Elk Jerky

Elk is where most people should start

If you've eaten beef jerky your whole life and you're curious about wild game, elk is the easiest first step. It reads as familiar — same red-meat territory — but deeper and earthier, with more going on. Not gamey in the way people worry about. Just more developed.

Elk is considerably leaner than beef, and that leanness changes how it behaves. Less fat means the smoke comes through clearly instead of being muted, and it means a firmer, denser chew that lasts. It's the difference between jerky you finish without noticing and jerky you actually taste.

Hickory Smoked or Peppered? Hickory Smoked lets the meat lead — pick this one if you want to know what elk actually tastes like. Peppered puts a clean black pepper bite over the top, which suits elk well because the lean meat doesn't fight the spice. Neither is the safe choice; they're just different.

Hardwood smoked in small batches at Zick's Specialty Meats in Michigan, a family smokehouse that's been curing and smoking meat for over forty years. No MSG. No fillers. USDA inspected every production day.

Want to try elk alongside the rest? The wild game bundles pack elk in with venison, buffalo and alligator so you can find your favorite before committing.