Asian carp: If you can't beat 'em ... eat 'em?

I have eaten some very diverse wild foods.

From arctic whale blubber to New England sand eels, tulibee, smoked and broiled burbot, smoked white sucker and New Zealand white bait.

In these cases, I forced myself to go with the program just to declare I had the right outdoor mettle, but I'm not complaining about any of those meals.

My favorite venison comes from the likes of arctic caribou, while Ontario moose had been high up on the menu list. Wyoming antelope are all right, but not my favorite - and neither are Colorado elk and mule deer, because of the sage aftertaste (elk and Colorado deer constantly nibble on aspen tree branches and buds).

The latest exotic foray, if you are willing, is a meal of Asian carp.

From Minnesota comes word that those happy souls attending an aquatic invaders summit were treated to what had been described as a "rare delicacy" - smoked Asian carp.

And lo and behold, Illinois commercial fish operator Schafer Fisheries was kind enough to haul a load of these fish to Minnesota specifically for a summit on invasives.

Attendees were invited to whet their appetites on the unwanted nemesis that has become a dominant species in the Illinois River.

Wildlife Forever worked with Schafer to pull off this left-field approach in an effort to open the eyes of people who have a negative feeling about Asian carp.

Participants of the Aquatic Invaders Summit II this past week in St. Cloud, Minn., may well now be hooked on this alien invader.

The filets of smoked fish were an attempt to spotlight the need for public awareness and collaboration in preventing their spread, while embracing invasive species at the dinner table. Granted, most fish are scrumptious after they've spent several hours in a smoker.

Asian carp populations are spreading and threatening fisheries across the United States. A chunk of smoked carp is considered a high-value protein source, and the fish's meat is generally praised as being mild, flavorful and delicious when served in a variety of formats.

"We wanted to give people a unique experience and an opportunity to try something fun and new," said Pat Conzemius, conservation director for Wildlife Forever and the Clean Drain Dry Initiative.

"In Minnesota, Asian carp are on the doorstep. We're shutting down locks and building barriers, which are the first line of defense. We also really need an informed and educated public to prevent the future spread."

The Aquatic Invaders Summit II was organized by Minnesota Lakes and River Advocates with funding from the Initiative Foundation. Conference themes centered on "An exploration of local collaboration, innovation and opportunity."

During the evening reception at the St. Cloud River Center, conference guests were treated to smoked fish and also a minced spread served with crackers and other condiments.

Wildlife Forever's mission is to conserve America's wildlife heritage through conservation education, preservation of habitat and management of fish and wildlife.

For more than 27 years, members have helped to conduct thousands of fish, game and habitat conservation projects across the country.

I have tasted homegrown carp. It happened at a gathering of outdoor writers many years ago, who were told their meal consisted of freshly caught Lake Michigan salmon. My first bite signaled to me the table fare was actually domestic carp, but I kept my mouth shut. And I chewed away like a good boy.

And yet smoked carp wasn't all that bad, just oily.

• Contact Mike Jackson at angler88@comcast.net, catch his radio show 7-9 a.m. Sundays on WGCO 1590-AM (live-streamed at www.1590WCGO.com) and get more content at www.mikejacksonoutdoors.com.