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Finding Fish and Game for Emergency Food

Quick Summary​

When plant foods aren't enough or available, animal protein becomes essential. This guide covers safe methods to catch fish, trap small game, and prepare protein sources during extended emergencies or off-grid situations.

Why This Matters​

During extended power outages, supply chain disruptions, or while camping in remote areas, you may need to supplement your food supplies. Animal protein provides essential fats and complete proteins that plant foods often lack. These techniques work when:

  • You're camping or hiking and run low on supplies
  • Natural disasters disrupt food distribution for weeks
  • You're living off-grid and need to supplement stored food
  • Emergency situations require extended self-reliance

Safe Protein Sources​

Mollusks (Shellfish)​

Freshwater and saltwater shellfish like snails, clams, mussels, and periwinkles are found worldwide and relatively easy to gather.

Where to Look:

  • Fresh water: Shallow areas with sandy or muddy bottoms
  • Salt water: Tidal pools, wet sand, rocks along beaches
  • Signs: Dark trails in mud, open shell valves

Preparation: Steam, boil, or bake mollusks in their shells. They make excellent stews when combined with edible plants.

Important Safety
  • Never eat shellfish from areas with red tide
  • Avoid shellfish not covered by water at high tide
  • In tropical zones, avoid mussels during summer months

Fish - Your Best Protein Option​

Fish offer several advantages: they're usually abundant, catching methods are quiet, and they provide excellent protein and fats.

Fish Behavior Tips:

  • Feed heavily before storms, avoid feeding when water is muddy after storms
  • Attracted to lights at night
  • Rest in eddies near rocks during strong currents
  • Gather in deep pools, under overhanging brush, around submerged objects

Safety Guidelines:

  • All freshwater fish are safe when properly cooked
  • Cook all freshwater fish to kill parasites
  • Saltwater fish caught within reefs should be cooked
  • Deep ocean fish can be eaten raw (no parasites in salt water)
Toxic Fish to Avoid

Certain warm-water fish can cause ciguatera poisoning, including:

  • Barracuda, jacks, mackerel, triggerfish
  • Snappers and groupers (especially from tropical waters)
  • Porcupine fish, cowfish, puffer fish

Note: Cooking does NOT eliminate these toxins.

Birds - All Species Are Edible​

Every bird species is safe to eat, though taste varies considerably. The only exception is the Pitohui from New Guinea.

Catching Strategies:

  • Hand-catch roosting pigeons at night
  • Target nesting birds during breeding season
  • Set nets across regular flight paths
  • Focus on roosting sites and water sources

Egg Collection: Remove all but 2-3 eggs from nests, marking the ones you leave. Birds will continue laying to fill the clutch - check daily for fresh eggs.

Small Mammals​

All mammals are edible, but require more caution due to their ability to inflict injury.

Safety Considerations
  • All mammals bite in self-defense - even squirrels can cause serious wounds
  • Mothers defending young are extremely aggressive
  • Cornered animals will fight
  • Polar bear and bearded seal livers contain toxic vitamin A levels

Simple Fishing Methods​

Improvised Fishhooks​

Make hooks from:

  • Metal: pins, needles, wire, small nails
  • Natural materials: bone, thorns, shells, hardwood

Wooden Hook Method:

  1. Cut hardwood piece 1 inch (2.5 cm) long, 1/4 inch (6 mm) diameter
  2. Cut notch in one end
  3. Insert sharp point (bone, wire, nail) in notch
  4. Tie securely in place

Fish Traps​

Basket Trap: Lash sticks together in funnel shape, close the top leaving a fish-sized entrance hole.

Tidal Traps (Saltwater):

  • Build at low tide in areas fish visit at high tide
  • Use natural rock pools on rocky shores
  • Create low stone walls forming angles with the shore
  • Block reef pool openings as tide recedes

Spearfishing​

Effective in shallow water (waist-deep) with large, plentiful fish.

Spear Construction:

  1. Cut long, straight sapling
  2. Sharpen end or attach knife/sharp bone
  3. Alternative: Split shaft few inches, insert spreader, sharpen both points

Technique:

  • Place spear point in water, move slowly toward fish
  • Quick push to impale fish on bottom
  • Hold spear with one hand, grab fish with other
  • Never throw the spear - you can't afford to lose it
  • Aim lower than you see - water refraction makes fish appear higher

Basic Animal Traps​

Simple Snare​

Most basic trap - just a noose over a trail attached to a stake.

Materials: Wire works best (won't loosen like cord) Setup:

  1. Place noose upright on game trail
  2. Use small twigs or spider web to hold it open
  3. Size noose to pass freely over animal's head
  4. Attach firmly to stake or tree

Twitch-Up Snare​

Uses bent sapling for power - more effective than simple snares.

