Deer Jerky - Buddy Overseas

[football061]

Hey guys!

So I'm not normally one to be a charity case but I thought of a really awesome idea for my really good friend who is currently serving in Afghanistan. I want to put together a care package for him and in that care package I'd like to put in some deer jerky or any other kind of good game jerky you don't normally see on store shelves. Unfortunately I don't have any jerky left since my last deer taken was back in October.

My question to all of you fellow hunters is would anyone be willing to mail me some jerky which I could then place in the care package? I will take pictures of said care package and what not when it is put together and ready to ship out.

I figure this is better than asking people for cash and something he'd really appreciate. Also I am open to other suggestions for care package "ingredients" since I have no idea what it's like to serve overseas and can't even fathom what it's like or what you tend to wish you had in terms of personal supplies. Any former military guys on here that can give me some suggestions I'd really appreciate it.

Thanks to all!

[football061]

This is my smae buddy who was stationed in Kentucky and I went to visit before he shipped out. We bagged a buck while I was out there....here is a link to the thread I created after we bagged the buck:

http://forum.pafoa.org/hunting-23/23...buck-ever.html

[MT1]

Each FOB receives different types and levels of care package stuff. In my case we had more candy, soap, diaper wipes, Visine, and Chap Stick than a small country should receive. With that said it's often good to ask what is most in demand, most missed, etc...

The things that were a hit with my guys....

Newspapers from home - especially the small towns. It didn't matter that they were a week or two old. Everybody enjoys keeping up on the high school football team, the neighbor who gets arrested for drunken streaking, etc...

Gun publications - my wife would forward all my Guns and Ammo, Shooting Times, etc... They got worn out faster than the smuggled porn.

Local Food - Not the stuff you find nationwide. I am talking about the Tastycakes, Utz pretzels, Herr's chips... Local food items that are only available regionally here in PA (or where your buddy is from).

Stuffed Animals - Surprisingly this was the most popular. At one time my daughter had so many stuffed animals it was out of control. She started mailing them to me in Baghdad to share with the Iraqi kids. I would send photos home of the kids holding them. This snowballed into her entire elementary and Girl Scout troop sending boxes. I got a lot of thank you notes from the parents who finally found a way to get rid of them that didn't cause drama and tears. In return I sent home stacks of Iraqi money for the kids. At an exchange rate of 5.9 dinar to the USD it was costing less than 17 cents to send each kid a souvenir.

Depending on the type of packaging and destination country, meat products are sometimes banned. We received a lot of jerky, especially deer, but it often times didn't get listed on the customs form by the family member. I am sure this was an honest oversight even though it was a regular occurance.

[Emptymag]

Now there's something rep worthy for sure.

Great idea. Good for you for doing it.



I only participated in one organized care package effort and while my wife was packing all the typical "toiletries" and such that were on "the list", I was stuffing in "guy stuff" that I thought someone may find useful. Electrical tape, duct tape, gun cleaning cloths, and some other "gun stuff" that I can't recall at the moment.

Good luck with it. Wish I had some jerky to send.

[football061]

Each FOB receives different types and levels of care package stuff. In my case we had more candy, soap, diaper wipes, Visine, and Chap Stick than a small country should receive. With that said it's often good to ask what is most in demand, most missed, etc...

The things that were a hit with my guys....

Newspapers from home - especially the small towns. It didn't matter that they were a week or two old. Everybody enjoys keeping up on the high school football team, the neighbor who gets arrested for drunken streaking, etc...

Gun publications - my wife would forward all my Guns and Ammo, Shooting Times, etc... They got worn out faster than the smuggled porn.

Local Food - Not the stuff you find nationwide. I am talking about the Tastycakes, Utz pretzels, Herr's chips... Local food items that are only available regionally here in PA (or where your buddy is from).

Stuffed Animals - Surprisingly this was the most popular. At one time my daughter had so many stuffed animals it was out of control. She started mailing them to me in Baghdad to share with the Iraqi kids. I would send photos home of the kids holding them. This snowballed into her entire elementary and Girl Scout troop sending boxes. I got a lot of thank you notes from the parents who finally found a way to get rid of them that didn't cause drama and tears. In return I sent home stacks of Iraqi money for the kids. At an exchange rate of 5.9 dinar to the USD it was costing less than 17 cents to send each kid a souvenir.

Depending on the type of packaging and destination country, meat products are sometimes banned. We received a lot of jerky, especially deer, but it often times didn't get listed on the customs form by the family member. I am sure this was an honest oversight even though it was a regular occurance.

Thanks MT1! THis is my buddy's 4th tour overseas. He did 1 in Korea (if that counts), 1 in Iraq and this is his 2nd in Afghanistan. I asked his girlfriend and immediately she said Jerky and mentioned the same thing you did....he gets plenty of candy and wishes he could get healthier snacks and food. He's really big into weight lifting so I think I'll toss in a jug of protein powder since protein bars would probably melt.

[football061]

Now there's something rep worthy for sure.

Great idea. Good for you for doing it.



I only participated in one organized care package effort and while my wife was packing all the typical "toiletries" and such that were on "the list", I was stuffing in "guy stuff" that I thought someone may find useful. Electrical tape, duct tape, gun cleaning cloths, and some other "gun stuff" that I can't recall at the moment.

Good luck with it. Wish I had some jerky to send.

Thanks emptymag! If people really want to send something other than jerky I obviously wouldn't refuse it and will toss it in the care package!

This is just a way for me to try and get a few more things in the package if anyone is willing to pitch in. I'm sure it can get pretty expensive if you want to put a really nice package together.

Anyone know if there is a size limit?????

[MT1]

The occassional gag is good also. One night a few of us sat down over a case of beer, Xacto knives and a stack of the raunchies magazines we could find at the local adult store. We carefully cut out all of the nipples and vaginas and mailed them to a few deployed friends.

My fingers hurt for about three days from all the knicks and cuts but it was worth it when we got the email and Facebook responses. I ensured each I just wanted to fulfill their mental needs while not risking a GO 1 violation.

I know you weren't asking for alternate ideas but I have no jerky to share

[football061]

The occassional gag is good also. One night a few of us sat down over a case of beer, Xacto knives and a stack of the raunchies magazines we could find at the local adult store. We carefully cut out all of the nipples and vaginas and mailed them to a few deployed friends.

My fingers hurt for about three days from all the knicks and cuts but it was worth it when we got the email and Facebook responses. I ensured each I just wanted to fulfill their mental needs while not risking a GO 1 violation.

I know you weren't asking for alternate ideas but I have no jerky to share

LMAO! Idea and challenge accepted!!!

[MT1]

Thanks emptymag! If people really want to send something other than jerky I obviously wouldn't refuse it and will toss it in the care package!

This is just a way for me to try and get a few more things in the package if anyone is willing to pitch in. I'm sure it can get pretty expensive if you want to put a really nice package together.

Anyone know if there is a size limit?????

PM me an address. I'll be happy to send a few bucks for postage.

[MT1]

There isn't really a size limit but you will get hammered in postage if it crosses into the "oversized" classification at the post office. The boxes that seem to ship quickest are the shoe box sized containers.

Do not pay extra for the express mail option when you ship. It is express only from here to New York City. From there it goes one that same plane as all the rest of the mail heading to APOs.