Podcast Summary: Live Wild with Remi Warren – Episode 190 | Grill Game

Title: Live Wild with Remi Warren
Host: Remi Warren
Episode: Ep. 190 | Grill Game
Release Date: July 3, 2025
Description: Remi Warren delves into his passion for grilling wild game, sharing comprehensive strategies for meat care in hot weather, efficient field processing, and transforming harvested game into delicious grilled dishes. This episode is a must-listen for hunters eager to master the entire journey from the hunt to the grill.

1. Introduction to Grilling Wild Game

Remi Warren opens the episode by celebrating the summer season and the upcoming hunting seasons for species like bugles, elk, and deer. He connects the excitement of hunting to the equally thrilling process of grilling the harvested game, emphasizing that the journey from the field to the grill begins long before the meat hits the barbecue.

Remi Warren [00:00]: "In this podcast, we relive some of my past adventures as I give you practical hunting tips to make you more successful."

2. Field Processing in Hot Weather

a. Importance of Pre-Planning

Remi underscores the critical nature of pre-planning when hunting in hot conditions. He shares his philosophy on maintaining meat quality despite high temperatures, stressing that success in keeping meat fresh hinges on preparation before the hunt begins.

Remi Warren [13:45]: "If you just show up on a hot hunt and you don't even think about that post-processing, then it's not going to go well for you."

b. Essential Equipment and Techniques

• Cooling the Meat: Remi emphasizes the necessity of immediately cooling the meat after harvesting. He advocates for using large yeti coolers filled with ice to promptly reduce the meat’s temperature.

  Remi Warren [18:30]: "If you have ice and you can keep it cold, the next step would be, you know, when you can hang in refrigeration or whatever, that's great."

• Keeping it Clean: Utilizing game bags and tarps is crucial to prevent dirt and bacteria from contaminating the meat. Remi shares his preference for lightweight survival tarps to create a clean processing environment.

  Remi Warren [24:50]: "You absolutely should have in your pack something to help out with that, like some kind of tarp."

• Handling Multiple Tags: When hunting with others, Remi advises delegating meat care responsibilities to ensure that the primary focus remains on preserving the meat’s quality.

  Remi Warren [35:20]: "When I'm hunting with someone, the meat's number one. So like, one guy goes and takes care of the meat and the other person, you know, can continue to hunt."

3. Efficient Meat Processing

a. Tools of the Trade

Remi highlights the importance of having the right processing equipment to streamline the butchering and preparation process:

• Grinders and Vacuum Sealers: Essential for creating burgers, brats, and sausages. Remi prefers high-quality grinders and chamber vacuum sealers to maintain meat freshness and texture.

  Remi Warren [42:15]: "If I was to pick two, it would be grinder and then a chamberback vacuum sealer."

• Knives: A sharp, high-quality knife is indispensable for safe and efficient butchering.

  Remi Warren [56:40]: "A good knife is key to that entire process. Having something that you're comfortable with, that's sharp, that stays sharp..."

b. Processing Techniques

• Quartering and Deboning: Quick quartering helps in cooling the meat effectively. For those proficient, Remi suggests deboning immediately to expedite the cooling process.

  Remi Warren [28:10]: "For guys that are real proficient at it, I just say, like, start skinning it. I cut down the back and I get that hide off the one side fast."

• Batch Processing: Processing in large batches, such as preparing multiple pounds of jerky or summer sausage, enhances efficiency and ensures a consistent supply of ready-to-cook meat.

  Remi Warren [47:00]: "I just did a ton of jerky, ton of summer sauce. I love summer sausage. So I just did a 40-pound batch of summer sausage."

4. From Processing to Grilling

a. Making Brats and Burgers

Remi provides a step-by-step guide on preparing brats and burgers, highlighting the ease and satisfaction of creating your own seasoned game patties:

• Grinding: Combining venison with pork fat (about 10%) to ensure juicy patties.

  Remi Warren [52:30]: "I add about 10% pork fat to it. I like that extra bit of fat... keeps it from drying out."

• Seasoning and Binding: Using a blend of kosher salt, white pepper, mace, nutmeg, allspice, ginger, marjoram, mustard powder, onion powder, garlic powder, and egg whites for binding.

  Remi Warren [55:00]: "One of the things that I did is I add five egg whites as a binder, so one per pound."

• Forming Patties: Utilizing a burger patty press to create uniform patties that can be frozen for convenience.

  Remi Warren [58:20]: "I'll put them in that burger patty press, put one on the bottom, one on the top, grab a piece, and then I put that in the freezer."

b. Cooking Tips

• Freezing and Defrosting: Freezing patties allows for easy, ready-to-grill options during gatherings.

  Remi Warren [1:02:10]: "I freeze the burger patties. Pre-made patties are super easy because I just pull them out pre-made."

• Versatile Cooking Methods: From grilling to air frying, Remi shares various methods to prepare the sausages to suit different preferences.

  Remi Warren [1:03:30]: "You could even just have people in there and be like, hey, we're gonna make some brats tomorrow. Let's put them on the grill."

5. Advanced Processing: Sausage Making

Remi delves into the art of making fresh sausages, breaking down the process to demystify it for listeners:

• Ingredients and Equipment: Detailed list of necessary ingredients and tools, including hog casings, to ensure a successful sausage-making experience.

  Remi Warren [1:07:45]: "You simply need a sausage stuffer. If you're going full into it, you need a grinder or have ground meat and then a mixer."

• Seasoning Variations: Encouraging experimentation with different seasonings to create unique flavors tailored to personal or guest preferences.

  Remi Warren [1:10:00]: "Let me make you some brats with a little bit of teriyaki sauce and pineapple in it. It's a lot of fun in the summertime."

6. Essential Tools and Gear

Remi takes a moment to highlight the importance of quality gear in both processing and cooking:

• Knives from Montana Knife Company: Recommending specific knives that enhance the butchering and cooking process, ensuring efficiency and safety.

  Remi Warren [1:15:20]: "Montana Knife Company makes some awesome stuff. Especially as we're talking about cooking, processing, butchering, a good knife is key to that entire process."

7. Closing Remarks and Future Plans

Remi wraps up the episode by expressing his enthusiasm for upcoming hunting seasons and meat processing projects. He hints at future content focused on elk hunting tactics and teases a significant announcement for the listeners.

Remi Warren [1:19:00]: "August, we're going to kick off as elk month... I have something that I'm very, very excited about... think it'll be next week or the week after."

Key Takeaways:

• Pre-Planning is Crucial: Effective meat care in hot weather starts long before the hunt. Proper equipment and strategies are essential to prevent spoilage.

• Equip Yourself Properly: Investing in quality processing tools like grinders and vacuum sealers can streamline the butchering process and enhance meat preservation.

• Hands-On Processing: Remi encourages hunters to engage in processing their own game, sharing practical tips to make the process enjoyable and efficient.

• Versatile Cooking Methods: Preparing game meat in forms like brats and burgers offers flexibility for cooking, making it easy to serve at gatherings.

• Continuous Learning: Remi emphasizes the importance of refining processing techniques through experience and utilizing the right gear to elevate the quality of the final product.

This episode serves as a comprehensive guide for hunters eager to ensure their game meat remains fresh and flavorful, culminating in enjoyable grilling sessions. Whether you're a novice or a seasoned hunter, Remi's insights provide valuable strategies to enhance your hunting and cooking experience.