Food made before 2035 is spoiled or risky. Survivors eat what they farm, hunt, fish and trade for. Out on the road, hunting is how most people eat.
Animals cannot catch the Z-Virus. Their meat is always safe to eat. Zombies are only people.
Small game. Rabbit, Wild Turkey.
Deer and elk. Deer and Elk live in woods and old suburbs almost everywhere.
Farm animals gone wild. Wild Pig, Feral Cow, Feral Horse, Wild Goat, Sheep.
Bison. Big herds roam the Great Plains again.
Dangerous animals. Feral Dog, Coyote, Wolf, Black Bear, Grizzly Bear, Cougar. These hunt people too.
Bows, crossbows and snares are Quiet. A rifle shot is Loud, and in a dead city it brings a Zombie Pack. In wild land, noise is half as likely to bring zombies, but it can still happen. Hunt with a bow when you can.
Wolves and feral dogs hunt in packs. Bears are strong and hard to kill. Cougars attack from cover. Wild pigs charge when hurt. A bleeding animal draws predators, so move a fresh kill quickly.
A hunted animal gives meat, hide, bone, sinew and fat. Meat is food. Hide, bone, sinew and fat are crafting materials. Hide makes leather gear. Fat makes torches. Sinew makes bowstrings. See the crafting pages for recipes.
Fresh meat spoils in a day or two. Smoking or drying it into jerky makes it last. Salt is valuable for this reason.
Cans and packets from before 2035 are 30 years old. Most are spoiled. Some are still safe, but eating them is a gamble. Swollen or rusted cans are never safe.
The Grange farms on the Great Plains grow corn, wheat and beef for the strongholds. Most strongholds have their own fields and gardens too. Fishing is safe and common on the coasts, lakes and islands. The Pacific Islands Union lives on fishing.
Clean water comes from wells, rain barrels and filters. River and lake water must be boiled, filtered or treated before drinking. Zombies can walk along the bottom of rivers and lakes, but water does not carry the Z-Virus.
Undead must eat 2 lb of raw meat each day. If they do not, they gain 1 level of Exhaustion that only raw meat removes. Animal meat keeps them going. Human flesh removes all Exhaustion and heals 2d8, which is why many Undead are feared. For an Undead character, hunting is life.
A meal in a stronghold costs 2 Chits. A day of hard work pays 5 Chits. Hunters can sell meat and hides at any stronghold market.