SIMON MUJUMDAR, 2: Hunting and eating wild game is 
an expression of new world independence and delicious, 
too ... details ahead on Passport to Texas.

This is Passport to Texas

This week we commemorate the first Thanksgiving. 
While our turkeys come from the store, Pilgrims hunted 
for theirs. Did you know that prior to the Pilgrim's 
arrival in 1620 few of them had ever hunted wild game?

10 -- The first people to come over wouldn't have been able to 
hunt [in England] because the land was owned by the rich and 
that's where you hunted. So, when they came to America and 
were able to hunt anywhere, it was actually a real expression of 
their new lives.

Simon Mujumdar is a hunter, food writer and judge on 
Food Network TV competitions. He says along with 
being deeply rooted in the American identity, hunting 
puts good food on the table.

13 -- I'm a great believer if you hunt for food that you're going to 
eat some really amazing dishes. I mean, I've hunted many times 
in the UK: deer, wild birds ... rabbit. I do a lot of rabbit hunting in 
the United Kingdom. And I think the food often just tastes 
better.

Plus, he says, you know its origins. Simon Mujumdar, 
author of Fed, White and Blue: Finding America with My 
Fork says despite our long history with hunting and 
eating wild game, some Americans remain reticent.

10 -- I always blame Walt Disney. Walt Disney has a lot to answer 
for because everyone thinks of like Bambi and Thumper. And 
they're really just sources of food. So, I'm very unsentimental 
with it.

Be sentimental when giving thanks this season, and pass 
the turkey.

For Texas Parks and Wildlife ... I'm Cecilia Nasti.