doesn't qualify for USDA inspection. The Laws for Agriculture are much like Liquor and though under Federal guidelines vary greatly from state to state. Fresh wild rattle snake is sold legally during round-ups in Georgia and Oklahoma but cannot be shipped over state lines and is not USDA inspected. The same is true for certain deer, elk and bison roundups though increasingly these are readily available from managed herds.

Fish is the only wild food commonly found in markets across the nation though more and more often fish, oysters, mussels and even frog legs are managed or domesticated groups.

If purchasing domesticated, free range or managed wild game through the internet check companies inspection record through the USDA website. If purchasing or trading with a local fisherman or hunters be familiar with processor, field dressing methods used and local laws. We don't have a lot of wild game left in America and limits and seasons are set to help manage what we do have left.

For more information on regulations from the USDA
http://www.fsis.usda.gov/Help/FAQs-TSC_notice15-06 /index.asp

Best wild game cookbooks
"Joy of Cooking" any edition before 1944
"Wild about Game: 150 Recipes for Cooking Farm Raised and Wild Game-From Alligator and Antelope to Venison and Wild Turkey.

Here are the web links to two of the most reputable farm raised wild game purveyors
http://www.D'artagnon.com
http://www.Brokenarrowranch.com

Learn more about this author, Betsy Young.
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