Thats what I did and it worked out great I havent had to pay for food for my hounds for over three months know. I go and pick up the meat and bone scraps every other day and feed it out as well as put some back in the freezer for when the season runs out. Most has been deer but also had some bear as well, the bear has alot of fat which balances the lean deer meat. My only problem with it is it doesnt last all yr long, but I will take what I can get. Pure Grit