Bartender Geek

Most summer sausages, while they may not need refrigeration, do not have long shelf lives. The reason is because they all use a fairly large amount of water in the process, and are fermented with a variety of acidophilius. The true hunter's sausages, of which slim jims is a modern interpretation, did not add water to the mixture, did not add fermentation to the process. They were spiced game, which may or may not have been smoked (typically cold smoked) and then allowed to dehydrate. Pretty much every primitive hunting culture developed some form using locally available game. If I remember correctly, Eskimos (ok, that Nanook peoples) created a seal meat and blubber version. Regardless if it was landjaeger, pemmican, or steak tartare (yes, that is another varietion of the same concept), the key is meat that is dehydrated, is shelf stable, literally impossible to spoil, and gives quick nutrition when eaten

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