This paper will argue the from a cultural materialism perspective why deer is an acceptable meat to consume. Marvin Harris argues, in his book Good to Eat: Riddles of Food and Culture, that the protein composition of meat makes it an ideal food for human consumption because when eaten with plant proteins it allows us to extracted and use the proper amounts of proteins and vitamins to maintain healthy bodies (1985). Harris goes on to say this is why we have “meat hunger” or why we crave meat (1985). My argument is in line with Harris’s thinking, deer or venison is no different than other meat.
One traditional dish, I remember from my childhood was venison stew. The stew was tomato based with onions, corn, beans, and venison. My father would …show more content…
Prior to 1700, the deer population remained low during this time which has been attributed to the number of Native Americans their habitat area, predators, and extreme winters (cited in Ronney 2001). For example, in the Maryland area Native Americans hunted whitetail deer with fires before the settlers arrived (Dnr.maryland.gov 2015). With colonial settlement, the Whitetail deer population increased because of altering their habitat and predator decreases (cited in Ronney 2001). Settlers used deer for food and clothing (Dnr.maryland.gov 2015). After the settlement period, laws were created to limit hunting, which led to a further increase in population. As of the present, the whitetail deer has never been stronger in North America (cited in Ronney …show more content…
The problem is that in Maryland wild produced venison is prohibited from being sold to the public (Sawyers 2015). This creates a need for something to do with the deer after the hunters kill them. As a child, I remember many hunters in my area would keep one or two carcasses to butcher for their families. But limits on deer kills are can be higher. For example, when hunting with a firearm on private lands the limit is ten antlerless deer in Somerset County, where I live (Eregulations.com 2015). This overabundance of deer kills creates a need for others to eat venison. Deer hunters pass news around where they live about extra deer available and deliver deer to people asking for them. The management practice of hunting deer is one of the reasons for a culture around eating deer as a traditional dish in American
One traditional dish, I remember from my childhood was venison stew. The stew was tomato based with onions, corn, beans, and venison. My father would …show more content…
Prior to 1700, the deer population remained low during this time which has been attributed to the number of Native Americans their habitat area, predators, and extreme winters (cited in Ronney 2001). For example, in the Maryland area Native Americans hunted whitetail deer with fires before the settlers arrived (Dnr.maryland.gov 2015). With colonial settlement, the Whitetail deer population increased because of altering their habitat and predator decreases (cited in Ronney 2001). Settlers used deer for food and clothing (Dnr.maryland.gov 2015). After the settlement period, laws were created to limit hunting, which led to a further increase in population. As of the present, the whitetail deer has never been stronger in North America (cited in Ronney …show more content…
The problem is that in Maryland wild produced venison is prohibited from being sold to the public (Sawyers 2015). This creates a need for something to do with the deer after the hunters kill them. As a child, I remember many hunters in my area would keep one or two carcasses to butcher for their families. But limits on deer kills are can be higher. For example, when hunting with a firearm on private lands the limit is ten antlerless deer in Somerset County, where I live (Eregulations.com 2015). This overabundance of deer kills creates a need for others to eat venison. Deer hunters pass news around where they live about extra deer available and deliver deer to people asking for them. The management practice of hunting deer is one of the reasons for a culture around eating deer as a traditional dish in American