An easier way to obtain pemmican is to purchase Tanka bars - whose ingredients are buffalo meat and dried cranberries. They are well packaged and I have consumed several that were well beyond their expiration date - still quite nutritious. I stash one or two in my various kits and keep them handy for emergencies. They are a nice contrast to the usual energy bars.

The drawback is that they are quite expensive, although REI gives a discount on an order of more than 12 bars.