Old Trapper

Through The Ages

As many of you know, I’ve been roaming the wilderness for quite a good while. And in that time, I’ve met beef jerky (https://oldtrapper.com/collections/beef-jerky) lovers from every walk of life, experimented with all sorts of ways to make my jerky more flavorful and tender, and taken inspiration from an ever-changing world. 

See, what makes my jerky special isn’t just that it’s delicious (though of course, that’s the most important part). I like to think that my storied past helps contribute to making my jerky something more than just a snack — it’s an all-out culinary experience. In modern parlance, you might say that I’ve “been around the block a few times.”

Let’s take a stroll through history and see how Old Trapper Beef Jerky became the legendary treat it is today.

The Dawn of Jerky*

350,000 BC: Old Trapper witnesses the creation of fire and immediately realizes he can harness the element to smoke history’s first piece of lean meat. Jerky is born.

20,000 BC: After experimenting with wooly mammoth, cave bear, and sabertooth tiger jerky, Old Trapper begins trading bison jerky with the local population of Neanderthals.

10,400 BC: Old Trapper successfully out-competes Ancient Grog’s cured sloth jerky monopoly, leveraging his product’s superior taste and tenderness. 

8,000 BC: Old Trapper first tastes sorghum (https://oldtrapper.com/blogs/old-trapper/the-5-best-snacks-for-deer-hunting). An eternity of animosity is born.

The Rise of Civilization

650: Old Trapper travels to present-day Missouri to provide protein-packed snacks for a local earthmoving project at Cahokia. 

1120: Old Trapper strikes an exclusive deal with the Chaco tribe to cater Pueblo Bonito’s thousands of guests and residents with his beef jerky. 

1340: After experimenting for years, Old Trapper abandons his efforts to create jerky out of string beans. 

A New World

1493: Christopher Columbus introduces European livestock to the Americas, and Old Trapper discovers the missing ingredient to take his jerky to the next level: beef. 

1595: While exploring the Eastern Seabed, Old Trapper stumbles across the lost colonists of Roanoke. He agrees to keep their location secret after being asked nicely. 

1621: At the first Thanksgiving, Old Trapper shows up with a platter of his signature beef jerky to join the festivities. 

1774: Old Trapper delivers beef jerky to the first Continental Congress, providing a much-needed energy boost as they debated the fate of a nation; pens the line, “When in the course of human events.”

1776: Inspired by the colonies’ step towards independence, Old Trapper declares independence from poor quality meats.

The Modern Era

1969: At a roadside shop, Old Trapper strikes a new business deal with a local family in rural Oregon to help his beef jerky reach even more hungry mouths.

2014: After losing his paper writings in a tragic smoker fire, Old Trapper takes his regular musings (https://oldtrapper.com/blogs/old-trapper) to the digital realm.

Present day: Old Trapper’s signature jerky has become one of the most popular snacks in America. The Old Trapper remains nothing but humble about it.

A History of Great Taste

Well, there you have it, folks: the highlights of a few adventures I’ve had here and there. From ancient campfires to modern-day kitchens, my journey has been one of discovery, innovation, and, above all, a passion for great-tasting beef jerky. I hope you’ve enjoyed this stroll through time and that you’ll join me on future adventures, one delicious bite at a time.

*all dates approximate