Venison Jerky

Directions

1. 1
   Cut venison into strips about 1/2-inch thick, 1-inch wide and 12-inches long.
2. 2
   Dig a 3-foot square hole about 3-feet deep.
3. 3
   Make a narrow ditch from the side down into the bottom of the hole to produce an oxygen supply when a fire is built in the hole.
4. 4
   Build a slow fire in the hole.
5. 5
   Put green lengths of small branches over the hole and lay the strips of meat over these.
6. 6
   Cover this over with logs or anything available, but leave enough of an opening so the fire will not go out.
7. 7
   Keep the slow smoldering fire going for about 12 hours by dropping in small pieces of dry wood.
8. 8
   Jerky will keep almost indefinitely.
9. 9
   It may be soaked in water 4 or 5 hours and boiled into a stew.