Setup:

  1. Select flexible sapling along trail
  2. Remove all branches and foliage
  3. Use two forked sticks as trigger mechanism
  4. Bend sapling, engage trigger, set noose over trail
  5. When animal trips snare, sapling springs up and hangs prey

Deadfall Traps​

Use heavy objects to crush small game.

Figure 4 Deadfall: Three notched sticks hold heavy weight in place. When animal disturbs bait stick, weight falls and crushes prey.

Paiute Deadfall: Similar to Figure 4 but uses cordage and catch stick - easier to set up.

Lethal Traps

Deadfall and spear traps can seriously injure humans. Always:

  • Approach from rear only
  • Mark trap locations
  • Disarm when not needed
  • Never set near camp or travel routes

Trap Placement Tips​

Location Is Everything​

Look for signs of animal activity:

  • Runs and trails (distinct paths)
  • Fresh tracks and droppings
  • Chewed or rubbed vegetation
  • Nesting and roosting sites
  • Feeding and watering areas

Scent Masking​

Animals detect human scent easily:

  • Use mud from rotting vegetation to coat hands and trap
  • Smoke trap parts over fire (animals recognize this smell as non-threatening)
  • Use fluids from previous kills (gall bladder, urine)
  • Let trap weather for few days before setting
  • Never use human urine

Channeling​

Guide animals into your trap:

  • Build funnel-shaped barriers toward trap
  • Reduce trail width to slightly wider than target animal
  • Make barriers inconvenient to cross, not impassable
  • Extend constriction one body-length back from trap

Food Safety and Preparation​

Fish Spoilage Signs​

Don't eat fish with:

  • Sunken eyes
  • Peculiar odor
  • Faded colors (gills should be red/pink)
  • Flesh that stays dented when pressed
  • Slimy (not moist) body
  • Sharp or peppery taste

Symptoms of spoiled fish poisoning: Nausea, cramps, vomiting, paralysis, metallic taste (1-6 hours after eating). Induce vomiting immediately if symptoms appear.

Basic Preparation​

Fish:

  1. Clean immediately after catching
  2. Remove gills and blood vessels near spine
  3. Gut fish over 4 inches (10 cm) long
  4. Scale or skin
  5. Boil with skin on to preserve fats and oils

Small Game:

  1. Bleed by cutting throat
  2. Skin carefully to avoid cutting hair onto meat
  3. Remove entrails completely
  4. Inspect heart and liver for parasites/disease
  5. Cook thoroughly - all game carries salmonella risk

Birds:

  1. Pluck or skin (skinning removes some nutrition)
  2. Remove entrails, save heart and liver
  3. Cut off feet
  4. Boil scavenger birds 20+ minutes to kill parasites

Meat Preservation​

Smoking Method:

  1. Cut meat into thin strips (1/4 inch thick)
  2. Build small, smoky fire (not flames)
  3. Use hardwood, slightly green
  4. Drape meat over framework - pieces shouldn't touch
  5. Smoke overnight for 1-week preservation
  6. Two days continuous smoking preserves 2-4 weeks

Drying Method:

  1. Cut with grain into 1/4-inch strips
  2. Hang in sunny location with good airflow
  3. Cover to protect from flies
  4. Properly dried meat feels crisp and dry to touch

Modern Equipment Options​

While these traditional methods work, modern gear can improve success rates:

Budget Fishing Kit ($25-35)​

  • Basic tackle box with hooks, sinkers, line
  • Collapsible rod for portability
  • Small net for bait fish

Pro Fishing Setup ($75-125)​

  • Telescoping rod with reel
  • Complete tackle selection
  • Fish finder for deeper water
  • Preservation supplies (salt, smoking equipment)

Premium Kit ($150-300)​

  • Professional rod and reel combo
  • Electronic fish finder with GPS
  • Comprehensive tackle system
  • Portable fish cleaning station
  • Food preservation equipment (smoker, dehydrator)
Legal Considerations
  • Check local fishing/hunting regulations before using these methods
  • Obtain required licenses when not in true emergency
  • Respect private property and protected areas
  • These techniques are for emergency readiness - not routine food gathering

When to Seek Help​

Immediate medical attention if you experience:

  • Symptoms of food poisoning (severe nausea, vomiting, paralysis)
  • Signs of infection from animal bites or cuts
  • Allergic reactions to unfamiliar foods

Contact authorities if:

  • You find diseased or unusual animal behavior

  • You're unsure about local regulations

  • Emergency situation requires rescue coordination

  • Essential for cooking

Source

Adapted from Field Manual FM-3-05.70

Last updated: January 18, 2026