'Mountain Men': Josh says bison meat and skin will get him $4,000 but did the show 'fabricate' the number?
Josh Kirk, homesteader, hunter and ranch manager who lives with his family of three at Wyoming's Wind River Range, delivers yet another interesting segment in this week's 'Mountain Men'. Previously, he had recovered a just-killed bison. Upon realizing that its meat and bone would put thousands of dollars and enough food on their table, he decided to skin it. The bison products made for heavy luggage, which prompted Josh to arrange for a make-shift trolley that was attached to the back of his horse and carried to his home, where he and his wife worked on the hide.
It isn't as easy as it sounds. Surviving the harsh winters while ensuring that one's family has enough food and money to live off is tough. However, Josh's enthusiasm is on a different level, but he also comes across as someone who enjoys equal participation. Josh wasted no time in establishing how crucial the dead bison is to him and his family's survival. The moment he returned from the camp, he got to work and pulled in his family too. His wife, who is a professional tanner, helped him salt the skin to preserved the hide or else it would grow bacteria, leaving all that fur useless for use. While his daughter, Eden, 9, was asked to make paper bags for the bison meat to be sealed in.
She made bags as her parents butchered the meat. Un unlikely scene at a regular household, but maybe Eden understands that's how life is in the wild. Josh said how he believes in education and that Eden learning such crucial skills by watching will help her live a better life in the wild. By the end of it all, one bison will bring the family $3500 to 4000.
Meanwhile, a fan commented on the show's Facebook handle that the value attached to bison is hardly what the market price is. "This show would be more compelling if they wouldn’t totally fabricate and embellish things. The bison that got killed and salvaged — worth $4000? Hardly," he commented and further added: "You can’t sell meat that has been processed in the field and not inspected, so that has no monetary value. And the hide is hardly worth $4000."
Catch all the new episodes of 'Mountain Men' on History every Thursday.
