This recipe was my first attempt at making jerky of any kind and I was very impressed with the result. I cut up and marinated one pheasant for two days and baked in the over for six hours. I feel that it could have been hotter, but I enjoy that sort of thing. I hope you give this recipe a try and enjoy as much as I did!

Ingredients

1 whole pheasant

2 cups water

2 tablespoons kosher salt

1/4 cup Worcestershire sauce

1 teaspoon garlic powder

1 teaspoon dried thyme

1 teaspoon chili powder

3 tablespoons brown sugar

Instructions

1. Thaw the pheasant in the fridge for one day to start the process.

2. The pheasant is easier to cut into pieces if it is still partially frozen. Cut into strips roughly 1/4 inch tick. I did my best to waste as little meat as possible, pulling small pieces from the legs and wings as well. This was delicate work but was well worth it!

3. Mix the other ingredients in a bowl to create the marinade and add the pheasant strips. Massage to coat evenly and pour into a seal-able bag. Place in the fridge between 24 and 72 hours and massage the bag a couple times per day to ensure all the strips are in contact with the marinade. The longer the pheasant marinates, the saltier the meat will be and the more flavorful as well.

4. Turn the oven to warm at 140 degrees. Place a wire rack inside a baking sheet. Drain the marinade out of the bag and place all the pheasant strips and pieces on the wire rack, leaving space between each. Put the sheet in the oven and leave for 6-8 hours. The strips will be dried but still pliable. Mine were good right at the 6 hour mark.

5. I did not use the curing agents called for in the original recipe, so the jerky will not last indefinitely. That is okay, good luck not eating all of it within the first couple days of making it anyway! Shelf life can be extended by storing in the fridge, however. The flavor does become more powerful given a little bit of time, so try not to eat it all right out of the oven!

Credit for recipe is based off of https://honest-food.net/duck-or-goose-jerky/!